brown ugly algae

[carrie]

I am currently raising the salinity (tail end of hyposalinity). I have professional wet/dry, 18watt double heliz, protein skimmer(red sea), new light bulbs in Nov. (corallife) and lights are on 6hrs a day.
DI water and instant ocean salt is only used in my 72 gallon tank.
I am getting a brownish algae like slime over all my substrate (crushed rock) and decorative coral in the tank and it's growing & feeding off my tank lights.
Q=what is this from and do I get rid of this problem?
I use dry foods and rinse my frozen foods w/water to control the phosphates.
Nitrates: 40
Phosphate: 0
Ph: 8.1
nitrite: 0
Q=what should the nitrates and phosphates be from the RI water I get at my LFS?
Thank you for your help (sorry for long post) but this brown algae is REALLY GROSS!

 

[kris]

Did you have an algae free tank before the hypo??
Just curious, as I have never thought about the effects that would have on algae. Anyway all you can really do is clean. You're not leaving the lights on too much, and you have no phosphates, so either get a good clean-up crew or roll up your sleeves or better yet-both. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
As far as the water from the lfs goes--I wouldn't pay money for water that has exactly what you DON"T want in it. The reason we buy the stuff is our tap is full of nitrates and phosphates and other junk.
Good Luck

 

[jim672]

Carrie,
It almost sounds as if you're going through a cycle. But to answer your question....RI water you buy from your LFS should have 0 nitrates and phosphates. As Kris said, why would you buy something that in it exactly waht you don't want?
Anyway, if you're cycling, the brown algea should go away. A good clean-up crew will speed that up.
It looks like your Ph is a little low. I believe it should be in the 8.2 to 8.4 range. You might want to try adding some Reef Buffer to increase Ph and alk.
Jim