Evaporation/Brown Algea

[johnc3]

My tank seems to be losing about one gallon water per week, or more. Is it common to loose that much? I have recently placed a clear hood on my tank hoping that it would slow down any water loss, it's not helping, any suggestions? Also, my setup is two weeks old, and I am starting to notice a few spots of brown algea on my crushed coral, should I be worried?
Thank You for any help!
46gal
40 lbs. lr
3"crushed coral and sand
two 36" power compacts 3watts per gal.

 

[predator]

Well, I loose close to a gallon a day. I add about 2 gallons every other day. So I would not worry about it.
And the algea is normal. New tanks will produce alot of algea.

 

[nm reef]

My 55 reef evaporates approximately 1 to 1 & 1/2 gal per day...but I do not use covers and I have an additional 35 gal refugium that is not covered....the algae you mentioned is probably diatoms....common in a new system and not a major concern( do a search for diatoms and you'll find a ton of info)...good luck with your system...*_^

 

[msb27]

I would say the algae is normal, dont worry about. I just went through the same thing a couple of weeks ago. My 55 finished its cycle two weeks ago. I had several brown spots on my sandbed. I just had to live with it until my nitrites went down so I could add some hermits and snails. Still have some algae on the rocks and sand but they seem to be getting a handle on it. Good Luck
Scott

 

[catera]

IF YOU USE TAP WATER YOU WILL get the brown diatm algea if you can get an ro/di filter or get water from lfs.

 

[wrassecal]

You will probably get it no matter what with a new tank and it will probably get on your lr also, but don't worry about it, it's part of the cycle. When I started getting a lot of it on lr etc is when I added my clean up crew (crabs and snails). Sounds like normal to me also on my 55 I lose about 2 - 3 gal a week of water, again just part of the hobby.

 

[chevron tang]

my water evaporates about 1-1/2 gallons a day and i don't have a top. and as for the brown algae it's normal for a new tank. the algae goes through a stage from brown to green to coraline. don't worry both your evaporation and the algae are perfectly normal. are you using tap or ro water?