My Tank is Brown, Please help

[willsmith1]

My tank has been getting brown spots all over and even in the sand. I have done water changes but it still does not solve this. How can I clean the brown/dirt out of the sand and keep my tank from getting dirty? See attached pic. Thanks for any help

 

[perfectdark]

It looks like Brown algea which are Diatoms. Very common to get in a new tank. Is your tank relativly new? do you do water changes with RO/DI water? both answers will explain why and help you rid your tank of it. That and time, also a good clean up crew too. If your tank is well established, then I wouldnt have an answer as to why you would be getting it now. Unless you started going from RO water to tap water. Good Luck.

 

[sepulatian]

How old is this system? What is your source water?

 

[beth]

That is diatoms, give us some info about your tank, live rock, sand, water source, age of system, etc.

 

[willsmith1]

Originally Posted by Beth
That is diatoms, give us some info about your tank, live rock, sand, water source, age of system, etc.
I have had the tank set up since January. It is 55g with about 50lbs of live rock and live sand. I use tap water for the changes and I have been since I have had the tank. Is there anything I can do? Ignorance isn't bliss, it sucks.

 

[grownazzman]

I have learn the hard way that tap water is not the way to go for water change/topping off. It causes unwanted algae you should used ro/di.

 

[earlybird]

Originally Posted by willsmith1
I have had the tank set up since January. It is 55g with about 50lbs of live rock and live sand. I use tap water for the changes and I have been since I have had the tank. Is there anything I can do? Ignorance isn't bliss, it sucks.
Do a larger waterchange with good RO/DI water that has been tested and shows 0 for nitrates and phosphates. Start using this water for changes and top off and your algae will slowly diminish. I can't see the picture on this cpu but if it is diatoms then they should go away on their own. Still use RO/DI water.

 

[willsmith1]

Originally Posted by earlybird
Do a larger waterchange with good RO/DI water that has been tested and shows 0 for nitrates and phosphates. Start using this water for changes and top off and your algae will slowly diminish. I can't see the picture on this cpu but if it is diatoms then they should go away on their own. Still use RO/DI water.
What exactly is Ro/DI water and how do I get it? Will boiling water before I use it help?

 

[earlybird]

Reverse Osmosis/Deionized water should have zero phosphates, zero nitrates, little to zero Total Dissolved Solids. Basically there's nothing in it. The aformentioned all help feed algae and is in tap water, even amquel treated tap water Your tank is still fairly new imo. Have you had that algae at all before?
My tank got diatoms during the first week of my cycle and it went away in 4 days. I've since cycled and did my first water change on Tuesday and I have a little diatoms on my sand. I expect it to go away but I'm watching and recording its progress.

 

[willsmith1]

I bought the RO filter but it only puts out a few drops per minute. Is this how it is supposed to be??? It is a 125 gpd filter.

 

[beth]

Did you get a hobby related RO? If you got the home depot variety, they generally won't produce the water quality that you need. A few drops? You should have slow, but steady stream coming out of the RO.

 

[willsmith1]

Originally Posted by Beth
Did you get a hobby related RO? If you got the home depot variety, they generally won't produce the water quality that you need. A few drops? You should have slow, but steady stream coming out of the RO.
I closed the valve and now there is a steady stream. I guess it's not too slow.