Orange / rust colored algae

[whysohigh]

i recently upgraded from T-5 lighting to HQI. since that change I've had this orange rust colored algae going crazy. I have to wipe my glass with the magnet about 4 times a day, it build up fast. Its on my power heads and other plastic parts in the tank. Anyone have this problem before?

 

[btldreef]

Sounds like diatoms. Common if there is a big change in the tank, which lighting will do.

 

[whysohigh]

Is this something that will bloom and go away once its cycle is over?

 

[spanko]

Is it hard? Almost sounds like coralline to me. (growing on plastic parts made me think this as coralline loves it some plastic)

 

[whysohigh]

No its not hard like coraline, its soft almost slimey. It comes off quite easily.

 

[meowzer]

have you looked at any pics of cyano??

 

[whysohigh]

I do not believe its cyano because I've had that before, it builds up on the glass in only a few hours, I wipe it off with the magnet and its back. I can tell its a rust color because I can see it accumulating on my power heads. It all started when I added my hqi's a week ago. Will it go away on its own or is there something I need to do?

 

[btldreef]

Did you look up diatoms? I'm 99% sure that's what you have going on based on your explanation/description.

 

[whysohigh]

Diatoms seem to be the likely suspect. So more frequent water changes and let it run its course? That's about what I'm reading.

 

[btldreef]

Yes. I'm getting them right now after changing my lights. PITA, but they do go away. It happened when I changed from T5's to HQI's two years ago as well.

 

[kiefers]

+1, it does go away, had that it my DT for 2 weeks then it disappeared. Every now and then it may come back pending on how long you leave the lights on or upgrade as Tommie stated. I would see my stomatella's eating some of it from time to time. What I hated was when it got into the substrate, then vacuming became a priority Lol....

 

[whysohigh]

As always great info from this sites members, how the heck did any ones aquarium survive before the internet lol thank you all.