Trying to identify algae on glass
- Thread starter joer
- Start date
maroonclownfan
Member
Probably diatoms or a little slime algae. Your tank will go through various algea blooms through the first year.
A few snails should take care of it.
A few snails should take care of it.
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
A brown algae bloom at 3 months is a little bit unusual. but normal at 3 weeks. Then it turns to green as the phosphates are used up. Are you sure you do not have some source of phosphates? Like the water you are using, excessive water changes, or excessive feeding?
At any rate adding macro algae somewhere in the system will greatly help in controlling any algae outbreak and result in a more stable, balanced tank.
At any rate adding macro algae somewhere in the system will greatly help in controlling any algae outbreak and result in a more stable, balanced tank.
joer
New Member
I did have an algae bloom of brown early in my tank and now I have a lot of green algae on my rock and Crushed Coral(Soon to be replaced with LS/Sand) I can't really tell the color of the fingerprint algae on glass (my astrea snails love it but i only have 10 and they are hardly making a dent in it). Might be the same as on rock but hard to tell its so small until you get upclose to the tank. I will look for some macro algae's at LFS. Also which macro algaes can i have in tank with hermits, crabs, shrimp, clowns, snails? I dont have a refugum. Could more live rock help this problem?
Thanks again
JoeR.
Thanks again
JoeR.
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
Just thought of something, Are you sure the algae is brown and not red?. Hard to tell sometimes. red is much more common after 4 months.
The caulpera are the most popular macros. My anemonie (sp lol) crabs liked my original suction cup claupera and that did not last long. You could try protecting the macros in tank with a clear divider of box. Also for sources, local hobiests may be harvesting all the macro you need from their refug's each month. Good luck
The caulpera are the most popular macros. My anemonie (sp lol) crabs liked my original suction cup claupera and that did not last long. You could try protecting the macros in tank with a clear divider of box. Also for sources, local hobiests may be harvesting all the macro you need from their refug's each month. Good luck
joer
New Member
Ok, My tank is a 20 gal. I am using a Bio Wheel that circulates 170 gals per hour. Is it possible to place some macro algae in its sump area. It wouldn't recieve any light and could make it into the tank. I am going to get a couple large Turbo snails tomorrow and some LS to replace the Crushed Coral as I have heard that Crushed coral can soak up phosphates.
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
Originally posted by JoeR
Ok, My tank is a 20 gal. I am using a Bio Wheel that circulates 170 gals per hour. Is it possible to place some macro algae in its sump area. It wouldn't recieve any light and could make it into the tank. I am going to get a couple large Turbo snails tomorrow and some LS to replace the Crushed Coral as I have heard that Crushed coral can soak up phosphates.
That is not really too practical. Caulpera needs light just like all plant life. Crushed Coral is known here for allowing detris to accumulate which leads to high nitrAtes. If it soaked up phosphates that would be a good thing. One thing it does do is add calcuim to the tank.
beaslbob
Well-Known Member
Originally posted by JoeR
Thanks for your help. I will look into trying to work in a refugium somehow. I used to have a 10gl tank that i could place under my desk that holds the 20.
that sounds like a good idea. I use an old 20g to culture my macro algae. not a refug but effective anyway.
wrassecal
Active Member
I don't think that diatoms at 3 months are necessarily unusual. Possibly the "fingerprint" look is from your snails tracks. If it looks brown and dusty it is probably diatoms. If you brush it off and it's slimy it is probably cyanobacteria which isn't really an algae at all and increasing circulation through that area might help clear it up. Do you have it anywhere else besides the glass? Could just be a natural stage of the maturation of the tank. Have you changed lighting recently? Do you use ro/di water? You could be introducing phosphates into the tank with your water. You may want to try a phosphate/siclicate removing substance or if you are using ro/di you may just add to your clean up crew and wait it out.