What else can i do about brown algea

c_bell

Member
Hi,
I know there have been several post on here about brown algea, i've read them all. I know that the brown algea is due to the pholsphates from tap water. I have switched to ro/di water that I have bought at Wal-mart and also at my LSF. I bought a clean up crew consisting of turbo snails, hermitt crabs, misc. snails, and a starfish. I do 20% water changes weekly using ro/di water and top off with ro/di water as well. But I continue to see the brown algea on the sides of the tank and on my LR. Is there anything else I can do? The tank has been set up for a little over 2 months. :confused:
 

wolffvet

Member
I had the same problem. Increase circulation, test the water that you are getting at wal-mart and at the lfs because the water I got at wal-mart had phosphates, get some phosphate eliminator or a phophate sponge. Good luck
 

tcoco

Member
I having the same problem I have been using walmart ro/di I was told by someone else from here that some of these waters might also have copper in it. The user beth said she has been using winn dixie's distilled water and had no problems so far. She also said:
The problem with distilled is the copper coils used in the distilling process. Not all distillers have copper coils, but, if you want to have a reef tank, you'd have to verify that.
 

c_bell

Member
I will tast the water as soon as I can find a phosphate testing kit. I looked at ***** and they didnt have one. Hey Wolffvet what type of phosphate eliminators are out there.
 

c_bell

Member
Where can i get a good phosphate sponge, and where do I install it. I have a magnum pro 350 canister filter w/biowheels.
 

j21kickster

Active Member
Is the algea growth just on the tank or over other things?? If its just on the glass it is normal. the tank just needs to be scraped of it time to time.
 
The above posts regarding phosphates and current may be right on. Certainly good advice if it is "slime algae"
Brown algae, especially in a new tank is more than likely diatoms. I think the majority of people have expierenced these when cycling a new tank. A healthy cleanup crew (snails) should help fix this and, as your tank matures, these should rapidly become less of a problem.
Continue with the Ro/DI water and as a side note your problems may have less to do with phospates and more to do with Silicates, should the brown algae turn out to be diatoms. Most Ro/Di systems do not extract the lion share of silicates from the water unless specifically designed to do so (Kent Hi-S units for example) If you live in an area where silicates are high you may want to consider an alternate water source.
Do a search for diatoms and silicates and you should get some additional info. that may help.
HTH
SiF
 

azrile

Member
If you still have nitrites, your tank is still cycling. Diatoms are a normal part of the process (not sure why), most people get them a few weeks before nitrites disappear. Once the nitrites are gone, normal green algae will outperform the browns and kill them off.
I'd hold off buying anything for now, it will probably take care of itself shortly
 
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