Brown algae problem

[Austin R]

Hey guys recently I've had a brown algae problem and I'm not sure how to stop it I know water changes help but I was wondering if there any kind of filters to remove all the food they eat because I don't want the algae harming anything in my tank

 

[Evan West]

.....Sorta, skimmers will remove organics (like disolved food) and thus help with nutrient controll (alge food sorce) and mechanical filters will phisically remove the food but you then have to clean them before the food breaks down in them. Id start by pulling/scribbing (use a tooth brush) as much of the alge off the rocks and out of the tank as possible, clean your filters after doing this too. This permanetly removes the nutrents bound up in the alge mass and helps decrease the alge in the tank. Next pay attention to what your feeding and how much, dry pellet food is crazy nutrient dense and very easy to over feed so perhaps try frozen food like hikari. Also your fish may look hungry all the time but they kid, dont over feed as this is often the biggest cause of alge. Simply pulling and scrubbing it off rocks and cutting back feeding is how I won the hair alge battle.

 

[BoneXriffic]

How olds the tank? Nutrient levels? And can we get a picture. There are several brown algae all needing a different approach

 

[Austin R]

How olds the tank? Nutrient levels? And can we get a picture. There are several brown algae all needing a different approach

I haven't done a test in a while I'll do one right now and post the results

 

[Austin R]

How olds the tank? Nutrient levels? And can we get a picture. There are several brown algae all needing a different approach

Looks like I need a big water change not sure how stuff is living in my tank..... my nitrite is 0 I couldn't fit it in the picture

 

[Evan West]

Looks like I need a big water change not sure how stuff is living in my tank..... my nitrite is 0 I couldn't fit it in the picture

That is definatly not good, how often do you usually do a WC?

 

[Austin R]

That is definatly not good, how often do you usually do a WC?

To be honest the tank was broken for a while and just sitting there somehow nothing died in it got it running a week ago I usually did every other week or every 3 weeks

 

[Evan West]

To be honest the tank was broken for a while and just sitting there somehow nothing died in it got it running a week ago I usually did every other week or every 3 weeks

Well gonna guess thats your problem then lol, its being agsty from the essential restart. Id do a 50% WC and then do another 50% next week and so on till those levels come back down to under 10 for NO3. Then id recommend 5-10% weekly unless your levels are staying under 10, then seeming how your coral load is low you can go back to once every other week.

 

[Tautog]

Your tank doesn't look that old, but WC's will help. Do a very large WC, 70-80%, then 50% every week until your No3's reduce. You don't seem to have enough stuff to eat what your feeding. Feed every other day until you have more stuff, or just very small amounts. Siphoning any leftover foods or garbage will help a lot.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Looks like I need a big water change not sure how stuff is living in my tank..... my nitrite is 0 I couldn't fit it in the picture

Is it tap water?

 

[Austin R]

Is it tap water?

When I first started I used tap but I tested the water it wasn't good so I started using distilled water from the store ro/di water isn't the easiest to find around me

 

[Austin R]

Your tank doesn't look that old, but WC's will help. Do a very large WC, 70-80%, then 50% every week until your No3's reduce. You don't seem to have enough stuff to eat what your feeding. Feed every other day until you have more stuff, or just very small amounts. Siphoning any leftover foods or garbage will help a lot.

Would you recommend scrubbing all the algae from glass and rocks?

 

[Evan West]

Would you recommend scrubbing all the algae from glass and rocks?

Yes but do a large WC after and clean your mecanical filter

 

[BoneXriffic]

When I first started I used tap but I tested the water it wasn't good so I started using distilled water from the store ro/di water isn't the easiest to find around me

Walmart and publix sell the ro water in a jug with a green cap. If you must use store bought it is better than the distilled

 

[Austin R]

Walmart and publix sell the ro water in a jug with a green cap. If you must use store bought it is better than the distilled

Ok thanks

 

[Austin R]

I forgot to say I have a sump so do I just take water out of the display tank?

 

[Evan West]

I forgot to say I have a sump so do I just take water out of the display tank?

Yep, just turn your pumps off and take it out of the display. Just be sure to put back what you take out so the water level does not change.

 

[Tautog]

Would you recommend scrubbing all the algae from glass and rocks?

You can scrub all you want, but you're off course, invest in a 4- stage R/O, and a skimmer are the main requirements, also lighting, but for truly clean water with little till no algae you need a good R/O, it will save you money and headaches.

 

[Austin R]

Hey guys I just did my water change any suggestions to keep the brown algae away after changing the water?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Pretty good chance it's diatoms. Diatoms eventually go away. They are also a good food source for micro fauna and essential for new reefs. I would just let it ride. Definitely look into a 4-stage+ RO/DI.

I used to haul RO water from the LFS and eventually the grocery store. Got old very quick. I purchased a BRS 4 stage and typically the filters last me about a year...typically.

You said the tanks been running a week? What type of sand did you use?