Golden brown algae on substrate

[sbazain]

Only where the lights hit it, under neath the rocks is white as snow not cyano and its not the regular brown of cycling checked phos. And their at 0.25 nitrates 0 couls it be to much red on the lights?

 

[Scallywag]

Sounds like diatoms. I have them from time to time. I can't figure out why either. Although, after redoing my rockwork and giving the entire sand bed a thorough sifting, it doesn't happen ad much. You can try running a media reactor with something to help control phosphates and nitrates. I tried that and it did nothing.

 

[sbazain]

I took my reactor out and phosphate is at minimal but is a weird looking diatom it just wont go away

 

[sbazain]

I took water sample today and phos. Are good no nitrates i added some mangrove lets see what this guy's do

 

[Scallywag]

I only had diatoms on the sand, like you're describing. I tried adding all different sand cleaners (nassarius, conch, star, goby) as well. They help but it didn't eliminate it. Maybe it's not diatoms? You have a pic?

 

[Scallywag]

The mangroves were another thing I considered. Let us know how they do for you.