Help with identifying algea

[SaltyMermaid86]

Can anyone tell me what kind of problem I'm dealing with and if there is anything specific I need to do? Is this just the ugly phase? My tank is 2 months old now and it gets worse everyday. I've already reduced my light cycle and am only using 5% of my Whites when they are on.

Also I have the red sea xl 200 and I dont think my power heads are strong enough. Are there any recommendations for some that would be ideal for my size tank?

 

[ScubaFish802]

Looks like Diatoms, pretty common in a newer tank!

 

[SaltyMermaid86]

Looks like Diatoms, pretty common in a newer tank!

Is there anything I can do to help it along and dissappear?

 

[ScubaFish802]

Probably go away on their own after a few weeks

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is there anything I can do to help it along and dissappear?

Diatoms it is and while it has a short cycle, persons like yourself do not invite the site of it. Diatoms are a brown algae that typically appear in a reef tank that has just completed its cycle but they can also appear in an established reef tank. They can cover sand, rock, pumps, glass, you name it. Diatoms look ugly but in most cases they are harmless so the key is to not panic when they appear.
Diatoms feed mainly off of silicates but also consume dissolved organic compounds, phosphate and nitrates. Unfiltered tap water can contain silicates and is a good way to jump start a bloom if you use it to mix salt or to replace water that evaporated from the tank. The best way to prevent this from happening is to filter water through a RODI unit, although you can still get a diatom bloom when using RODI if the cartridge that removes silicates expires.
diatoms are typically harmless to a captive reef and can be beaten once their food source expires. Once you put the kibosh on the source, the outbreak should last a couple of weeks so just be patient and it will pass. For major outbreaks you may want to consider the three day blackout. Diatoms are easily wiped from the glass with a mag float, a turkey baster or a toothbrush can access other areas of the tank. Be prepared for them to re-establish themselves quickly, they are likely to be able to resettle and have exponential growth rates.
To prevent their return, practice good aquarium husbandry by doing regular water changes, keep the substrate clean, don’t overfeed the fish, ensure your skimmer is running at an optimal level and rinse out filter socks and sponges on a regular basis.
Some cleaner crew to help control it are : Cerith snails, Nerite snails and Trochus snails and also Astraea snails are effective at removing diatoms.

 

[SaltyMermaid86]

Diatoms it is and while it has a short cycle, persons like yourself do not invite the site of it. Diatoms are a brown algae that typically appear in a reef tank that has just completed its cycle but they can also appear in an established reef tank. They can cover sand, rock, pumps, glass, you name it. Diatoms look ugly but in most cases they are harmless so the key is to not panic when they appear.
Diatoms feed mainly off of silicates but also consume dissolved organic compounds, phosphate and nitrates. Unfiltered tap water can contain silicates and is a good way to jump start a bloom if you use it to mix salt or to replace water that evaporated from the tank. The best way to prevent this from happening is to filter water through a RODI unit, although you can still get a diatom bloom when using RODI if the cartridge that removes silicates expires.
diatoms are typically harmless to a captive reef and can be beaten once their food source expires. Once you put the kibosh on the source, the outbreak should last a couple of weeks so just be patient and it will pass. For major outbreaks you may want to consider the three day blackout. Diatoms are easily wiped from the glass with a mag float, a turkey baster or a toothbrush can access other areas of the tank. Be prepared for them to re-establish themselves quickly, they are likely to be able to resettle and have exponential growth rates.
To prevent their return, practice good aquarium husbandry by doing regular water changes, keep the substrate clean, don’t overfeed the fish, ensure your skimmer is running at an optimal level and rinse out filter socks and sponges on a regular basis.
Some cleaner crew to help control it are : Cerith snails, Nerite snails and Trochus snails and also Astraea snails are effective at removing diatoms.

Thank you so much! I do currently used Rodi. We have our own system here. Maybe I'll have to get my husband to make sure the cartridge isn't expired. It's only 2 months old as well.

 

[Duncan62]

Is there anything I can do to help it along and dissappear?

It shall pass. Lol. Maintain your water parameters, put something in there to eat it. A mix of pods from algae barn will help. But mostly be patient.