How to treat brown algae ?

Picoflreefer. · Jul 11, 2020

I’m battling a small amount of brown algae diatom in my 7 gallon nano reef tank. I’ve vacuumed it out multiple times, changed filter, did big water changes , and still is growing slowly. After the 4th day of vacuuming it’s back again. What can I do to treat this??? I went out of town and a friend fed my tank way to much which caused the breakout
Sand bottom, no skimmer, feed mysis shrimp. Have snails and hermits. Cut back on feeding since this happened.

shwareefer · Jul 12, 2020

If they are actually diatoms they will die out naturally without any intervention. If it's dinos, that's a whole other story but I don't see any of the tell-tale air bubbles in your pictures.

Idaho Lone Wolf · Jul 12, 2020

Two things I would recommend. First, get a skimmer. It will help get dissolved organics out of the water which is feeding your brown algae. Second, dosing a bacteria supplement will also help. I have used the bacteria and it removed the brown algae. I've used Brightwell and Dr. Tim's. Follow directions very closely on the bacteria. Hopefully you are doing your weekly 10% water changes and using RO or RODI water for mixing your salt.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 12, 2020

IMO, it is important to know if it is diatoms (use silicate free top off and they will go away) or dinos (vary hard to get rid of) or cyanobacteria (middling issue).

Picoflreefer. · Jul 12, 2020

shwareefer said:
If they are actually diatoms they will die out naturally without any intervention. If it's dinos, that's a whole other story but I don't see any of the tell-tale air bubbles in your pictures.

No air bubbles. No high phosphate levels or nitrates.

Picoflreefer. · Jul 12, 2020

Idaho Lone Wolf said:
Two things I would recommend. First, get a skimmer. It will help get dissolved organics out of the water which is feeding your brown algae. Second, dosing a bacteria supplement will also help. I have used the bacteria and it removed the brown algae. I've used Brightwell and Dr. Tim's. Follow directions very closely on the bacteria. Hopefully you are doing your weekly 10% water changes and using RO or RODI water for mixing your salt.

I do weekly changes religiously. Ro water for top off.

Picoflreefer. · Jul 12, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
IMO, it is important to know if it is diatoms (use silicate free top off and they will go away) or dinos (vary hard to get rid of) or cyanobacteria (middling issue).

I will get a silicate test and test my ro water. It comes from lfs.

Picoflreefer. · Jul 12, 2020

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
IMO, it is important to know if it is diatoms (use silicate free top off and they will go away) or dinos (vary hard to get rid of) or cyanobacteria (middling issue).

It’s either diatoms or cyano. My nitrates and phosphates are not high in my tank though.