Need help with brown algae

Zac1302

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I have this brown algae that keeps on growing on my main rock and gsp. Every week I have to brush it with a tooth brush but it always comes back. I always have high phosphate at 0.25 but my nitrate is always at 0. I was just wondering if I should dose nitrate to help balance out the elements to stop this algae. The tank is 2 years old. I do 20% water change every week and clean the substrate every week.
1735315996047.png
 

FindinNemo

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Brown algae in a saltwater tank is often caused by high phosphate levels, which can come from overfeeding, decaying organic matter, or tap water with high phosphates. Diatoms, a common type of brown algae, also thrive in environments with excess silicates, which are found in some types of live rock, substrates, or tap water. Poor water flow can create dead spots where nutrients accumulate, encouraging algae growth, while new tanks often experience brown algae as part of the natural cycling process.

Other contributing factors include imbalanced nutrients, especially when phosphate levels are high and nitrate levels are low, which can promote algae growth. Excessive lighting, particularly with long photoperiods or intense light, can also fuel brown algae. Overfeeding fish and inadequate protein skimming can add excess nutrients to the tank, further supporting algae growth. To reduce brown algae, it’s important to control nutrient levels, improve water flow, limit lighting, and maintain proper feeding and filtration habits.
 

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I have this brown algae that keeps on growing on my main rock and gsp. Every week I have to brush it with a tooth brush but it always comes back. I always have high phosphate at 0.25 but my nitrate is always at 0. I was just wondering if I should dose nitrate to help balance out the elements to stop this algae. The tank is 2 years old. I do 20% water change every week and clean the substrate every week.
1735315996047.png
You got any algae eaters?
 
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Zac1302

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Brown algae in a saltwater tank is often caused by high phosphate levels, which can come from overfeeding, decaying organic matter, or tap water with high phosphates. Diatoms, a common type of brown algae, also thrive in environments with excess silicates, which are found in some types of live rock, substrates, or tap water. Poor water flow can create dead spots where nutrients accumulate, encouraging algae growth, while new tanks often experience brown algae as part of the natural cycling process.

Other contributing factors include imbalanced nutrients, especially when phosphate levels are high and nitrate levels are low, which can promote algae growth. Excessive lighting, particularly with long photoperiods or intense light, can also fuel brown algae. Overfeeding fish and inadequate protein skimming can add excess nutrients to the tank, further supporting algae growth. To reduce brown algae, it’s important to control nutrient levels, improve water flow, limit lighting, and maintain proper feeding and filtration habits
 
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Zac1302

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I might get some chaeto and put it in the back of the aio with a light to export phosphate but for my nitrate being at a constant zero should I dose it or will it make the algea worse?
 

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I might get some chaeto and put it in the back of the aio with a light to export phosphate but for my nitrate being at a constant zero should I dose it or will it make the algea worse?
You got a pic of the whole tank? The algae shown looks minimal in the original pic. I'd be giving it a darn good turkey bastering daily on that section, at least for a while. What test kit are you using for nitrate?
 

sixty_reefer

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I have this brown algae that keeps on growing on my main rock and gsp. Every week I have to brush it with a tooth brush but it always comes back. I always have high phosphate at 0.25 but my nitrate is always at 0. I was just wondering if I should dose nitrate to help balance out the elements to stop this algae. The tank is 2 years old. I do 20% water change every week and clean the substrate every week.
1735315996047.png
Have you got a microscope? This can potentially be dinoflagellates
 

sixty_reefer

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Brown algae in a saltwater tank is often caused by high phosphate levels, which can come from overfeeding, decaying organic matter, or tap water with high phosphates. Diatoms, a common type of brown algae, also thrive in environments with excess silicates, which are found in some types of live rock, substrates, or tap water. Poor water flow can create dead spots where nutrients accumulate, encouraging algae growth, while new tanks often experience brown algae as part of the natural cycling process.

Other contributing factors include imbalanced nutrients, especially when phosphate levels are high and nitrate levels are low, which can promote algae growth. Excessive lighting, particularly with long photoperiods or intense light, can also fuel brown algae. Overfeeding fish and inadequate protein skimming can add excess nutrients to the tank, further supporting algae growth. To reduce brown algae, it’s important to control nutrient levels, improve water flow, limit lighting, and maintain proper feeding and filtration habits.

How would you suggest to control the algae via nutrients without starving the coral from the same nutrients?
Phosphate is a essential nutrient for all marine organisms and not the culprit in this situation or any other situation imo
 

ShakeyGizzard

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I don't use ChatGPT so my answer will be simply worded, If you have a fuge, up the lighting power or time on.
Keep up the manual cleaning in the tank, As stated above it could be something besides algae.
 

ShakeyGizzard

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Brown algae in a saltwater tank is often caused by high phosphate levels, which can come from overfeeding, decaying organic matter, or tap water with high phosphates. Diatoms, a common type of brown algae, also thrive in environments with excess silicates, which are found in some types of live rock, substrates, or tap water. Poor water flow can create dead spots where nutrients accumulate, encouraging algae growth, while new tanks often experience brown algae as part of the natural cycling process.

Other contributing factors include imbalanced nutrients, especially when phosphate levels are high and nitrate levels are low, which can promote algae growth. Excessive lighting, particularly with long photoperiods or intense light, can also fuel brown algae. Overfeeding fish and inadequate protein skimming can add excess nutrients to the tank, further supporting algae growth. To reduce brown algae, it’s important to control nutrient levels, improve water flow, limit lighting, and maintain proper feeding and filtration habits.
you have any pictures of your fresh water tanks
 

stevelee

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Brown algae in a saltwater tank is often caused by high phosphate levels, which can come from overfeeding, decaying organic matter, or tap water with high phosphates. Diatoms, a common type of brown algae, also thrive in environments with excess silicates, which are found in some types of live rock, substrates, or tap water. Poor water flow can create dead spots where nutrients accumulate, encouraging algae growth, while new tanks often experience brown algae as part of the natural cycling process.

Other contributing factors include imbalanced nutrients, especially when phosphate levels are high and nitrate levels are low, which can promote algae growth. Excessive lighting, particularly with long photoperiods or intense light, can also fuel brown algae. Overfeeding fish and inadequate protein skimming can add excess nutrients to the tank, further supporting algae growth. To reduce brown algae, it’s important to control nutrient levels, improve water flow, limit lighting, and maintain proper feeding and filtration habits. minecraft java download
I have a 20-gallon established tank and over the past month I have been getting alot of brown alge building up on the decorations in the tank I don't have any live plants in it. It has a few fake plants driftwood rocks and a artificial rock structure. Inhabitants are guppys neon tetras a blue dwarf gourami and a golden mystery/apple snail. Light is on for 8 to 10 hours a day usually. Any advice on how to get rid of the alge from my decorations or atleast control it would be helpful. to me it makes the tank look bad.
 
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Zac1302

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You got a pic of the whole tank? The algae shown looks minimal in the original pic. I'd be giving it a darn good turkey bastering daily on that section, at least for a while. What test kit are you using for nitrate?
I've been doing daily baster and it's working great Im using salifert for nitrates. What I need to do is raise my nitrates by feeding more sine they are probably dinos
 

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