Need help with some brown algae/diatoms

xmjxflipx · Sep 8, 2009

I prob was having high phosphates for a long while.........glass always had brown film, rocks started turning brown, frag rack had brown algae and my frag disks had this powdery substance when i rubbed it off.....so im thinking phosphates.......i dont have an accurate test cause its an API, but i did run a phosban reactor with phosguard.......recently bought brightwells phosphat-E, uses i believe lanthanum chloride to attach to reactive phosphate molecules and is removed via mechanical filtration or skimmer................

Even though i dont have an accurate phosphate test......lets assume my phosphate is now low.......maybe undetectable.........how long does it take for the algae on my rocks, and frag rack, etc...to return to normal/its natural color from the brown algae??

Does everyone have the problem with algae film on their glass regularly.....jw...

i have a 50 gallon with a 10 gallon fuge the fuge is prob 2-3 weeks old running chaeto....... lights are prob on 10-12 hours....

laskopyre · Sep 8, 2009

If it's diatoms, that can also be caused by silicates. This can come from types of sand, or from your water. Keeping this low would help remedy diatoms.

xmjxflipx · Sep 8, 2009

ahh ic....phosguard does say it removes silicates.....but to what extent...i do not know...........i guess the only way is by using HC GFO

laskopyre · Sep 9, 2009

It does remove silicates, but you will have to find the root cause of it. If you are not using aragonite sand, but play sand it can come from there. If your RO/DI filters are old, it could be coming from your water. Best to get a silicate test to see if they are high.

ahayes13 · Sep 9, 2009

i was having some problems with silicates. and i am using phosguard, and was changing it more frequently than recommended. and also did 3-4 very large water changes. and now everything is looking great. dont underestimate the power of water changes. :)
as far as the algae on rocks etc i would do manual removal. a water pic is great or using a toothbrush or whatever, i think that would def. help