Ack! Brown algae!

[Aggie04]

My tank is new (30g) with cannister filter, 40lbs live sand, 20lbs live rock. Will be FOWLR. About a week ago I noticed some brown algae stuff collecting on the sand surface and rock. It kept getting worse, and I got three hermit crabs and four small turbo snails this weekend. I also did a 5g water change.

Since then the problem has only become worse. The tops of the liverock is mostly scoured, but the sand is covered, and the sides of the tank are beginning to cloud up with it (I can scrape it, but that is besides the point.... it would still be in there).

Do I just need to get more snails? They don't seem to be interested in the sand anyway. I am doing another 5g water change tonight. I don't know what else to do aside from getting a skimmer, fuge, etc, which I can't afford at the moment. Suggestions?

 

[WBrian]

When you do your water changes, are you using a length of tubing and sucking it off the sand? They make a siphon hose with a wide mouth just for that purpose, too. But a length of tubing works fine. As the tank cycles and the water changes continue it should improve.

The other thing to do is to get a macro algae of some type to compete for the nutrients that are feeding your brown algae. Cheato or caulerpa grow well and are better at using the nurtrients than the "bad" algae. You can get a large specimen container (the clear thing that they get fish out of the tanks with at the LFS) and drill a bunch of holes in it. If you have a power head, aim it at it. That will help the water to flow through the holes. as the macro grows, tear some of it off and discard it to encourage it to grow more. (you can offer the discarded part to your LFS or another aquarist or sell it on eBay, or toss it out. Some fist eat them, too.) Competition in the tank will make it hard for the brown algae to thrive. Once your tank is cycled, add a larger cleaner crew. more is gooder!

Later,
Brian

 

[chunchma]

My tank is about 5 weeks old and I just started to get the brown stuff all over the rocks. I think it is natural and should clear it self up. I am not sure but I think they call diatoms (sp). Not sure if that is the right name or thing you are talking about.

New to this myself!!!

 

[Anonymous]

My tank is about 5 weeks old and I just started to get the brown stuff all over the rocks. I think it is natural and should clear it self up. I am not sure but I think they call diatoms (sp). Not sure if that is the right name or thing you are talking about.

New to this myself!!!

Yup. All part of the new tank cycle. Make sure you're skimming, and you are using RO/DI water, so that you don't add silica to the tank.

Good luck!

~wings~

 

[Aggie04]

I am using RO/DI for all my water changes. The tank started with about 50% tap water, which likely had a hand in creating the problem.

 

[mike90]

try keeping your lights off the majority of the day too