PDA

View Full Version : Brown Algae!!!!!!Help please


emilecilliers
02/19/2009, 08:43 AM
I have had this tank for 2 years now and i have a problem.

Brown algae seems to be taking over everything.Its covering my live rock ,glass and some of my corals.

All the tests come out just fine.I have taken samples to various marine shops and hey say my water quality is awesome.So why the algae.

Here is my set up
6ft x 3ft x 2ft
sump 4ft x 1.5ft x 1.5ft
return pump oceanrunner 3500
prizm skimmer
lava rock in first compartment
second compartment:
Miracle mud
Bio balls
Third compartment:
Return pump
1Kg of rowa carbon
250g of rowa phos
Main tank:
1 x sunsun 5500l/h powerhead*
1 x sunsun 12000l/h powerhead*
2 x maxijet 1200l/h powerhead
2 x 250w metal halide 20 000k( 10hrs a day)

I was wondering if this could be of a lack of live rock in my tank as i only have about 20-30kg of live rock in there
Not many corals (only a few mushrooms)

3 clown fish
2 yellow tail damsels
1 yellow tang med size
1 goldrim tang large
about 10 turbo snails*
1 serpant star fish*
1 sansifting starfish
1 picasso trigger (small)
1 cardinal

I try keeping the glass clean by scraping it off daily.
But there isnt much i can do about the rocks
To be honest it has been neglected for a few months but im on top of it now and my water quality is fine,the only problem i have is the algae.

any help would be appreciated

Anything marked with a * is new addition to the tank in the last week.

Thanks

emilecilliers
02/19/2009, 02:30 PM
can anyone give me some suggestions?

buccard
02/19/2009, 04:34 PM
Post some pictures and maybe you will get more responses. Other wise the standard form answer would be-algae is cause by excessive nutrients in the water column- reduce nutrients through better husbandry, nutrient export, and limiting nutrient introduction: there are a host of supplemental techniques many have posted about-like 3 days lights out monthly or 6 days lights 1 day no lights.

This answer will work for most brown algae posts but if you are dealing with diatoms, cyano, dinos, and even hair algae there may be even more specific strategies people can suggest.

Expansion

Better husbandry:
Water changes
Filter changes
cleaning the skimmer
blowing off rocks
vacuuming detrius
Proper stocking levels with balanced species
Changing aged bulbs

Nutrient export:
Good skimmer
Carbon and GFO media
Refugium
Water changes(especially when water column is dirty-after rock cleaning)

Limiting nutrient introduction:
Not overfeeding
Using RO-DI water(confirmed with TDS-you never know)

Supplemntal techniques:
ensuring adequate water flow
changing Lighting strategies
Chemicals(I do not recommend)
Chemistry-some believe chemistry can affect growth-like increasing mag to reduce dinos

I am sure there are some things I have missed-chances are one of these areas are where you problems root exists-now it is up to you to find it! I have battled issues with cyano and green hair algae and so far I am winning the war-although I had bad days along the way. Just be patient and if you are doing the right things your issues should improve.

Your tank has been up a long time-if your problem just started think about what has changed...if the problem has been creeping in for some time then it may be a combination of things and may take some time to bet back.

Good luck-I know how frustrating it can be...most of us in this hobby can relate I'm sure.

I hope something I have typed triggers something for you. Keep your progress posted as I would like to see how it all works out for you.

emilecilliers
02/19/2009, 04:57 PM
Thanks for this reply.I will definately take some of these measures and use them.I will post some pictures tomorrow as well so the type can be identified as im not sure of the type exactly.

Ill keep fighting though and im setting up a refugium tomorrow as well.

thanks

emilecilliers
02/19/2009, 05:22 PM
here is a pic of my tang and you can see the algae in the background on the rocks
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/523/214213mini-DSCF1069.JPG

buccard
02/19/2009, 10:24 PM
Great looking tang, Hard to tell the type of algae from that picture...Oh and I forgot earlier:

[welcome]

emilecilliers
02/20/2009, 02:32 AM
Thanks.Ill post a better pic later today of the algae when the light is on

emilecilliers
02/20/2009, 05:03 AM
Some pics of the problem
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/214213mini-DSCF1079.JPG
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/214213mini-DSCF1078.JPG
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/214213mini-DSCF1076.JPG http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/214213mini-DSCF1074.JPG
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/214213mini-DSCF1073.JPG

Hope this helps

dendro982
02/20/2009, 05:06 AM
I don't like its carpet-like look with long filaments, doesn't look as diatoms to me. May be dinoflagellates?
I would siphon the main mass, as soon as it appears, run more frequently changed carbon, check, if decaying matter accumulates under/behind the rock or in the sand bed.
If these are dinoflagellates indeed, special complicated treatment may be required. There were several threads about battling dinoflagellates here, at RC.

emilecilliers
02/20/2009, 06:16 AM
What could be the cause of this algae?

emilecilliers
02/23/2009, 11:25 AM
Right.seems like I am slowly winning th war.

What have I done?

Well
1.Removed all bio balls from my sump.
2.Stirred the miracle mud in my sump up a bit.
3.Directed flow of powerheads over my rock
4.Added a refugium(70 liters)
5.Running my skimmer very wet.
6.Didnt reduce feeding as I was already doing that.

I dont want to jinx myself but its looking alot better already

buccard
02/23/2009, 12:54 PM
Good to hear, maybe you can post some before and after shots once everything is under control!

emilecilliers
02/23/2009, 01:53 PM
I will post some pics as i go along.I have already posted some pics from before and will prob post weekly pics as it gets better