Brown Algae on Glass

[Raquiros]

Greetings everyone!

I'm new to the hobby, I started a 20 gallons tank back in November 2013, here's the setup:
Fluval 206 Canister Filter
Lee's Protein Skimmer
Marineland Reef Capable LED 18''
Sand from the beach (cleaned)
Cured live rock from a store

Currently the salinity is 1.023 and PH is 8.0

As far as the habitante goes I have:
x2 Clown Fishes
x2 Yellow Tail Damsels
x1 Yellow Wrassle
x1 Fire Shrimp
x1 Sand Sea Star
x1 Ritteri Anemone
x 3 Turbo Snails

Currently I have a brown algae mainly on the glass and rocks (more on the edges), I have cleaned it several times using the magnet cleaner but it keeps coming...

My two questions:

1) Can it be auto-cleaned with some liquid, procedure or habitant (besides the turbo snail).

2) How do I prevent that?

Im using TetraMarine Saltwater Flakes and I don't have a power head (yet), just the canister filter itself.

Thanks in advance, I'm attaching a picture of the tank with the algae.

[coralsnaked]

Well brown or diatomic algae is a part of the system. It is Plankton. No magic bullet but three things jump out at me about your tank. 1. sand from beach 2. amount of fish in a 20 g and 3. canister filter. All can contribute to food to fuel the algae, namely PO4 and NO3 Phosphates and Nitrates rspectively. Beach sand even if cleaned can have all kind of infiltrates in it breaking down into Trates and Phates. Too mnay fish and feeding really increases these and a canister filter can become dirty and do the same. My guess is work on good house keeping skills don't overfeed and test tosee where you are with the Trates and Phates

[Raquiros]

Well brown or diatomic algae is a part of the system. It is Plankton. No magic bullet but three things jump out at me about your tank. 1. sand from beach 2. amount of fish in a 20 g and 3. canister filter. All can contribute to food to fuel the algae, namely PO4 and NO3 Phosphates and Nitrates rspectively. Beach sand even if cleaned can have all kind of infiltrates in it breaking down into Trates and Phates. Too mnay fish and feeding really increases these and a canister filter can become dirty and do the same. My guess is work on good house keeping skills don't overfeed and test tosee where you are with the Trates and Phates

Thank you for your quick reply! A few more questions just to get it clear...

1. Can the sand from the beach eventually get cleaned? It's been like 3 months with it, and that didn't happen in the very beginning.

2. I use like 2-3 pinch of TetraMarine Saltwater Flakes (not sure if that's too much, I eventually see some flakes floating around for some time, then I gets eaten or sinks to the bottom.

3. I took water to my local store, they measure it and told me the parameters were excellent! I clean my canister once a month (change carbon, clean foam and ceramic).

Thanks again!

[Raquiros]

Anyone?

[Rob0910]

I am using a fluval fx5 in place of a sump. I took all foam and filter media and replaced it with lr rubble. This has worked great so far on my 75 gallon. The brown stuff came and went. Now I am on green and starting with red here and there. I have like six different types of snails and they are keeping it under control. I only fed every three days for the first two months. Now with the cuc I have I feed 2 times a day.

[Rob0910]

Your tank is cycling that takes time. The base material will always be where the trash collects so I wouldn't hope to have that clean.

[shifty51008]

That ritri anemone is gonna get way to big for that tank and you dont have enough lights for it either, these anemones are for the experienced hobbiest and even they have a hard time with them.

[Rob0910]

Yep the ritteri is really finicky. I just bought a hydra 52 just because the one I had kept hanging right under the surface against my current LEDs. I added 2 ai sols I got a deal on a couple of days later. Light is not an issue now for mine. Good luck with yours.

[bundybear1981]

I would also say your salinity is on the low side too, I would be raising it to 1.026 over a few weeks. Also make sure you are getting surface agitation to help gas exchange. A powerhead imo is a must.
Also be careful collection from the beach, some areas prohibit collection n you may introduce a pest.