please help hair brown algae taking over pics

[BrentH]

just recently i have had an out break of this algae
i have metal hilides on the tank
nitrates are at 20ppm
phosphates are at 0ppm
i think its the top off water i use has silicates but not sure
i just ordered a typhoon 3 ro unit do you think this will help??
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j146/brenthodson/000_0483.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j146/brenthodson/000_0482.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j146/brenthodson/000_0481.jpg

[BrentH]

no ones had this problem

[Mike 1911A1]

I had that problem but I got a blue diamond goby and he keeps the same bright white. The purple/red stuff on the rocks looks kinda like cyno bacteria. Does it blow off the rock easily?

Mike

[Andrew]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7366381#post7366381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BrentH
no ones had this problem

Not true. This brown algae is common in new tanks. Pretty much, every tank will go through this stage.

[Mike 1911A1]

Plenty of people have had this problem. Does it blow off the rock easily?

Mike

[BrentH]

yes

[Mike 1911A1]

It's probably cyno bacteria (not really an algea at all). It is caused by high nutrients and phosphates in the water. I am still going through a phase of this. It's best to suck as much out as possible with a turkey baster and keep alot of flow on the rock where it's growing as it's very common in dead flow areas. As for the sand, a sand sifting goby or star will help a great deal.

Mike

[Sk8r]

If it gets too bad or threatens specimens ask again. There's a fix for it in its worst stages, but best save it for now.

[ken123]

I have the same problem right now. Using a turkey baster to suck up the cyano off the rocks & sand, this is tedious work. And I put a sponge in the sump to pick up any small floating peices. Also added my 2nd Seio 820 pump to increase flow. Ordered a Phosban reactor (http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=TL4311), waiting for this to arrive.

Once I sucked up as much as I could and increased flow, it did not come back as fast, but it's still coming.

[BrentH]

how long will it last
its pretty bad and been bad for weeks
will ro top off water help?

[BrentH]

also it seems to only grow were theres light not behind all the rock work and it has bubbles on it should i get a phosphate reactor ?

[Sk8r]

If you're not using ro/di water, there's one source of problems. Better a ro/di unit than a phosphate reactor.

[BrentH]

i have been buying water from the lfs but i don't trust the guy
he says it ro but i doubt he ever changes any of the filters
the ro unit i am getting is comeing with a tds meter i am going to test his water and see where it at