6 month brown algea

[craftytony]

So i've hit the 6 month mark and have been battling this brown algea (I guess this is normal at 6 months). It easily blows away with the baster, but is back within a couple days. My nitrates and phosphates were a little high, I am working on those issues now, I did a 30 gallon water change last weekend, and did a 10 gallon water change this past weekend, and will be doing 10 gallon changes every weekend from now on. I have an onyx clown, true perc, watchman goby, flame angel, foxface, purple tang, and hippo tang (bout the size of a quarter). This is a 90 gallon setup with a 20 gallon sump. I've started feeding every other day.
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Any thoughts on this issue? What have some of you done to help make this go away?....thanks!

 

[ykh]

Have you tried lawn mover blenny? They will take care of the algae. I bought two but after taking care of the algae, they starved to death in my tank, saw them eating the frozen food I fed but somehow they still wasted away

 

[tp5056]

Are you using RODI water? If you are... have you tested the TDS to make sure the filters are still good? Also, do you have any macroalgae (like chaeto or caulerpa)?

 

[AuroraDave]

What does the brown algae look like? Is it a film? It may not be algae, but be cynobateria. Fish won't eat that, so adding tangs/blenny's wont help in that case.

There are a lot of theories for the cause, but usually you hear old bulbs, high phosphates, bad water quality or low flow as the primary reasons.

I read several threads a few months ago that seemed to point at low dKH as a possible culprit, maybe someone else will chime in with more details.

 

[craftytony]

I am using RO water, but have no DI yet...I am going to do another test on my water next week after another 10 gallon water change, and see what all my levels are at...I do not have any macro algea
I think it is cynobateria as it is like a film and just blows off the rocks...

 

[hansnfrans]

Cyano is such a pain in the a@# I am having the same problem. Got RO but no DI yet as well. Flow in my tank is good but the cyano still spreads like crazy.

 

[craftytony]

Hopefully someone can help us out!
It's gotta be not having the DI, or High Nitrates, or High Phosphates, or combo of all?

 

[rickyb]

Both of you may want to check your water before putting in your tank. You will never remove anything, if you keep putting it back in with the water changes. Get a DI and a TDS meter.
Auroradave's theories are right IME.

 

[mm949]

black the tank (no lights) for 2-3days....no algae its your bulbs...algae still there its a nutrient issue....

 

[craftytony]

I'm pretty sure it's not my bulbs only cuz I just bought new ones. When is that crab gonna light that cigarette up? Or is it just a poser? lol

 

[newnano]

what about flow? any dead spots? all my algea probs have stemmed from nutrients (crappy ro water) and low flow.

 

[craftytony]

I think I might have to get stronger powerheads, and definitely pick up the DI for my RO unit...