Brown Algae A Danger

[reef rico]

Hey I just got my 180 gallon tank and put in live rock which I had kept from my 33 gallon which was running for 2 years. I put the live rock in sw for around a week with no aireation. After that I cured the live rock and my tank been up for around a month or so. My sump has no macro algae in it yet but am planning on putting some soon. Ive got a 250 hallide over the live rock with 2 x 24 watt t5s. The bulb is a 14000k and its been used for 3months. My problem is that brownish gold algae is growing over the live rock and subrate. Ive got water that circulates my tank 40 x so would the algae just disapear by its self and is this a normal cycle issue?

 

[jdieck]

Seems like a cycle issue. Some salts contain vitamins that may promote that type of algae. I got that with RC and Oceanic so maybe switching salts may help if the problem presists more than a couple of weeks.

 

[reef rico]

The thing is i live in australia and I buy my sw from the local fish shop. It comes from the sea so i cant really control that unless i mix my own salt and ive never done that so what else can it be?

 

[jdieck]

Then just wait for the cycle to complete although coming from the sea may not insure that it is free from nitrates, phosphates silicates or other algae feeding nutrients that you may test for just in case.

 

[reef rico]

See thats why Im afraid to get water from my LFS.
I want to have a full on SPS tank but thats the problem you need all these test kits. I guess thats part of the hobby but ill be getting test kits soon and going to make sure every thing is A okey. Is there a chance that this algae may get out of control or is that more commin with green hair algae?

 

[jdieck]

Usually brown diatom film algae is not a big problem, hair algae (Green, red or golden brown) and bryopsis are the ones that become difficult to control.

 

[reef rico]

ok thanks for the info im just since i do water change from my sump im going to live the brown algae in the tank and see what happens.