Brown algae/growth problem.

[Clarkross]

Hi guys,

So had my 100 litre (23g) up and running for a few months now.
I recently changed my lighting to a radion xr30 and added a vortech mp10.

Since then my live rock and glass have experienced a huge boom in this brown algae. I have tried wiping it off everything, water changes. Changing the light settings to lower its growth however it just constantly comes back and with a vengeance.

Any suggestions on how to deal with this nuisance?

Thanks a lot!

 

[mcgyvr]

Pics to help identify?
nitrate/phosphate levels?

 

[Clarkross]

Pics

Pics

Sorry, forgot to attach.

Nitrate is below 0.03
Phosphate is 0.2

Thanks

 

[ericarenee]

are you using ro/di water

if not its likely your feeding the algae the low nutrient test results could be because the algae is keeping up with the consumption... My best guess on a tank that newly setup its not mature enough to consume the nutrients on its own yet with your (unknown) bio-load..

 

[anthonys51]

yes, your tank looks new and rocks dont have much good life of them yet. you needs more stuff to consume the phosphates/nitrates/lights/co2 energy , because no matter how low nutrients are in your tank if corals, Marco algae, and or coraline algae isnt consuming it algae will grow. i would start with adding some fast growing corals. can always take them out afterwards. i am big on letting nature find a balance in your tank.

 

[AboutAcans]

I like how your cleaner shrimp jumped into the shot. And don't add corals or anything else that isn't a solid form of biological filtration. If you have something like dinoflagellates it'll grow over the polyps and suffocate the things. I don't think it's hair algae cause it isn't hairy, or from what I can tell from the pics. Looks like brown slime. Not REALLY red enough to be cyano, and not bubbly enough to be dino (although I wouldn't rule either out because it's new). Would say IMO let it runs it's course for a bit and see if it goes away on it's own, if you have a good bio filtration. Also, cut back anything you're adding that's contributing to higher nutrient levels; for at least a little while.

 

[bal009]

Brown Algae problem

Brown Algae problem

hi Guys,

Please help!

I have brown algae taking over my tank, what should I do to get rid of this? Look at the attached pictures. it first started on the sand and now i see it on the rocks as well. I'm worried that if i don't do anything soon the tank is going to look horrible.

salinity 0.23
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
phosphate 0.25
ph 8.1

 

[1sttimer]

I have brown stuff on all sides of my aquarium sand and rocks.
My set up is relatively new also.
I'm thinking diatoms.

 

[mcgyvr]

hi Guys,

Please help!

I have brown algae taking over my tank, what should I do to get rid of this? Look at the attached pictures. it first started on the sand and now i see it on the rocks as well. I'm worried that if i don't do anything soon the tank is going to look horrible.

salinity 0.23
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
phosphate 0.25
ph 8.1

Its totally normal to go through some algae stages with a new tank and having phosphates that high is NOT helping..
You are probably overfeeding..

The new tank algae stages will pass provided you keep working on lowering that phosphate level. Water changes/reduced feeding..

And your salinity should be 1.023 not .23 so I'm not sure we can trust your phosphate reading either..