Brown Algae Problem

[muhnandr]

Hello,

Have had my 65 up for a few months now. Chemistry is pretty good, calc is a little high (500) and alk is a little low (7) but other than that, everything is spot on including 0 nitrates and 0 phosphates. Some of my frag plugs (and ins some small random spots on my rock) are growing this brown hair/slime algae. Not quite hair algae and not cyano. Flow in the tank is pretty good, using 2 korlia 3s. Lighting is a 6 bulb t5 tek that was new 2 months ago. Run all 6 for about 8 hours and two bulbs for 12 hours. It's starting to bum out some of my zoos so I need to figure out how to get rid of it. I will try to get a pick up in the next couple of days. Thanks

 

[muhnandr]

Sorry, duplicate - please delete

 

[sc reefer]

I would double check your top off water and make absolutely sure that it is good. I had bad top off once and it wasnt pretty.

 

[Scott-CapeCoral]

I would double check your top off water and make absolutely sure that it is good. I had bad top off once and it wasnt pretty.

When you say bad top-off what do you mean exactlly? I have a buddy that can't get rid of this same problem, his tank is a 220. Our city water is RO. So I don't understand where his issue is coming from. I've never personally tested our water, i've never had a problem topping off from the tap. However i've been told our water is fine to use just like i'm doing. And what I do is the same my friend does. But he keeps getting the damn brown algea. I think he even has more flow than I do..

 

[HighlandReefer]

Perhaps this brown stuff is not algae and is bacteria growing on your rock?

Does it clean off easily when brushed? Does this brown growth occur on your glass?

 

[miked0523]

Sounds like Dinofalegates (sorry for the spelling) it is common in newer tanks . Just practice proper husbandry and it will clear up in a few weeks. keeping a higher ph 8.2-8.4 will help . Also your alk and cal are out of balance raising your alk will lower your cal.

 

[muhnandr]

It does seem to be more of a bacteria than a hair algae. Just got home from a couple days away and glass was pretty covered with a light film that came right off with one sweep of mag float. Beginning to grow quite long on some frag plugs. Isolated to random small spots on rock and alos on a number of snails. I will try to get pictures later today. Going to do a small water change and might kill the lights for a day or two. Thanks

 

[HighlandReefer]

If it is bacterial and your not dosing a carbon source, then I would cut back a little on your feeding and try to clean the bacteria away as best as possible. If you are dosing a carbon source, then I would cut back on it a little.

 

[muhnandr]

I have two chemi-pros in the sump