brown algee

[BigHack2006]

I just set my new tank up, I had a 29 and now am in a 46 bow, no fish or corals yet of course, but i do have all my live rock in. I am having a problem with brown algee, it is thick. I have my lights on for about 3 hours a day to try and stop the algee growth but it isnt stopping. Is there anything i can do? I just have 36" PC's.

 

[dnejdl]

is your water ro/di water? your bulbs might be bad ? Temp of water ? There are several things it could be. Get some snails and crabs, a cleaner crew.

 

[dnejdl]

any water movement?

 

[glaspie69]

The problem is your tank is cycling, with you changing things like lighting it just makes the cycle longer.

 

[tibbs2]

I second what glaspie said. Its normal for a new tank.

 

[billbigsbe1]

I just sold my 46 bow for that same reason. I fought the algae for years yet my larger reef tank has no problems. I was told that the 46g bowfront has the worst surface area (small) for gas exchange. I think that your only luck is to either drain and drill it for a overflow or get rid of it! Sorry for the negative responce, I just dont want you to make the same mistakes as me. P.S. I sold mine to a Chiclid guy

 

[JSM]

Lots of people have small tanks with no problems, you don't need to get rid of it. It's cycling, this is normal, you will also probably go through cyanobacteria and hair algae and that is also normal in a new tank. Don't get discouraged, if you do things right it will go away eventually.

Janna

 

[PotRoast]

Your tank is cycling right now.

You may benefit from a phosphate reactor.

But chances are the brown algae is actually diatoms, and the source is phosphates being released in mass from your live rock.

This happened to me, happens to everyone. In a month it should be gone. Now may be a good time to introduce blue leg crabs and astrea snails.

 

[Modemagic]

Happened to me as well. I found it helped if I harvested some of the bigger pieces.