Choclate Brown Encrusting Algae???pics

[DT's_Reef]

I would be shocked if it was brown wafer algae. I've had it before. I got rid of it by making certain my alk/calcium/magnesium levels were appropriate and using phosphate remover. The stuff suddenly became very easy to pick off the rocks, and it all went away very quickly.

I would suggest making certain your alk/ca/mag levels are good...maybe raise your mag level up to 1500 slowly (above normal), toss in an urchin or two, have good circulation, limit feeding, and see what happens. Oh, and turn off your lights 2-3 days and see if there's an improvement.

 

[stricknine]

It isnt TOO hard to scrape off, and yes after a bit of research I am pretty sure it is not brown wafer. With a tank full of fish and coral I would be very apprehensive about blasting all of my rock with boiling water! Wouldnt want to cook something in the process!

 

[luther1200]

I've had Brown Wafer Algae for almost 2 yrs now. I have had all my levels, correct for a long time, and have used GFO with no success. Maybe if you get if when it first starts its easy to get off. But I let it grow a first because I didn't know what it was. I have done everything including taking all my LR out of the tank and scrubbing it until it was totally clean, but it came back in a few weeks. I think there was tiny particles of it in the water itself from previous attempts to clean it while the LR was in the tank. If you miss 1 little flake, and it lands in a suitable spot it will start growing. Its a total PITA.


But I am not really sure if thats even what you have from those pics. Can you get a closer 1?

 

[jerryreefrigger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14759643#post14759643 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luther1200
If its what I have its brown wafer algae. Here is a pic of mine, so the OP can tell use if this is what it looks like in person

This is the stuff that Naso tangs will devour, however it does not look to me to be the same stuff that stricknine has. Almost every surface in my 90 was covered with this stuff. Naso gobbled it all up in short order.