Help With Brown Algae Please!

[underWoasisjake]

Ok this whole time the 125 has been up and running i havent had any problem with algae until now. A brown algae is beginning to take over the the LR and the LS. What kind of algae is it and what can i do to clear it up. Also i think this is effecting the growth of my cheato and culerpa which hasnt been growing at all.

What can be causing this brown algae. There is no other typer of algae problems in the tank besides this brown one. It may be my nitrates that i have brought down to 40 ppm from 160 ppm. After talking with Stephen (puffin) i mite be making my own Nitrate coil. Not sure yet please let me know what to do and some suggestions thanks.

 

[Kentanner11]

Could be phosphate.....

 

[Colerphon]

I have had the same problem with the caulerpa. Once it goes sexual it begins to dump nitrates into the water, basically nuking your tank in nitrates. I ended up tearing my sump down and replacing everything including the sand and starting over with just chaeto. I havent had nitrate problems or strange blooms since.

I hope this info helps,
Tommy

 

[underWoasisjake]

ok great thanks for the helpful info!!!
ya it could be the culerpa and cheato which have grew at all and could simpy be dumping nitrates into the main tank. Did you replace the sand with new sand or rinse your existing sand in the refugium.

 

[McCrary]

I would just keep chaeto in my tank, be sure to remove some of the chaeto when it starts to get too big. The brown algae is most likely caused my elevated phosphates, which can be brought down with a phosphate reactor (which is pretty cheap and easy to operate).

 

[underWoasisjake]

ok great thanks alot!