Tired old subject: Brown Algae

[watergator]

Well my 180 gallon has developed an outbreak of brown algae. It looks like someone sprinkled cinamon powder on my sand and rocks.

I cleaned all my rocks and sand but can't get rid of it. I'm using a chemical treatment that slows it down at best...

Any suggestions?

 

[magikfly]

If it's cyano, you'll be okay just doing regular wc's and improving flow.
For diatoms, get a CUC

 

[VacavilleFC3S]

sounds like diatoms too me, cyano does not like look brown powder

 

[watergator]

Thanks for the tips. I recently changed my RO filter, but didn't purge out the first batch. Maybe I got a bunch of phosphate from that?

 

[ChrisKirkland]

Very possible that you got a bunch of silicates from not purging it.

 

[watergator]

I've done three 50 gallon water changes in two weeks with now real change. The algae does seem to disapate when the lights are off. Either that or it looses it's color.

Does this type of algae cause any significant problems though?