When will this be over....

[Reefer421]

Just sondering if someone who has been through a tank change over knows how long I will have this brown algae? We started running our new tank about 2 months ago and changed over all of the stuff from the old tank about 6 weeks ago.

Everyday there is this brown layer on the sand bed and it is ugly. I have been stirring about the top 1/2 inch of sand everyday. My question is what should I do?? Continue to stir it...leave it alone...or get more snails. I have about 50 nassauris snails + some cerinths + some hermits.

And the other question is when shoud this subside??

Thanks in advance.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

I would stop stirring the sand and let the critters do their work. Most likely you're going to need a few more snails to do it. But, we can't give you a guess of when things might start turning around for you until you give us a base. What are your water parameters? Flow? Temperature? Nitrates? Phosphates?

 

[dmbedard]

Also, do you need more circulation? I needed more powerheads when I changed my 29 & 20 into the 90 I have now. It made a world of difference.

 

[Reefer421]

It is a 210. I have about 3000 gph flow and there are no dead spots. I plan to get some MJ mods in there in the next few weeks for my SPS. Temp stays between 77.5 and 79.5.

Everything is testing at 0 except nitrates are between 10 and 15 and the phosphate is <.1 (not sure of the exact # because of the test kit I am using...getting new one this weekend). Calcium is roughly 400.

I did not use RO/DI water to fill the tank, but I had never used it on the old 55 and did not have algae problems. I got the RO/DI unit, I just have to get it hooked up sometime this weekend.

Everything in the tank is doing excellant. Fish, inverts, filter feeders, and corals. Thanks again for the help.

 

[Reefer421]

Also, I don't notice it on anything else in the tank as much as it is on the sand. We have our lights an for about 11 hours a day and I notice the brown algae is only in areas that ligth gets to. It is not under rock ledges etc. Should I try cutting the ligths back by a few hours until it has slowed down??

 

[dmbedard]

I would do that. Mayber cut back to 8 hours. Sounds like you are well on your way : )

 

[GregDoug]

That brown covering may be diatoms. Please check out some pictures on google and see if that is what you have. Diatoms are common for new tanks or tanks that have been significantly disturbed. With proper cycle, they should go away after about 6 weeks.

 

[Reefer421]

I am pretty sure it is diatoms. Is there anything that will eat this?

 

[guntercb]

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/algaecontrol/a/aa091100_2.htm

"Add some good diatom eating Trochus and Astraea snails"

 

[poknsnok]

my 200 has roughly 10k per hr turnover in it... but I have sps... anywhere you have a dead spot cyano can occur. good skimming, water changes, good flow will help in the long run

 

[Reefer421]

Thanks, I took my lights down to 8 hrs and I am getting some powerheads this weekend hopefully.

Hopefully it will help. I will probably pick up a few more cleaners as well. Can't hurt!

Thanks for all the advise, I will keep everyone posted.