brown alge on rocks and sand

Status
Not open for further replies.
K

Kleko

Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2011
hey everyone. I got a tank i have had it for about a week. Its a 24g nano cube. Its used, and theres 30pounds of live rock in it, a clown, some mushrooms, zoanthids, leathers, and a grass coral. Brown alge is starting to form on the rocks and sand. Ive been told this was going to happen but I dont know much about it. Will it go away biologicaly? do i need to add more clean up crew? Is it dangerous?
When will it go away?
If you could awnswer these questions it would be great
Thanks,
Mason
 
M

marks69

Guest
ro/di is a water filter you should be using or you will have algae trouble.  tap water works for fresh but not salt.  do a little reading and you'
ll see why.
 
S

shayneh

Guest
Read this! This might be part of the problem your having with algae....

http://www.thefragtank.ca/forum/index.php?topic=511.0 
 
F

fishit

Guest
it does have a filter man isn't this the nano with the sump? a sump is the best filter you can get !!!!
 
M

marks69

Guest
i think he means ro/di.  there's lots out there. bwi plumbing, most water stores or fish stores will either have them or order them from you.  i got mine from melvesreef.  works great
 
I

iantower

Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Location
Sarnia, Ontario
Yeah buds that brown algae your seeing is from the water your using, I use tap water and because of it I always have brown algae due to the nigh nutrients, no getting away from it if your not going to use RO/DI like the other guys are describing.
The bottom of your tank (substrate) is also going to be brown due to the settling of heavy metals to the bottom of your tank from the use of tap water.
If its of concern (and Ive learnt that it is to most on here) then you'll have to use RO/DI water... then you might get a similar look if your nitrates get high, even when using RO/DI, but that a whoel different story.
Cheers!
 
C

Cal_stir

Guest
diatoms thrive mainly on silicates, which are found in tap water, silicates can also leach from silica sand which is why you should never use sand in an aquarium.
get a rodi unit if you don't have one, physically remove as much of the diatoms as you can, some fish will graze on it (tangs).
daily 10% water chgs with rodi for a week, patience, don't use chemicals, you will win this fight.
 
pulpfiction1

pulpfiction1

Reef Scavenger
Joined
Nov 16, 2010
Location
42.418807, -82.174073
patience is the key,keep using the mag glass cleaner,it will subside as time passes,water changes,tesing for nitrates and phosphates,mind you this is new setup and these should be very low.we all got one with a new setup contrary to what some might claim.
 
pulpfiction1

pulpfiction1

Reef Scavenger
Joined
Nov 16, 2010
Location
42.418807, -82.174073
myself?i would hang tight and see how it goes for a couple of weeks,the diatoms need to starve themself out.in my opinion this is usually a good sign life will survive as brown diatoms are one of the first forms of life to populate a new tank.other forms of alge and bacteria will follow,if you add more now you might be increasing the nutrients the diatoms will feed off of,but like i said,just my opinion
 
C

Cal_stir

Guest
I agree with pulpfiction, the diatoms need to run their course, they are a natural cycle, hang tight, they will disappear as fast as they came. Be patient, don't do anything different for awhile (feeding, livestock,etc.)
Diatoms usually cycle in a week or two
 
I

iantower

Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2010
Location
Sarnia, Ontario
Hey Kleco,
Everyone is right when saying that the diatoms will cycle, but your using tap water so they won't for you, if you dont want diatoms then you have to go the RO/DI route.... adding more of a clean up crew wont help this out.
I have a huge clean up crew but use tap water and I always have diatoms because of it... something I live with, daily glass cleaning.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top