Brown Algea takeover

[alan mcilvried]

Update on 4/11/07

 

1) I moved a powerhead out towards the front of the tank

2) Cut my light back to 7 hours a day

 

Not sure if one or both of these was more instrumental, and maybe it was running it's course, but it has slowed significantly.

 

Thanks everyone.

 

 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Here comes my first question for a new tank.

 

Brown Hairy Algea is rapidy speading in my new tank - water has been in it 2 weeks as of yesterday. Started with one big LR and in the past week I've put in 25# of new live rock and started my skimmer for the first time. I was expecting to deal with algea, but this stuff showed up in a matter of a few hours. Like Emeril says....."BAM!"

 

Temp 80-81 F, PH 8.2, Salinity 1.022, Ammonia/Nitrates/Nitrites at 0 still. Water source - tap - WSSC.

 

 

I'll try to attach a picture of the algea on the orignal LR I put in the tank. The back half is covered and it is creeping forward. It started on the portion of the rock that had no coraline growth first, but now moving over the pink.I don't mind managing the algea on the glass and even the aragonite bed, but wondering if it will screen out the light from the nice pink/purple/red coraline algea already on the rock?

 

Thanks

 

Al

Edited April 11, 2007 by alan mcilvried

[emissary]

Well it's a new tank, this is common. It will go away in time as long as parameters are good. You're using tap water -- some say this is fine, I recommend to go with RO/DI. You may also want to pick up this book.

[jason the filter freak]

If the problem continues you may consider adding power heads for increased flow, or change the way your current flow is being directed.

[lanman]

Here comes my first question for a new tank.

 

Brown Hairy Algea is rapidy speading in my new tank - water has been in it 2 weeks as of yesterday. Started with one big LR and in the past week I've put in 25# of new live rock and started my skimmer for the first time. I was expecting to deal with algea, but this stuff showed up in a matter of a few hours. Like Emeril says....."BAM!"

 

Temp 80-81 F, PH 8.2, Salinity 1.022, Ammonia/Nitrates/Nitrites at 0 still. Water source - tap - WSSC.

I'll try to attach a picture of the algea on the orignal LR I put in the tank. The back half is covered and it is creeping forward. It started on the portion of the rock that had no coraline growth first, but now moving over the pink.I don't mind managing the algea on the glass and even the aragonite bed, but wondering if it will screen out the light from the nice pink/purple/red coraline algea already on the rock?

 

Thanks

 

Al

Where did the rock come from? Was it already cycled, or brand new?? If it's new (dying sponges, etc) - I'm surprised that your ammonia is zero. I used experienced live rock for my 2nd tank, and didn't go through much of a cycle at all. The first one was classic - got live rock the day it arrived off the plane from Fiji... it got REAL ripe. Over a month before I could see all the way through to the back of the tank.

 

Lights? How many hours? Suggest cutting back - nothing in there to keep alive anyhow; just a couple of hours per day. Skimmer?

 

bob

[fab]

While you're at it check phosphate levels and silica concentration if you can.

They are less often observed than ammonium and nitrates but can play algae havoc with otherwise good looking water quality.

 

If your rock is base rock, versus various so-called premium grades of rock then it probably is not actually 'live rock' per se. In that case you will likely have to endure its natural progression through several algae types before the algae really goes away.

 

Also, if you have no critters, turn your display tank lights off. That ought to fix the algae. Incidental light will be adequate for the live rock to cycle.

 

fab

[rrubberbandman]

Hi,

Welcome to the club.......my tank just turned a year old.......and i just finally overcame the hair algae.........long hard process.....especially for someone who had "perfect water parameters".....

just stick to iit and you will get rid of the BA.

Bryan

[YBeNormal]

Look at the bright side, you have a wonderful opportunity to participate in April's photo contest!

[bigJPDC]

I have brown algae in one spot in my tank, and it flaps in the breeze so I don't think it's a flow issue. My sand, glass and the rest of my rock is clean, so my guess is that this 'jutty' of rock is too perilous for my turbos to go after it.

Not sure if this is also indicative of anything, but it is also the exact place where I have a sponge growing, right on top of a patch of pallys. There must be something nutrient rich about that exact spot in my tank.

 

jp