brown algae

[kui loach]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#I have a 58 gallon oceanic with about 58 lbs live rock with a ecosytem for a filter. I started the tank about the 1st of September. I have a yellow tang for the last 1/1/2 weeks and is doing fine. About 8 days ago I bought some coral and a corallife lite for the tank. I keep it lit for no more than 10 hrs /day. My sp gr is 1.024; Nitrate 15 temp 76; no ammonia. 2 days ago I noticed brown gunk growing on the live rock it has spread to the sand and is starting on the walls of the tank. The eco system has red slime on the walls of the filter with the macroalgae cauleupera(spelling?) . Is the lite causing this? What can I do? The yellow tang and coral are doing OK. The brown lite gunk looks disgusting#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[KG]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Sounds like it could be diatoms. Was there a brown algae bloom that passed? If so, it may be more due to phosphates and / or nitrates. Probably less feeding and more frequent water changes with RO/DI or distilled water only will help a lot. Also, I'd cut down the lighting to not more 8 hours a day. Just a few hours can make big difference. Good luck!#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#KG#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[jerryc]

It helps to siphon out as much as you can during your water change

[kui loach]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#thanks#ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[dakar]

Since the tank is still quite young, these diatom blooms are more a matter of course than an exception, they will come and go with less and less frequency as the tank matures, eventually disappearing, unless things change, ie...lighting changes, excessive feedings.

As mentioned earlier a good clean up crew and water changes will help reduce the impact.

[kui loach]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Thanks for theinfo. I have since purchased 10 snails and they have decreased the algae, as well as decreasing the time the lite is on each day. Question: Is it too early to start water changes since the tank was just started mid September? Also the sand has the brown algae on it Anything to get rid of it? I also noticed that some of the brown algae is turning reddish purple. Is that common? Thanks for all your help so far. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#

[Limpit]

I don't think any tank is too young for water changes. Do at least 10% per week and keep testing your water parameters.

[kui loach]

#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Thanks for the info #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#