Brown algae - help

A

Andrew771

Registered Member
Nov 11, 2006
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I have gotten my tank up and running for about a week and a half and I have a problem with brown algae. I am looking for a way to control the problem. Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
 
Week and a half, eh?

I've heard of that happening during or around the initial cycle of the tank.
I wouldn't be too worried yet.
 
algae build up is just a part of getting a tank setup and cycled...You will get algae blooms through this process which usually start off as brown diatom algae, but, it will tin time fade and turn to normal green algae in a lot smaller ammounts..If you are always getting brown diatom algae on the substrate, then that could also mean that you have poor water circulation in the tank..

Tell us about your setup, what equipment you are using etc etc

Niko
 
If you are always getting brown diatom algae on the substrate, then that could also mean that you have poor water circulation in the tank
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actually, diatom growth is fully attributable to (a) high silica content and (b) low/insufficient light and has little or nothing to do with water circulation. diatoms do not contain chlorophyll but rather, their cell walls are comprised of silica. new tank glass leaches some amount of silica into the water. green algae contains chlorophyll and will grow in response to both nutrient and light. if you find that happy medium of low nutrient and enough light to grow 'some' green algae, it will occupy the surface(s) upon which diatoms grow and they'll disappear.
 
liv2padl said:
(b) low/insufficient light
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I'm waiting out a diatom bloom that covers everything in the tank--all the way up to the tallest rocks and the top of the glass. My lights are 4 months old--130w power compacts on a 55. The only place that doesn't have diatoms on it are in the the back and under the rocks where little light gets.
What's up with that?
 
The only place that doesn't have diatoms on it are in the the back and under the rocks where little light gets. What's up with that?
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interesting. the only place i get diatoms in my tanks are in the back and where rocks are next to the glass where little light goes.
 
Well I call this an outbreak rather than a bloom--lol--it's been madenning---I think it's fading now though---doesn't come back as strong or as fast.
 
Thanks for the info. Now it is time to hurry up and wait for the bloom to finish.
I have gotten a few blue legged hermit crabs and a snail for the cleaning crew.


_________________

Tank: 48 Gal bow front with overflow
Sumptank: 10 Gal, protien skimmer, cheato algea, pump Rio+ 1400
Critters: 2 common clown fish, 1 turbo snail, bunch of hermit crabs
 
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