Brown/Rust color algae on substrate

M

mehrencron

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Jun 13, 2005
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I have recently been seeing a lot of brown/rust color algae, what appears to look like dust, covering my substrate, as well as some of the rock. From the research I have done I think it may be diatoms, but I'm not sure. I have recently done a water change and siphoned out all of it, but it comes back in a couple of days. I have had the tank for over a year. Can anyone tell me what exactly this is and what I can do to get rid of it?

I also have polyps that I have had for over 7 months now, and have always thrived, but lately they are not all opening up and the ones that do look damaged. Not sure what could be causing this.
 
What kind of lights do you have? Flourescents lose their efficiency for reef tanks in a year (sometimes less) - check your parameters too - good luck!
 
Me too, I have exactly the same problem.

But, YoFishboy, lights are not my problem 3X250W metal halide 14000K + 6X9W flourescent blue lights.

All water parameters seem normal, except ORP that is going down.
I thought it was cyanobacteria but its "dusty" consistency makes me think it isn't.

The question is: how to get rid of it?
 
Diatoms feed off phosphates, silicates, Nitrates and dissolved organic materials in the tank. Some of these things we introduce into the tank without knowing it. Here is a site that might be helpful - http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/algaecontrol/a/aa091100.htm - basically, check what is going into your tank, what is building up, and keep up with regular water changes and good lighting. Good luck - you will get ahead of it!
 
Thanks for the link, YoFishboy.

I believe my lighting is 5700K & 6700-10000K on the actinic. Both 24" compact fluorescent which I leave on about 8 hours a day. I have a 55 gallon tank. Is this the correct lighting for my tank? I am wondering if it is the lighting that is causing the problem because it does not appear in areas where the light does not directly hit the substrate. I am also seeing a lime green film algae on my tank glass which shows up every 3 or 4 days. This started to appear once I put in new bulbs a few months ago.
 
Ceretain Macro algae and coraline algae is the only good algae in a marine tank.
Brown algae in a marine tank is a sign of a newly cyling tank, not a mature tank. A mature marine tank will have enough beneficial bacteria built up in the sand bed and on the rocks to handle most small foul ups. The larger the tank of course the larger the margin for error. The only algae you should see in a mature tank is the ocasional hair algae and coraline algae.

You have brown diatom algae.
How new is your set up and how long did you wait for it to complete its cycle?
How long did you wait before adding corals and what sort of time span passed between new aditions?
ALSO how large is your tank? THIS DETERMINS HOW LONG OF A WAITING PERIOD IS NEEDED FOR FULLY CYCLING YOUR TANK ;)

It sounds like your tank is going though a mini cycle to me.
Either caused by recent die off of bacteria, to large of a water changfe at one time, over feeding, ect ect.
Duane
 
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I have had the 55 gallon tank about a year now. I inherited it from my father-in-law who had it for 3-4 years and only had live rock with plenty of corraline algae. Initially I did notice diatom algae on the rocks & sand which was probably due to the move and major water change. I then waited a few months before adding any corals. I only have 5-6 corals that I have added about 1-2 months apart from eachother.

Like I said, when I first got the tank, I noticed a lot of diatom algae on both the rocks and sand which eventually subsided, now it is only appearing on the sand. When I got the tank there was also some mossy green algae on the back wall which I would occasionally have to manually take care of. Lately, I am noticing the growth of the algae on the back wall to be much more rapid. For example, 10 days ago I scrubbed the majority of the algae of the back wall and siphoned it out. I already feel like I have to go back in there today. It is also appearing on some of the rock. It's not a full on green hair algae bloom which I am familiar with because my friend experienced that problem, but it is becoming a bit of a nuisance.

Basically, I feel like I am having to go in there and stir up the sand, and scrub some of the rock and back wall every few days which doesn't seem right. I do 20% water changes evey 3-4 weeks, and have had my water tested and and everything seems to be in order. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
The algae is most definately from the move. Did you replace your substrate as well?
DO any recent large volume water changes?
What kelvin and what lighting are you using? MH , PC, VHO?
The wrong kelvin or old bulbs will spark algae growths from hell! LOL!
Also if your tank is to near a window natural sunlight will peer into the tank and ingite a horrible algae problem.
Using a water source rich in phosphates will do the same.
If the lagae dosent look lik eful on hiar algae it is more than likel bryopsis which is a motha f-er to get rid of.

If it were me I would
1: check my bulbs.
2: check for phosphates.
3: look to see if the tank were to near a window.
4: Buy a bigger clean up crew focusing more on astrea snails and turbo snails versus crabs.
 
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