Brown slimy stringy nasty algae?

ricsreef

AC Members
Jun 22, 2007
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Louisville,Ky
Hi all,I am having a problem with Brown slime algae and was wondering what the heck this stuff is and how to get rid of it.My test are new Salifert kits.All of my water parims are good.I just need a ID and a solution to the problem.If you "must" know my readings to tell me what this is and what causes it I can test "Everything" again.But please let me know what it is and what the cause is. I would be thankful.
Nitrates(3)
PH(8.3)
Alk.(10)
Sal.(1.025)
temp(78)
 
A pic would be very helpful.
 
I have a similar problem as you do. I oringally had a lot of algae problems, and it took a long time for the multiple types to go away. Such as hair algae, diatoms, bubble algae, etc.

I also had the brown, stringy algae in my tank. My livestock made it through, it just that it overwhelmed the tank. I eventually got rid of it with reduced photoperiods and increased flow. This seemed to work for a while, and a couple months later (which is currently now) it has returned. My nitrates and phosphates were all at 0 or undetectable, and this continues to grow. This has been serious for me, and I am almost frigthened at what it may do to my tank.

I do believe that it is my DI unit. And its just that it isn't cutting it, and whatever is feeding that algae, the DI is not getting rid of. So I am going to work on getting one of these.

Good luck, and a picture would be helpful. Don't let it get out of hand!
 
I dont know how to post a pic.please help.
 
You can try loading it to photobucket.com, they allow free accounts. Then once you upload it there there will be a line of code it gives you for 3 different scenerios..you want the last one, the one for the image.
 
Thanks for your help with pics.

Here is a pic,hope you can make it out.

DCP_0851.JPG DCP_0852.JPG
 
Yes it is brown,and it looks like dinoflagellates from the pics that Grins showed me.I recently changed to new bulbs in my MH fixtures and thought it was just them breaking in BUT,now I think I have a much bigger problem,In the article that Grins showed me(right on the button) the guy beat it with cutting back lighting time and carbon and phosphate remover,I will try the same and prey it works.I will also do a couple MAJOR water changes over the next week to stop this stuff in it's tracks(I hope).I run my lighting from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Main lights for 10 hours and other light 1 hour before and after to sim. dusk and dawn,also have leds for moonlight.Its really weird because my refuge lights are on 24/7 and no dino is present.I did notice that my emerald crabs and hermits eat it but not fast enough.This stuff will grow back overnight!!Thanks for your help and I will let you know how it goes.Thanks a ton Grins,you hit it right on the nose,and hopefully I will get this stuff under control before it kills everything.
 
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