Brown Algae...is this a problem?

[BKT]

Question...

I'm seeing more brown algae in my 75 gal tank that is cycling. I leave the lights on from 1:30pm to about 11:00pm and have noticed the algae on rocks that are curing...crushed coral, reef sand...not alot, but I think enough for me to notice...

I realize by limiting the use of the light will help, but any other suggestions..? Or should I be concerned?


-Brian

[robert81]

sounds like cyno bactieria, If you do a search you can find some good information. Have you tested your water?

[NaCl_H2O]

If your tank is cycling, algae is normal, it is exporting nutrients in the water. Try to keep up with water changes and siphon out as much as you can during the water change. Running through a good algae bloom during cycling is actually a good thing.

How long has the tank been up? Any idea if you have gone through any of the nitrogen cycles (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate spikes?)

[greatwit]

I would think it is a diatom bloom and a normal part of tank cycling. A water change never hurt if you're that concerned by it.

[gjuarez]

I know htat you mentioned about the lights, but that is definately the problem. Your tank right now is very high in nutrients and that is food for algae, turn off the lights and do water changes and let the algae starve to death.

[gjuarez]

We all posted at the same time. ditto on the diatoms, cyano has more of a red color

[Pacman]

If the algae is brown and your tank is in the process of cycling, then it may just be a sign that the cycle is about complete. Diatoms I think are usually the first algae to appear... can't remember for sure though.

Anyway, as long as tank parameters look ok it would probably be a good time to add some algae eaters, I didn't see any yet on the link you have. Macro algae is a good way to keep down nuisance algae too.

[NaCl_H2O]

... turn off the lights and do water changes and let the algae starve to death.
No, No, No, don;t do that ... sorry Jerry!

That will just let the algae go dormant until a light source returns, then BOOM! More algae than you can imagine. Let it run it's course - the algae is removing nutrients faster than anything else can, and when the nutrients are gone, so will be the algae.

Once the nitrogen cycle is done (Amm=0, Nitrite=0, trace of Nitrate that you can control with water changes), get a cleanup crew and maybe a Tang or two to clean up the remaining algae.

If you are early in the cycling, the next stage will be hair algae which will make your current algae situation pale in comparison.

What you are experiencing sounds perfectly normal to me.

[BKT]

I agree with the light issue....I've had this problem in fresh water as well, but just did more frequent water changes. I did a 10-15 percent water change today when the ammonia was at 1.0 and checked it later to find it at .50

It has already began the nitrite phase...the hydrometer reads 1.020, ph is between 8.2 and 8.4
Calcium reading is good...

If I limit or turn off the lights will this affect anything as far as the liverock or process to cycle? Sounds stupid...but like you said, algae is feeding, so I thought it might slow the cycle process down..?

[BKT]

I enjoy all of your suggestions...please don't take offense to any I don't mention..

[BKT]

Ok, so everything is good to go as far as timing..I appreciate the imput...limit the lights, small water changes...

The best thing about this is "having all of you guys / gals to rely on..I appreciate the knowledge and help alot"

So far so good...

-Brian

[gjuarez]

Good point Steve, I was looking at the short term solution. Long term is always better.

[miked78231]

so how can you tell the diff between cyano and coraline? isnt coraline more of a purple red color too? i have this dark maroon color growing on some of my rocks.

[Reef69]

so how can you tell the diff between cyano and coraline?.

..LMAO..Whats the difference between **** and mashed potatos???...You need to do some research man..

Coralline algea is is a Ca. based algea that grows in your rocks and your glass panels, its usually purple and pink, it usually grows as circles when it grows on your glass, small purple circles (some like it, some dont...I scrape it off). Now im gonna explain in terms you understand what cyano looks like..It looks like a red slime..sometimes if you are pacient enough, you might see it floating to the surface (top of the water)..and you will see bubbles trapped underneath it...odds are you are far from having any traces of coralline algea..its probably cyano and it means you should try scrapbooking or collect pet rocks.

[miked78231]

i understood everything but the "pacient" part. LOL. here try this next time, it might work a little better. PATIENCE

[Reef69]

LOL..It was a typo (I doubt you know what that is..) At least i know what a watt is..LMAO

[miked78231]

and what makes you think i dont know what a watt is. hey reef just have some pacient with me man. im learning, and hey thats what this hobby is all about, learning, progressing, an having pacient

[Reef69]

..LOL..you can have all the patience in the world, but if you are a broke-*** you are not getting far..LMFAO!

[Thunderkat]

Tiger cowries are AWESOME at eating cyanobacteria, the only problem is when they get larger they love to rearrange your rockwork and may acquire a taste for soft corals. I had one that got so big it covered up the discharge of my bak pak skimmer and cause water to spill all over the place while I was sleeping :lol

[Magneto]

coraline the pink stuff on the rock
http://camelreef.free.fr/oddities/27jan2000/misc/coraline1.jpg

cyano - the slimy, translucent red stuff on the gravel
http://www.wisconsinreefsociety.org/WiReef/daves/dave2algae/Cyano.jpg

[BKT]

So is having some type of algae growing on the rocks, be it live or newly placed rocks..is algae present on the rocks ok and part of the process

I look at some of my cured rock and wonder if algae wasn't a great part in the color transformation...

[Reef69]

Hey BKT..How long has the tank been setup?..If its new, its part of the process..also depends what type of water you are using..tap or RO/DI..Your best bet is to check your phosphates to see where you stand..knowing that would help out alot..

[BKT]

great thanks...it's pushing two weeks...and from what you folks say, is part of the process..transitioning from tap water to RO water...

[Krys]

Cool, just keep doing your waterchanges with RO/DI from now on and you will be fine, it will eventually go away as soon as the tank stops cycling, dont worry, you are on the right track.

[Reef69]

Sorry, posted under my girlfriend's name..LOL

[BKT]

ok, thanks...oh, just noticed alot of small bubbles on the water....I don't believe it was there before...this part of cycling? I have four power heads in the tank so I positioned one to move the water up top...I havn't had the light on all day so I wonder if that has anything to do with it?

[Reef69]

Is there a way you could post a pic?..I could tell you whats going on once i see it..