HELP!! Possibly brown algae takeover

[medi]

All right so my 12G JBJ NCDX has been running for about a month now. For about the past week I have had a thick layer of what appears to be brown hair algae that I cannot seem to get rid of, and no matter what I do it keeps coming back. My tanks parameters are perfect: Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0, Ammonia 0, Phosphate 0, PH, maybe a little high, 8.6, Calcium 480. Water temp maintains between 77 and 79. My lights come on at 9:30 and turn off at 7:45. Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
- Calvin

[aquasport24]

Looks like diatom algea, that's normal for a tank going cycling period. No worry.

[Joe31]

I'd cut down on the lights a few hrs, and are you using tap water?

[medi]

Does diatom algae have the same consistency as green hair algae? I always thought diatom algae could be blown off of the rock, but it would just come back. I am unable to pull this off of the rock. If it is diatom do you have any suggestions to speed it along. Also, I am using RO/DI water with coralife salt and have been doing an approx. 2 gallon water change bi-weekly. How long do you think I should be running the lights?

[ErikH]

Looks like part diatom, part dead coraline algae. If you want purple rocks, you need to monitor your CA and Alk. Have you been dosing? I am curious to know your alk....

[medi]

By dosing do you mean Purple up? I haven't really started any supplements yet as I just added the coral two days ago, and I live a long way from a decent LFS so I haven't made it down there yet to restock my supplies. I haven't checked my alk yet because I don't have the test, but next time I go to the LFS then I will p/u a test and post with the reading

[medi]

I forgot to mention that there is a lot of dead coraline from when I previously had the take running

[Submariner]

Had the same problem with some rock I got from someone else. They had kinda let their tank maintenance go b/c they were getting ready to tear down. Those pieces of rock are still kinda doing there own cycling and I have a 4 year old tank. Keep lots of flow in your tank and keep up with the water changes. Your dealing with the die off on and in the rock.

[medi]

Good Newshttp://maast.org/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif After my lights turned on this morning I noticed that a lot of the area on the LR and LS affected by the algae appears to have cleared up. I am hoping this is a permanent thing and not just a big disappointment. Only time will tell. Thanks for all of the suggestions

[reefer man]

i thing its from cycling

[mattymalcolm]

In my experience it takes like 3 to 6 months before everything starts finishing its cycling. I think water changes are important. also flow. was the live rock already cured when you got it? I found when setting up a new tank I like to get some sand from someone with a well established tank and maybe some of their water as well. I would be glad to offer some of this stuff if interested.

[blindside]

Medi, I live in Georgetown as well, and make many trips to many. Lfs, I have extra bottles of purple up if you want one, you can swing by my place and grab one. I also have a bottle of araga-milk so you can start dosing calcium into your tank. You can take that for $ 10. Also I have some timers at 5$ let me know if you would like to stop by anytime.

[medi]

So now that the tank has started looking somewhat better I think it maybe time to tear down and upgrade. HAHA Well, that's if the wife gives the final go ahead on the 34G solana at RCA, but I think she will. So anyways, matty I would really appreciate some sand and water to get the new tank up and running ASAP. I will PM you if I do get the tank. Blindside I will probably take you up on the offer for the purple up, and the araga-milk same goes I will send over a PM when I am ready to pick up. Thanks again