Brown algae everywhere

[Bizzy bee reef]

I have 5 hermits 1 Mexican turbo and two nasaruis what else should I get. And a pistol but he doesn’t much besides make large dust clouds lol.

 

[AZMSGT]

It depends, is it diatoms or dinos? What’s the nitrates? How old a tank?

 

[Bizzy bee reef]

It depends, is it diatoms or dinos? What’s the nitrates? How old a tank?

It’s about 2 months now. My nitrate is at like 20. Or 0 I’m using the 5 in 1 api and it’s not the most accurate but that’s what it says.

 

[glb]

It’s about 2 months now. My nitrate is at like 20. Or 0 I’m using the 5 in 1 api and it’s not the most accurate but that’s what it says.

I would definitely get more accurate test kits if you want to do saltwater. The test strips and the API test kits aren’t going to give you the readings you’ll need, especially with coral. I use Salifert for nitrates and magnesium, a Hanna Checker for phosphates and alk,
Red Sea for Calcium, a refractometer for salinity, and apex probes for temp and ph. Good luck!

 

[AZMSGT]

It’s about 2 months now. My nitrate is at like 20. Or 0 I’m using the 5 in 1 api and it’s not the most accurate but that’s what it says.

Most likely it’s diatoms. Once the silicates are used up in the tank they will go away. This is commonly referred to as the ugly brown stage.

 

[ScottB]

+1 ^

For the first 6-12 months, worry only about salinity and temp. Let the tank do its thing. It is not a bad time to build up your test kits and get some experience with them, but less intervention in the beginning is better than more.

 

[AcroNem]

Yep, looks like Diatoms, and it will pass. Making sure you use RO-DI water consistently will help starve it out as you won't be able adding silicates (and other contaminates) that it can feed on.