I have had my tank set up since November and only recently have I had a brown algae problem. It is all over a few pieces of live rock and on my glass when i get home every day. I test my water weekly and all tests are spot on by API test kit standards. I cant figure out why this is happening. One problem I am having is keeping my skimmer tuned, my water evaporation is crazy and filter socks build a water level daily to the point were some mornings my skimmer is overflowing, dumping nitrates back. I also do 10 percent water changes WEEKLY. Any thoughts?
Brown Algae problem, HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Thread starter jeff669
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Funny you ask, I had my first loss of life some time in the last 48 hours a yellow tang, however my brown algae was around prior to its death. Yellow tang was only in tank 3 weeks, it never took to feeding with other fish ( 2 clowns, 2 green chromis, i blue hippo tang) I think it lacked food"My phosphates check out as 0 ppm 4 hours ago. My lighting is 9am - 10pm 210 watt HO t5, 2 hours before and after i have moon light on.
chefjpaul
2500 Club Member
How old are your filters?
One or more maybe on way out, releasing silicates.
I assume this because it's new diatoms to a not so new tank.
If you are talking diatoms, not HA of sorts.
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maxxin69
Active Member
The skimmer probably is overflowing from too much bioload. If you filters clog that easily, I could only image how much proteins there could be in the tank. The tank is, I would imagine, close to 90gal total water volume if you include the sump. I would recommend upgrading the skimmer. The lights are also on for a pretty long time, I really wouldn't recommend going over 8 hours on the lights with the t5's only being on for 2-4 hours of the day.
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thanks maxx, was thinking light might be on too long, but read something about the corals needing 10 hours for photo, and you bring up a good point with skimmer. Ill change lighting schedule and go from there. new filter sock lasts about 10 days. Only 2-4 hours a day?
maxxin69
Active Member
The T5's are only on for 2-4 hours. the halide would be on for 6-8:smile: either that or if you are running only blue t5's then you can have the T5's come one an hour or two before sunrise and stay on an hour or two after sunset.
