Hi fellow reefers I have my tank a few years now but I recently started to get this brown / gold algae . However it goes away at night and the sand bed comes back clean but as soon the lights come on in the morning they come back , I have new lights , new skimmer pump, I use premix salt water and all my levels are good can anyone recommend any chemical to use to get rid of this please and thank you .
Brown/gold algae
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Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
Looks to be diatoms. What is your pramameters? And what's your source water? Tap, distilled, RO/DI?
I test them at the store last week and the guy said everything was good I use to use ro water from the store but I don’t anymore . I still use the premix salt water . I did a lot of water change and still that algae won’t leave .
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
No, RO/DI is best. Distilled isn't as good.
Not knowing how your LFS maintains their RO/DI unit gets a lot of reefers into issues. They can say that they maintain it properly, but you the end user can't tell if they are or not.
It's best to have your own RO/DI unit so that you know it's right.
Likely silicates are getting past their unit, into your water you buy.
Not knowing how your LFS maintains their RO/DI unit gets a lot of reefers into issues. They can say that they maintain it properly, but you the end user can't tell if they are or not.
It's best to have your own RO/DI unit so that you know it's right.
Likely silicates are getting past their unit, into your water you buy.
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
Good, clean 0 TDS source water is needed first. Otherwise if, and I would bet the water your getting is ether high in TDS and or high in silicates, using the same water is going to just keep adding to the problem. Once you know the source water is "clean" then you can syphon them out during a water change and increase your flow in the tank helps. Won't get rid of them completely, but will help. Diatoms will starve out once the source of silicates has been taken away. Reducing your nutrient imput helps as well. Knowing your water pramameters help in this regard.
Aside from the diatoms you have, you must have your own test kits and test at least once a week .
Jeff Sawyer
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I don't want to be the barer of bad news but this looks and sounds a lot like my Dino outbreak did/does. I would at least explore that possibility; lots of good info here.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellates-–-are-you-tired-of-battling-altogether.293318/
I hope that's not what it is.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/dinoflagellates-–-are-you-tired-of-battling-altogether.293318/
I hope that's not what it is.
Flippers4pups
Fins up since 1993
Dino's typically are "snotty" in nature. Strands of "slime" that exhibit pockets of bubbles extending from the strands. Can be "sheets" of slime. Usually covers everything.
By the looks of the OP's picture, it looks to be a "dusting" on the sand bed. Most likey diatoms.
Of course without a sample taken and examined under a microscope........it's not 100%. But I bet it's diatoms.
Jeff Sawyer
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I hope you're right. I thought mine were diatoms for a long time. Large cell amphidium hug the sand and mine have yet to bubble or appear snotty. I'd get that under a microscope.
