Brown hair algae ?

[radreef02]

Please help me ID so I can have a good plan of attack. Tank is 2-3 months old

Lights turned on after 1 month of cycle
Slowly increased to 50%, about 5-10% every week or two

Started “live sand” , dry rock and used bacteria to cycle

Is this GHA? If so what’s the best course of action.

My nutrients are not out of control, nitrate and phos is constantly checked and I don’t over feed. I bought 2 urchins to help the rock but I just noticed it’s on the sand. My 3 tangs keep some of the algae at bay

Nitrate 6 , phos 0.02

 

[Stealthreefer]

Just the ugly phase, all tanks have to go through it. Patience. Tank is cycling, that sps frag is likely doomed.
You can do an obnoxious level of water changes and try to stave off death but every new tank goes through the uglies.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

How in the world are nitrate of 6 and phos of 0.02 "out of control"?? (Unless you mean extremely low?)

 

[radreef02]

How in the world are nitrate of 6 and phos of 0.02 "out of control"?? (Unless you mean extremely low?)

I stated they’re not out of control

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

Ya when you start with dry rock you get ugly brown algae of the firs t 6-12 months

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I stated they’re not out of control

My bad. Sorry

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

So, plan of attack -
1. Siphon/ vacuum/net out as much of the algae from the sand bed as you can.
2. Actually try to raise your nitrates and phosphates a bit by feeding more; nutrients can be unstable in a new tank and there's no need to go overboard, but you want to prevent them from bottoming out and right now you have very little wiggle room on the low end.
3. If you don't already have some/enough, add some good algae eating cuc members, especially things like ceriths that bury themselves and thereby sift the sand a bit.
4. Be patient