Continous Sand bed Algae Problem Need Advice??

[toyencounters]

I have a 34 Gallon Solana its been set for over a year! I am having a tough browning algae problem on the sand bed. The minute I stir the sand the minute it turns brown again. My parameters are all in check,79 Degress steady temp,I use Tropic Marin salt 1025,I use 3 part dosing from bulk reef supply Alk,Mag,Cal,I do plenty of water changes with pure clean RO Water low TDI, I use Rowa Phos,Carbon,Clean my skimmer every week,Changed my ATI bulbs a month ago,Change my media frequently, I even used red slime remover got rid of the small amount of red algae on my rocks! But the problem is pretty bad on the sand bed, The only options I have left is to change salt manuafactures. Any Idea what could be causing this BROWNING problem???

 

[toyencounters]

By the way I am not overfeeding,and I was told my tank is too small for a bio pellet reactor?

 

[toyencounters]

I feed a small amount of brine in the morning and a small amount of flake food in the evening!

 

[Otter_rs]

Is the brown getting worse after a water change? Sounds like you have a diatom algae issue caused by high silica levels. Could be that your RO unit isn't able to get the silica out of your water. Is this only happening on the sand? If so, seeding the sand bed with live sand from a well established system helps to get a better algae resistant biofilm on the sand grains.

 

[toyencounters]

Sand and Glass! The RO water it actually tested very well.

 

[Otter_rs]

Did you test the RO specifically for silica??? Most RO units have trouble removing it. Does the algae just sluff off the glass by running your hand over it?

 

[KoleTang]

What do you have for cleanup crew? Maybe a sea cucumber would take car of the sand?