Fuzzy brown algae

[jdwmba88]

Not sure how well you can see it in this picture, but I'm noticing fuzzy brown algae all over my rocks. I've had some on the glass that I would just scrape off, but it's now starting to cover everything. Tank is 2-3 months old with an Aquaclear 50 HOB filter and a Reef Octopus BH-1000 HOB skimmer. I also run Purigen in the filter. I also use RO/DI water from the LFS. How do I get rid of this? Is this algae or diatoms?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Not sure how well you can see it in this picture, but I'm noticing fuzzy brown algae all over my rocks. I've had some on the glass that I would just scrape off, but it's now starting to cover everything. How do I get rid of it?

How old is your tank?

 

[jdwmba88]

How old is your tank?

it's about 2-3 months old now

 

[Flippers4pups]

it's about 2-3 months old now

Okay, it's still very young and it's typical for a new system to experience the "ugly phase".

What's your water parameters like?

 

[jeffchapok]

Those look like diatoms. If so, they'll go away on their own in a couple of weeks.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Those look like diatoms. If so, they'll go away on their own in a couple of weeks.

Yes.

 

[jdwmba88]

Okay, it's still very young and it's typical for a new system to experience the "ugly phase".

What's your water parameters like?

So I just tested and my nitrates are higher than they normally are - about 40 ppm. Ph of 7.8, no ammonia or nitrites

 

[jdwmba88]

Those look like diatoms. If so, they'll go away on their own in a couple of weeks.

diatoms get hairy like this?

 

[Flippers4pups]

diatoms get hairy like this?

They can look kinda "fuzzy" depending on how many there is.

Diatoms will consume silicates from various sources like sand, water, rock untill they deplete the source. Then they die off and disappear, well not completely. There could always be some, just not seen.

 

[jdwmba88]

They can look kinda "fuzzy" depending on how many there is.

Diatoms will consume silicates from various sources like sand, water, rock untill they deplete the source. Then they die off and disappear, well not completely. There could always be some, just not seen.

So do I just wait this out then?

 

[Flippers4pups]

So do I just wait this out then?

Unfortunately, yes. Just keep up with your husbandry on the tank and it will pass.

 

[jdwmba88]

Thank you very much for the information. I love this site so much