Nitrates and Algae

[Misha]

My nutrients used to be very low 0.1-0.2. I wanted to raise them a little bit to get better coloration.
The last week or so I'm feeding more and it's already rising 0.4-0.5 now. My sanded is getting a little bit brown and looks like diatoms/brown hair algae.

Is this normal and will it eventually go away? I also saw some algae on one of my zoa colonies that is now closed. How can I help the colony?

 

[Hemmdog]

Pics? Might be dinos. If the sand is brand new it might be diatoms like you hypothesized.

 

[Misha]

The tank including the sand is 7 months old now. It doesn’t look “slimy”. Here is a pic:

 

[Misha]

Bump

 

[IslandLifeReef]

It doesn't look like dino's to me. Looks like normal algae that a good CUC could take care of.

If you raise nutrients in the water, you will get algae. CUC are the best at keeping it in check.

Remember, what we are testing for are the nutrients that haven't been consumed by our tank inhabitants. The more excess nutrients, the more we invite other consumers to join in. Not saying to have 0 nutrients, just that it isn't uncommon to get algae when we increase nutrients.

 

[Misha]

It doesn't look like dino's to me. Looks like normal algae that a good CUC could take care of.

If you raise nutrients in the water, you will get algae. CUC are the best at keeping it in check.

Remember, what we are testing for are the nutrients that haven't been consumed by our tank inhabitants. The more excess nutrients, the more we invite other consumers to join in. Not saying to have 0 nutrients, just that it isn't uncommon to get algae when we increase nutrients.

Thanks, that’s kinda what I thought. But It’s always good to get the confirmation from another reefer...

My CUC of the 15g tank is 2 nassarius snails, 2 hermits and a bunch of stomatella’s.

Is the algae going to decrease when my nutrients are stable again?

 

[mta_morrow]

Your tank is still very new.
raising nutrients does NOT mean you get algae.
in time, your tank will achieve its balance. forcing it to do things by chasing numbers causes most problems IMO.
my tank is 18 months old and has no nuisance algae in the display.
NO3 is 12-16 and PO4 is .03 to .1
It takes time. Looks like a bit of diatoms to me. Have you added any new rock or sand lately?

 

[Misha]

Your tank is still very new.
raising nutrients does NOT mean you get algae.
in time, your tank will achieve its balance. forcing it to do things by chasing numbers causes most problems IMO.
my tank is 18 months old and has no nuisance algae in the display.
NO3 is 12-16 and PO4 is .03 to .1
It takes time. Looks like a bit of diatoms to me. Have you added any new rock or sand lately?

I did not add new rocks and or sand, but I did change my aquascape

 

[mta_morrow]

I did not add new rocks and or sand, but I did change my aquascape

Ok! Exposing some newer, buried sand or rock often leads to a little diatom bloom.

I believe it will go away pretty quickly on its own.