Tank is 24 days old, brown algae bloom started. Sunlight cause?

[moneymm22]

So I’m 24 days in, and I’m getting some brown algae blooms on sand and rock.

I’d like to cut this off before it gets too bad as I’m just starting this tank up after a 5 year old tank with a lot of algae and failure.

I have an algae scrubber running, but I haven’t seen anything growing just yet.

I also think I might have an issue, I’m running the lights now for 11 hours. I can cut that down, or run at a lower percentage. But there is sunlight on the tank all day. It’s 14 feet from a window, but the light comes and lights up the tank for hours before I even turn on the lights. Could this be a problem going forward?

any suggestions?

 

[Sharkbait19]

Sounds like diatoms. And if the tank is 24 days old, this is to be expected. Lots of nutrients are out of whack in a new tank, so there will be various algae blooms in the coming weeks. They all go away after a few days-weeks as the tank matures.

 

[Tamberav]

So I’m 24 days in, and I’m getting some brown algae blooms on sand and rock.

I’d like to cut this off before it gets too bad as I’m just starting this tank up after a 5 year old tank with a lot of algae and failure.

I have an algae scrubber running, but I haven’t seen anything growing just yet.

I also think I might have an issue, I’m running the lights now for 11 hours. I can cut that down, or run at a lower percentage. But there is sunlight on the tank all day. It’s 14 feet from a window, but the light comes and lights up the tank for hours before I even turn on the lights. Could this be a problem going forward?

any suggestions?

I have a tank in front of a window so meh...

The problem is your tank is 24 days old lol... takes 6 months-2 years to settle down... faster with real live rock but longer with dry.

 

[moneymm22]

Sounds like diatoms. And if the tank is 24 days old, this is to be expected. Lots of nutrients are out of whack in a new tank, so there will be various algae blooms in the coming weeks. They all go away after a few days-weeks as the tank matures.

so do nothing?

 

[reefz]

Sounds like diatoms. And if the tank is 24 days old, this is to be expected. Lots of nutrients are out of whack in a new tank, so there will be various algae blooms in the coming weeks. They all go away after a few days-weeks as the tank matures.

+1 on diatoms

Almost every tank will have a diatom blume after the cycle is done. Just black out the tank and the diatoms will all die in 1 week.

 

[MichaelReefer]

You're in the "ugly phase" my friend. its normal. You will get lots of weird stuff over the next few months.

 

[vetteguy53081]

In my many years, a tank at or near a window will get diatoms maybe but algae issues - yes. UV rays can penetrate shades and blinds and still cause issues. Near a window also has potential to warm a tank from the suns rays,
Regarding diatoms, diatoms are a brown algae that typically appear in a reef tank that has just completed its cycle but they can also appear in an established reef tank. They can cover sand, rock, pumps, glass, you name it. Diatoms look ugly but in most cases they are harmless so the key is to not panic when they appear.
Diatoms feed mainly off of silicates but also consume dissolved organic compounds, phosphate and nitrates. Unfiltered tap water can contain silicates and is a good way to jump start a bloom if you use it to mix salt or to replace water that evaporated from the tank. The best way to prevent this from happening is to filter water through a RODI unit, although you can still get a diatom bloom when using RODI if the cartridge that removes silicates expires.
diatoms are typically harmless to a captive reef and can be beaten once their food source expires. Once you put the kibosh on the source, the outbreak should last a couple of weeks so just be patient and it will pass. For major outbreaks you may want to consider the three day blackout. Diatoms are easily wiped from the glass with a mag float, a turkey baster or a toothbrush can access other areas of the tank. Be prepared for them to re-establish themselves quickly, they are likely to be able to resettle and have exponential growth rates.
To prevent their return, practice good aquarium husbandry by doing regular water changes, keep the substrate clean, don’t overfeed the fish, ensure your skimmer is running at an optimal level and rinse out filter socks and sponges on a regular basis.
Some cleaner crew to help control it are : Cerith snails, Nerite snails and Trochus snails and also Astraea snails are effective at removing diatoms.

 

[Tamberav]

so do nothing?

Just do regular maintenance. The stuff needs to burn itself out and the rock needs to mature.

 

[ScottB]

If this is a live rock start, you will go through some phases over the first 6 months or so.

If this is a dead rock start, you will go through a few more phases for 12-18 months. As @Tamberav says, just stick with the basic husbandry stuff.

 

[moneymm22]

thanks.

 

[Carwin]

just have to wait out the uglies. they will clear up soon.

 

[Duncan62]

So I’m 24 days in, and I’m getting some brown algae blooms on sand and rock.

I’d like to cut this off before it gets too bad as I’m just starting this tank up after a 5 year old tank with a lot of algae and failure.

I have an algae scrubber running, but I haven’t seen anything growing just yet.

I also think I might have an issue, I’m running the lights now for 11 hours. I can cut that down, or run at a lower percentage. But there is sunlight on the tank all day. It’s 14 feet from a window, but the light comes and lights up the tank for hours before I even turn on the lights. Could this be a problem going forward?

any suggestions?

Seed the scrubber with as much live macro, hair, slime or any algea. Run lights on scrubber. Be patient the brown will go away.

 

[ScottB]

Perhaps some Christmas stocking stuffer ideas:

Hanna High Range Nitrate Checker
Hanna ULR Phosphate Checker

It is still early to worry too much about nutrients, but a few practice tests in January will get you running next year.