The return of brown algae

[kiwis]

I've had my system up and running since June. 120L system with sump.

Doing weekly water changes of 10L of RODI water.

I've got 3 small fish in there.

So due to my work, I can't do water changes weekly on the same day but I do them every 5-7 days, never any longer.

Over the last few weeks, the brown algae that built up on my rock started to disappear however two weeks ago I did 2x 10L water changes in the normal Monday- Sunday week (Tuesday and Friday by memory)

Last week on Wednesday I did my normal weekly water change but I had a lot more Brown algae on my glass and my rock was back to being covered in Algae

What would have caused this?

Nitrates have spiked over the last month but believe my 2 new fish and extra feeding have caused this.

My system went through the nitrite spike and that's settled and nitrates are about 20ppm

Any thoughts?

 

[saltyhog]

That's not surprising at this stage of the tanks maturing. I would try to lower the nitrates a little but there are lots of very nice algae free tanks with nitrates that high. What is your clean up crew like?

 

[kiwis]

What is your clean up crew like?

Non-existent at the moment.

Recommendations for something which will also be coral friendly and available in New Zealand?

 

[saltyhog]

Non-existent at the moment.

Recommendations for something which will also be coral friendly and available in New Zealand?

Yikes! I wouldn't begin to know what's available there. Do you have a LFS?

 

[Gareth elliott]

https://easternmarineaquariums.co.nz/collections/shrimp-starfish

Very quick search that site doesnt have a lot sure there is more stocked companies.

Looks like you have some of the same available here in the states.
I like snails for algae and snails and hermits for uneaten food.

Scarlets
Blue legs
Zebra


Trochus
Ceriths
Nassarius

Are all some very safe additions. Hermits will eat the occasional snail even when well fed, but not your corals.