Need Help On Unknown Algae Grow

[CCKOH]

Dear All Experts,

I'm a beginner in this hobby. Apologizes me if asking 'stupid' question.

i'm have been running my tank (fish + some LPS) around 1 and half months. The tank is running as normal before until i'm introduce the new led light to my tank.

Some brownies algae start to grow on the glass and the sand bed. Not matter how i'm cleaning everyday, the algae come again the next day.

I'm seek your helping to advice how to eliminate and stop the grow of these disgusting algae.

i'm feeling the algae grow might due to the new light i'm installed recently (1 week before). 

i'm currently running my tank with chiller setting at 26oC and cut in at 28oC.

The Lighting setting follow the default as following:

6.00 - 7.00: White light - 0% Blue Light- 20% Red Light - 0% Green Light - 0%

7.00 - 7.30: White light - 10% Blue Light- 100% Red Light - 100% Green Light - 50%

7.30 - 19.00: White light - 100% Blue Light- 100% Red Light - 100% Green Light - 100%

19.00 - 19.30: White light - 30% Blue Light- 40% Red Light - 100% Green Light - 0%

19.30 - 22.00:  White light - 0% Blue Light- 100% Red Light - 0% Green Light - 50%

 

The Brownies algae grow at the sand bed            The brownies algae grow on the grass                         Some white worm on the LR

Thank in advances.

[Xtraster]

Hi CCKOH,

I'm no expert but hope my pointers are correct.

brown algae on sand is most likely Dino. Algae on glass should be green. Possible reasons for algae bloom are

1) too much nutrients from food breakdown (over feeding)

2) nutrient export is slower than accumulation (do u have ats or refuge or how often u do water change)

3) too Long hours of lighting (reduce length of Max 100%white n blue down to 5 hrs )

4) water source high silicate (non DI water?)

Maybe if you can provide more info of your setup I believe the seniors here will be able to guide you further.

otherwise, work on the 4 points above to see if your situation improves?

happy reefing!

 

[Ranz]

hi - here's my opinion. 

1. understand that this is normal. all new tank will experience the same progression. you can let it run it course and it will pass. and your tank is really really new. 

2. the brown algae is probably diatoms. (not dino). it is due to silicate from the sand. once it is used up it will disappear. 

3. previously you don't see the algae is because light is the limiting factor. now with stronger light algae is able to use it to grow. 

4. this also means you probably have excess no3 and po4. could you let us know your reading of no3/po4?

5. share with us what is your filtration method. 

6. lastly, i will reduce the red and green light to 0%. coral doesn't need it to grow. and the white light spectrum will cover the spectrum of red and green already. some say red and green promote algae growth. 

[Komerider]

Brown algae on the sand will go away after a while with tank maturity. The rest is either algae scrubber in sump, reduced lighting. Or just black oyama the sides of the glass u dun view and ignore the algae there.

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[damon]

Those brown algae will appear whenever you use antichlorinated water.

[atdayahwh]

Interesting. Are you saying to stop using antichlorine will help ?


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[CCKOH]

Dear All Senior,

Really thank a lot for your valuable input and guides.

Currently, i have reduce my lighting period as following:

7.00 - 7.15: White light - 0% Blue Light- 20% Red Light - 0% Green Light - 0%

7.15 - 7.30: White light - 10% Blue Light- 0% Red Light - 100% Green Light - 40%

7.30 - 17.00: White light - 100% Blue Light- 100% Red Light - 0% Green Light - 0%

17.00 - 17.30: White light - 30% Blue Light- 40% Red Light - 100% Green Light - 0%

17.30 - 18.00:  White light - 0% Blue Light- 100% Red Light - 0% Green Light - 50%

Tank Start Circulation Date: 27/9/2017

Tank Size: 450mmL x 375mmH x 245mmD without counting the filtration part behind (IOS setup)

In addition, below is my tank setup:

  

I have tested the water parameter as following:

Salinity - 1.025

NO2 - 0ppm

NO3 - 25mg/l 

PO4 - 1mg/l

Alkalinity - 8.2dKH

Mg - 1110ppm

Ca - 460ppm

My Livestock:

1 x Angel Fish, 1 x Shelfin Tang, 1 x common Clown

1 x Halloween Hermit Crab, 1 x Anemone Crab

Coral -1 x Bubble, 2 x Goniopora, 1 x Twin head Hammer 

Due to tight budget, i'm didn't using the RO/DI water, but just the normal home filter water..

I'm doing 20% WC every week 

Hope Senior / Expert can give me some guide on where to improve further.

Thanks in advance.

[Xtraster]

I would suggest you dose a little magnesium to bring it up to about 1380...

u using Red Sea salt?

Mainly Lps coral so no3 at 25 should be ok.

Good u r doing weekly water change.

U can explore just DI water without RO...

otherwise with maturity of tank... I doubt those brown thingy will go away...

the accumulation of fresh silicate to other minerals from tap water with every week water change may not be good for the Long run...

[CCKOH]

Dear Xtraster,

Thanks for the valuable suggestion. Yup, im using Red Sea Coral Pro Salt.

i'm just do 20% WC, NO3 drop to 20mg/l and PO4 drop to 0.15mg/l.

The Brown algae grow seen like lower a bit this few days, however still have some grow..  Can't totally stop it grow.

Do have any livestock will eat the brown algae?

Thank you.

 

[Xtraster]

I am happy for you that things are turning better for you. Like all seniors here... I would say patience is the key in this hobby for Long term reefing... enjoy the process!

regarding clean up crews it is always best to have a variety. Algae eating an get a variety snails. If really bad, Seahorse would be good but this guy is a workhorse and will starve to death once not enough algae... I get sand dollar to move my sand beneath... since you are concern on sand looking dirty... sand shifting crews or some fishes like jawfish may help. My personal experience if I can would be to stay away from wrasse. ;p

just my 2 cents worth. Hear from the rest of the seniors ba. Reef on!

[damon]

On Saturday, October 28, 2017 at 11:03 PM, atdayahwh said:

Interesting. Are you saying to stop using antichlorine will help ?


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Antichlorine cannòt remove silicates. Diatoms need silicates plus other fertilzers in order to grow. 

[Harlequinmania]

Try invest on a ro/di filter unit for long term use.

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[sherman]

Your PO4 is high. Please keep in the range of 0.02 to 0.08

NO3 is ok. 

What is your KH?