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Brown Algae?
- Thread starter Tclark828
- Start date
dealing with the same issue. inverts from the group buy will be delivered on Feb 26th. not sure if i have so much in me to stomach 25 days of it. i havent had any fish in the tank, no feeding, no nothing and the brown diatoms appeared. i bought a few snails and they made some progress. but i will need an army to clean it completely not a few brave soldiers. Cerith snails --- if you find a good deal on them - please let me know.
To simply answer your question; yes, there are some snails (Trochus and Astraea are two that come to mind), that eat diatoms. I know some crabs do as well, but not sure about hermits though.
The other things to consider, if the tank has just finished its cycle, and there are no corals in the tank, reduce the lights, or better yet, turn them off all together.
You didn’t mention your water source, but diatoms thrive on silicates, nitrates and phosphates. If you are not using RO/DI water, consider doing this as well. If you are using tap water, that will continue to “feed” them.
Otherwise, it is a normal thing new tanks go through after cycling….to be followed by other micro and macro algae.
The other things to consider, if the tank has just finished its cycle, and there are no corals in the tank, reduce the lights, or better yet, turn them off all together.
You didn’t mention your water source, but diatoms thrive on silicates, nitrates and phosphates. If you are not using RO/DI water, consider doing this as well. If you are using tap water, that will continue to “feed” them.
Otherwise, it is a normal thing new tanks go through after cycling….to be followed by other micro and macro algae.
A tank of only a few weeks old is still going through a cycle. So brown algae/diatoms is a normal part of a new tank process. Even though it drives you crazy, resist the urge to checmical it away. It will go away all by itself as your water chemistry comes together on its own.
I have the same thing should I scrape off the glass or will it go away by itself
Most new tanks go through several "cycles". The algae cycle can be one of them. If it's on the glass, scrape it off. If it's HA (hair algae), and you can easily reach it, yank as much out as you can. Reduce feeding and lighting, keep the water as clean as possible, several small water changes may help (with RO/DI water), but most importantly, BE PATIENT. Do not go super crazy and totally overstock on a cleanup crew, because once the algae bloom is over, you may risk losing some since there won't be anything left for them to eat.
Like I said in the beginning, it can happen to anyone. Look how my (old) 75 looked even after it was completely "cycled". ;D
Can you say "Welcome to my jungle?" It all went away....overtime...with patience.
Like I said in the beginning, it can happen to anyone. Look how my (old) 75 looked even after it was completely "cycled". ;D
Can you say "Welcome to my jungle?" It all went away....overtime...with patience.
If I would see something like that in my tank now, I would need a mental help. i have put too much heart and $$$ to go through something like this. I am winning my battle with brown diatoms right now, but not sure if I am ready for any HA yet
My hair algae started popping up AFTER I had won the battle with the diatoms. ;D That doesn't mean you'll get this, Rafal, so don't start ripping your hair out - yet. I did go kind of fast with my 75. I was SO lucky not to have lost any lifestock due to the green stuff.
year and a half and I'm still scraping the front of my glass but the fish love it. Patience is the key