[das04j]

i have a brown stringy and short brown algae on my sand and cant seem to get it under control. Its so ugly and everytime i stir it up, its back the next day? I may have to do a water change later in the week. I just did a top off. so i am going to give it a day to adjust.
parameters

Ca-400ppm
alk- 10 dKh
nitrites-0
nitrates-15ppm
pH-8.5
salinity- 1.023
phophates- 0ppm

[demonsquirt]

Stirr stuff up can only make it worse. You can stir up small areas right before water changes to help remove more.

What size tank and its age and whats used for water flow?

[DR.Dee]

So You doin't have diatoms!!! Because Diatoms typically show up at the end of the cycle,and feed on silicates and phosphates, and then go away. How long do you have your lights on for ,you might need to cut back for a little time, and if your spectrum is bad that can do it also,like if your lights are old more than 6mo's But be sure you check for silicates and TDS 0-1ppm It also chould be a form of cyanobacteria there is red,green,black and brown. How about a picture that will help me to see whats up and did you change the water with a new salt brand?

[das04j]

i have about 20x flow turnaround. I used RO/DI water with tropic marin salt. I have the lights on for 9 hours a day and the bulbs are about 8 months old. lastly i notice that this started to happen once i removed my glass top, now the lights shine directly on the surface of the water. I dont think its cyano, its not very slimey. Its more string like. Should i add a slime remover? i can post a picture tonight

[unclejed]

I wouldn't add slime remover yet since you seem sure it is stringy. If you use regular florescent lights or power compaq lights you are at the end of their effective range and they should be replaced. I think what Drdee was trying to say is that when bulbs start out they are strong and bright (to put it simply) but as they wear they lose their "brightness" and go down to a less bright spectrum and that is what algae like especially string or green hair algae.

[das04j]

I use HO t5. already time to change?

[unclejed]

Oh, no then, it isn't. They will last 12-18 mos. Algae is a funny thing. Some people get a stubborn case that seems to defy logic. Others never get it. If it becomes a stress for you, you may want to try this product; Algaefix Marine by American Pharmaceuticals. I am into nine days (you add it every 3 days) and it is working. No ill effects on anything in the tank as they have claimed.

I normally wouldn't try an algae destroying product but it looked interesting so I am experimenting with my Bio Cube. I didn't have a lot of hair algae but some and cyno so I am giving it a try.

Probably a whole host of people will be all over this and say all the usual chants like; "What are your nitrates", "What lights are you using", "Algae is from nutrients and you should find the source", you know all those kind of comments.

Thing is the Tank parameters are fine, lights are good and sometimes there is no logical reason for the algae growth. In larger tanks (I've had this happen) you can get an unexpected large die off of something and that triggers an outbreak and if this product works it is nice to know as a quick fix (well, fairly quick) there is something to go to.

[demonsquirt]

I would say its from removeing the glass top.Covering the top like this is very bad. If you want to know why im happy to add .

Reduceing the light time and some water changes will help but i think as time goes it should get better.

[das04j]

thanks busta ryhmes . i did about a 10% water change to see if that will help.

[das04j]

well the water change helped a little. Comes back in three days!

[demonsquirt]

You say you have 20 times exchange but ill bet you count the skimmer and or canister.
Do you use any powerheads?
And just doing a small water change wont do much.
You need to get the proper water test kits with nitrate and phosphate and DKh readings.
Do your tests around the same time and in the morning is best.
Get the levels and then if you have high unwanted levels then a 35 % water change followed by weekly 25% changes untill wanted levels reached. Then 10% weekly or 25% monthly would be ok.

[das04j]

i have two powerheads running at about 400 gph

[das04j]

i ahve a pretty good test kit and my alk is 11 dkh