Algae

[Willba200]

Hi, I'm getting lots of algae on my rocks and sand, is it correct that it will disappear over time?

 

[Wildsy]

Is it brown?

 

[Willba200]

Mainly green some brown on sand

 

[Wildsy]

I only know as well as you will as I am a beginner also. Do you have plenty of flow?

 

[Willba200]

Yes have lots of flow. I'm sure I've read that it will go on its own. Not sure though. How far are you into this hobby?

 

[Dav3]

Green means you have excess nitrates and or phosphates. Cut back on feeding and lighting period. Do a water change or two.

Brown is probably diatoms and will go away on their own.

 

[bribo12]

Yes have lots of flow. I'm sure I've read that it will go on its own. Not sure though. How far are you into this hobby?

Is your tank pretty new? If it is new the tank will go through a maturing stage and you will have some algae for a while. Controlling phosphates and nitrates is the best way to keep algae in check. If it is just he brownish algae (diatoms) they will use up all the silicates and disappear.

 

[Willba200]

Yes tank is 6 weeks old. Only feeding two clowns a tiny bit of food every other day. Done quite a few water changes recently to get nitrate down. All prams are good with nitrate at around 5/10

 

[Willba200]

Here is a picture

 

[Mkeuper6361]

How often do you clean it and do you have a fish which cleans the bottom? If not, do a regular mix(swoosh the bottom or stir it) every other week

 

[bribo12]

How often do you clean it and do you have a fish which cleans the bottom? If not, do a regular mix(swoosh the bottom or stir it) every other week

This will not fix the problem and could lead to huge amounts of nutrients trapped in the San being released. Which would then lead to more algae. I would keep up on wc with ro/di and it should go away as your tank matures. You can siphon it out as well

 

[Mkeuper6361]

Yes! I mean use a pump and vacuum it up if possible! I'm so sorry for miscommunication!

 

[bribo12]

Yes! I mean use a pump and vacuum it up if possible! I'm so sorry for miscommunication!

Haha see that makes more sense

 

[Mkeuper6361]

I am a beginner at aquariums so I'm bound to make mistakes! :0

 

[carey]

LOL, yeah mucking up the sand will release all sorts of nasties into the water. If you use a vacuum then you would just gently go over the sand surface, very gently. BUT if you have enough flow things shouldnt accumulate on the sand anyways. But the algae, yeah pull it out if you can, I sometimes use tweezers to pick up the mat, the algae comes up with a little sand but it comes up in one piece usually.

 

[Mkeuper6361]

Hahahahhahahah I know right!?

 

[tbrazil230]

If you're running a sump I would look into an algae scrubber, I built 1 for my 120, best thing I've ever done for it, not a trace of nuisance algae and my parameters have never been better

 

[Mkeuper6361]

I don't have sand.... My tank is surprisingly clean without too much scum! I'm super happy about it. I've had this tank for 3 weeks now so I'm new still

 

[bribo12]

Bare bottom is much easier to keep clean but sand looks a lot more aesthetically pleasing IMO.

 

[Mkeuper6361]

I have rocks and marbles