brown stuff on sand bed

[craig_will2513]

hi all on my sand bed i have a horrilbe brown algea looking stuff starting to cover the bed any ideas what it is how to rid of it is it good or bad.. its very short and just looks like the sand id turning brown but its something growing on it.. also on the back wall there is long brown grey hair like stuff

 

[Kio707]

Can you post a pic?

 

[austinsdad]

Have you checked your phosphate levels lately?

 

[craig_will2513]

il try put a pic up for you then.. and i didnt know i needed to test for phosphate.. iam still learning you see

 

[austinsdad]

Yes, do that since they are a huge contributor to nuisance algae outbreaks. You using tap water or RO/DI?

 

[craig_will2513]

ro but iv not been able to change it for a while now due to hospital so need getting on top of.. is tap water ok to use then

 

[austinsdad]

Hard to answer without testing your tap water. It can easily be loaded with phosphates...or worse.

 

[craig_will2513]

oh right you say it can contain phosphates what els come in the tap water

 

[craig_will2513]

here are a few pics

 

[Kio707]

Your tank new?

 

[craig_will2513]

first and second pic is of the sand bed. the third is of the stuff thats fell of the side wall and is collecting under my rocks. and the third is the stuff on the back wall. ignor the toadstool i know he didnt look well but he has recovered and is doing fine now.. so any ideas guys

 

[craig_will2513]

no its not new about5 months

 

[Kio707]

Think it may be diatoms. Here's a good link for you. It's hard to tell in the pics. Hope this helps.

ReefCleaners.org | Clean Up Crews and Macro Algae - Nuisance Algae ID Guide

 

[austinsdad]

All new tanks have a diatom period. It'll go away on its own as quickly as it appeared.

 

[Sniperhank]

Yeah, I have the same thing. My tank is a month old and I wasn't very shocked when I saw it. Nothing to get too worked up about.

 

[craig_will2513]

my tank is almost 6 months though

 

[Sniperhank]

All new tanks have a diatom period. It'll go away on its own as quickly as it appeared.

As previously stated.

 

[austinsdad]

Have you seen diatoms before now?

 

[jefe8804]

I had the same algae in my tank and i put a couple of turbo snails in and it was gone in about a week. sometimes if your shorten the length of time the lights are one it will make a difference as well, maybe by a half an hour to an hour

 

[craig_will2513]

so is 6 months still new for a tank then and iv not had it in this tank before.. and will cutting the lights by such a short time really work