dog Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 I am still establishing my 800ltr marine tank, it's a year old. I am almost on top of the green hair algae stage but recently (3 months or so) have noticed a brown slimey growth (algae?) on some of the rocks, mainly in the flow. It covers most of the rock face, and the fuzz is about 6mm or so and looks like it will smother any other growth soon if I don't get on top of it. There were two things I did around that time.....I used Bioptin/Bio Digest to clear the water up, and also began using NSW from the Boulder Bank in Nelson. Any idaes please? :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDM Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 Cyno bacterria maybe? there is a good link in the sticky at the top of the saltwater section. most people agree if it is cyno then more flow is your best bet, i had a bit a few months ago, i used vodka at a ratio of 1ml per 100ltrs (400ltr tank, 2ml morning, 2ml night), i also increased my flow, and that took care of it. photos would help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hazzard Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 My tank has come out in a light brown fuzzy growth on the rocks that is slowly turning deep red. Im just gonna wait it out and see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 What do you use for your topup water? Have you done water tests? If not do some, and post them. Also helps if you say what test kits you are using, some are pretty dodgy. Other spec will help to, amount of flow, salinity, lighting etc. I had problems with brown algae when I first started discovered that my PH was low (because my ak/ca etc was low) when I fixed this it cleared up pretty fast. A year old tank should be getting pretty mature and stable now. Oh and welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossco Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 Hi dog Just to add more confusion - I had the same thing happen. Yes, it was also after starting to use bioptim and biodigest. Sounds like a similar sort of algae - grew best in HIGH flow areas (as opposed to cyano). It had quite an inhibiting effect on things like button polyps when it started growing amongst them. Sailfin didn't seem greatly interested in eating it although he cleans any hair algae in sight. I dosed with vodka without great success. I started using a phosphate remover and DID have a significant reduction in algae. I am still using bioptim and digest as I do think they help the water clarity. Perhaps like a lot of things they upset the balance but now it is getting restored. Does anybody also notice an increase in water clarity after using reef booster? :-? Or do I just need to clean the outside of the glass more... :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 Does anybody also notice an increase in water clarity after using reef booster stir up your substrate and you will also notice an increase in water clarity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dog Posted November 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 Have been using NSW for last couple of months. Will check all levels today and post results.... Thanks What do you use for your topup water? Have you done water tests? If not do some, and post them. Also helps if you say what test kits you are using, some are pretty dodgy. Other spec will help to, amount of flow, salinity, lighting etc. I had problems with brown algae when I first started discovered that my PH was low (because my ak/ca etc was low) when I fixed this it cleared up pretty fast. A year old tank should be getting pretty mature and stable now. Oh and welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dog Posted November 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 Hi Rossco....interesting you are the only one that has similar problem with biodigest/bioptin. It definitley increases water clarity. I used it inan attempt to get on top of my green hair alage problem which was signoficant in my tank...it is slowly dissappearing. This brown slime algae is more of concern now as it is growing in and around the polyps and I think will smother things if it gets out of hand. What phosphte compound did you use and how long did you wait till you saw results....and is it gone????? Thanks Dog Hi dog Just to add more confusion - I had the same thing happen. Yes, it was also after starting to use bioptim and biodigest. Sounds like a similar sort of algae - grew best in HIGH flow areas (as opposed to cyano). It had quite an inhibiting effect on things like button polyps when it started growing amongst them. Sailfin didn't seem greatly interested in eating it although he cleans any hair algae in sight. I dosed with vodka without great success. I started using a phosphate remover and DID have a significant reduction in algae. I am still using bioptim and digest as I do think they help the water clarity. Perhaps like a lot of things they upset the balance but now it is getting restored. Does anybody also notice an increase in water clarity after using reef booster? :-? Or do I just need to clean the outside of the glass more... :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dog Posted November 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 I noticed this brown slime moving in around 2-3 months ago....hasnt shown signs of turing red as yet. Doesnt look very nice thou. My tank has come out in a light brown fuzzy growth on the rocks that is slowly turning deep red. Im just gonna wait it out and see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 What do you use for your topup water? Maybe you just miss read, but just wanted to make sure you are topping up your evaperation with fresh water not salt water?? and where are you getting your fresh water from? If it's not RO/DI or purchased filter water this could be your problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 Any idaes please? algae is generally a sign of too many nutrients. Do you use ro/di filter? as tap water contains many nutrients and if you dont filter it the algae will utilise it. is you skimmer big enough. Does anybody also notice an increase in water clarity after using reef booster? Cant say i have with reef booster. with the biodigest you do as it contains live bacteria which cleans your tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dog Posted November 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 I water change with NSW, and top up with tap water. I rang the Nelson city council, and they advised me that they have a new water treatment system, which produces some of the best water available.....I got a water chemistry printout from them, and nothing seems to stick out regards phosphate levels etc.... Maybe you just miss read, but just wanted to make sure you are topping up your evaperation with fresh water not salt water?? and where are you getting your fresh water from? If it's not RO/DI or purchased filter water this could be your problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossco Posted November 17, 2006 Report Share Posted November 17, 2006 Yup, water might start out pretty clean at the 'source' but by the time it gets through pumps, reservoirs, mains, and pipes (some times decades old) there's a lotta crap that can end up in your fish tank. In a sense, a large part of the sanitising additives in the water are to compensate for the crappy pipes they have to travel through! Even when I was collecting rain water for the tank it is hard to keep it 'pure' cause there is so much other crap blowing around when the rain is coming down. RO/DI made a difference for my tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted November 18, 2006 Report Share Posted November 18, 2006 I water change with NSW, and top up with tap water. I doubt your tap water is clean enough for a reef tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Posted November 18, 2006 Report Share Posted November 18, 2006 I also use to use biodigest/bioptin and found I had issuies with alge growth on my sand. I don't vacuum it and need to once the weather improves to get NSW. Started Zeo again and have noticed a change all ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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