Tired of my tank looking brown

[Nemo]

i can't figure it out, i clean my tank all the time and two days later the gravel looks all brown and spots on my tank have a hard slimmy brownish green slim. im crying to put anemones in my tank but i don't want to die or anything to go wrong. i have a 44 gal. tank w/mhlights, live rock lots of snails and blue leg crabs a pepperment shirimp. i have tired adding a uv light but thats not working. some people say its the light, i have tried using less light, not working, someone has also said its a phospate (sp) problem but water levels are fine. another is a protein skimmer problem but i have tried that (i do have one just haven't switched it out) so please help anyone.

[Cougra]

How long has your tank been set up?
What are your water parameters in the tank? Alk, pH, Salinity, Calcium, Phosphate, temp, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, etc..
How long do you have your lights on for each day?

Without any of this information it will be very difficult for us to help you out. We need real numbers on the readings not just a "waters are fine" because we can't see what's going on with that type of response. The more information you can give the better.

[blue_eyes53813]

So do you use the skimmer or not? Amount of feedings and water current is also good to know.

[Woodstock]

Blue/Green Algae, Cyanobacteria

• Get the skimmer working ASAP. It removes organics before they can begin to rot and fowl the water/feed the nusiance algae.
• Are you using tap water? If so invest in a ro/di system to provide filtered water or purchase it from your LFS. Make sure to test the water using a TDS (total dissolved Solids) meter, also test it for po4 and nitrAtes (all should read zero!) Using filtered water goes a loooong way to deter algae. Testing the aquarium water for po4 is not a valid test sincee the algae could be absorbing it as quickly as it is produced.
• What type of substrate do you use? Using crushed coral traps diterus very quickly and should be vacuumed with every water change.
• Are you using any mechanical filters? Sponges, sock filters, canister filter media, and even activated carbon can trap diterus and all must be rinsed frequently. Diterus rots and releases all the nutrients that algae thrive off of so exporting it is very important.
• How old are your PC bulbs (if you have any)? PC bulbs shift to a red spectrum as they age. Replacee them every 8 months.
• Begin using a phosphate media that is of an iron base (red). Keep it changed per the directions.
• What type of turnover rate do you have? Shoot for a 10-15 time water volume for adequate water flow. With your 44 gal, that would be 440 gph - 660 gph. Add all flow including the return pump, any canister filters and powerheads into the calculation... anything that moves water.
• If you have a sump, get a clamp on light and THIS BULB to help grow macro algae (chaetomorpha). This algae will compete with the nusiance algae and absorb the nutrients in the water column.
• Remove as much nusiance algae from the tank as possible during water changes/vacuumings. Using a turkey baster to suck it out between water changes is helpful too!
• Keep the nitrAtes low. 10ppm - zero is a good gaol to shoot for.

Hang in there! It will get better!!!

[cheeks69]

We definitely need more info to help you out !

two days later the gravel looks all brown

This may or may not be the problem but gravel tends to trap detritus if not cleaned regularly and if it's deep. Your parameters may be fine because the algea is taking up the nutrients ASA they're available, masking the problem.

How many fish do you have ? How often do you feed ? How often do you do W/C's and what % ?