I see this question asked a lot - They post "I have brown algae (which is diatoms) & green algae in my new rsm tanks, what can I do about it?"
So I decided to start this thread, so I can bump it & others can add in there wisdom too to this thread
Let me first say, I can empathize with you, about 11 months ago I started my first swt and I can remember going through the exact same thing & having the exact same questions. I started with beautiful expensive Tonga Branch LiveRock, covered in life & gorgeous coralline algae, along with my pretty very white Seaflor Special Grade sand. Then it started to happen, with in the first two weeks, my beautiful white sand, started to turn brown, then much to my dismay my gorgeous Live Rock started turning brown. Followed a few weeks latter by green hair algae.
Well let me tell you what I was told & then experienced. All this is Normal New Tank Progression, let it run it's course and it will pass.
I can still remember thinking, bummer I have an ugly tank (embarrassed to post pics) and I wanted a pretty tank like everyone else, what am I doing wrong. The answer is nothing - this is all normal new tank progression - it will pass in time (mine was not 100% algae free for about 3 months).
The algae is feeding & using up (a good thing) the silicates in the sand.
There are a few thing you can do to help, I am about to list - but remember - it's normal new tank progression & the real answer is to let it run it's course and keep telling yourself, it's a phase & will soon pass.
This is what I do & suggest... others can add tips below and there is more than one way to do all this, what I am listing is my way, how I did it & not a hard fast rule.
Tips to reduce algae:
1. Don't overfeed - only feed what the fish can totally consume with in 2 or 3 minutes.
2. Do regular water changes with ro/di sw - 15% weekly
3. Run CPE (Chemi-Pure-Elite) or something similar like Rowaphos - carbon with gfo - phosphate removers
4. Have a hardy CUC (clean up crew) I like snails for cuc - Ceriths, Nassarius, Margarita Turbos, Astrea & Banded Trochus, Mexican Turbos - hermit crabs eat snails - one snail per gallon is a good rule- when starting out, add 1/2 snail per gallon & then over time increase this to 1 snail per gallon.
5. Run your lights no more than 8 to 10 hours a day. To knock algae back, run you lights 4 hours a day for 5 days, this will not hurt your coral.
6. When doing water changes you can syphon the sand lightly, using a turkey baster to blow off the rock weekly will help.
7. Add an Emerald crab, I added one & he wiped out a tank full of the green hair algae in a week.
Hope something in here helps - remember it will pass - normal new tank progression - you will have a pristine beautiful tank soon !
So I decided to start this thread, so I can bump it & others can add in there wisdom too to this thread
Let me first say, I can empathize with you, about 11 months ago I started my first swt and I can remember going through the exact same thing & having the exact same questions. I started with beautiful expensive Tonga Branch LiveRock, covered in life & gorgeous coralline algae, along with my pretty very white Seaflor Special Grade sand. Then it started to happen, with in the first two weeks, my beautiful white sand, started to turn brown, then much to my dismay my gorgeous Live Rock started turning brown. Followed a few weeks latter by green hair algae.
Well let me tell you what I was told & then experienced. All this is Normal New Tank Progression, let it run it's course and it will pass.
I can still remember thinking, bummer I have an ugly tank (embarrassed to post pics) and I wanted a pretty tank like everyone else, what am I doing wrong. The answer is nothing - this is all normal new tank progression - it will pass in time (mine was not 100% algae free for about 3 months).
The algae is feeding & using up (a good thing) the silicates in the sand.
There are a few thing you can do to help, I am about to list - but remember - it's normal new tank progression & the real answer is to let it run it's course and keep telling yourself, it's a phase & will soon pass.
This is what I do & suggest... others can add tips below and there is more than one way to do all this, what I am listing is my way, how I did it & not a hard fast rule.
Tips to reduce algae:
1. Don't overfeed - only feed what the fish can totally consume with in 2 or 3 minutes.
2. Do regular water changes with ro/di sw - 15% weekly
3. Run CPE (Chemi-Pure-Elite) or something similar like Rowaphos - carbon with gfo - phosphate removers
4. Have a hardy CUC (clean up crew) I like snails for cuc - Ceriths, Nassarius, Margarita Turbos, Astrea & Banded Trochus, Mexican Turbos - hermit crabs eat snails - one snail per gallon is a good rule- when starting out, add 1/2 snail per gallon & then over time increase this to 1 snail per gallon.
5. Run your lights no more than 8 to 10 hours a day. To knock algae back, run you lights 4 hours a day for 5 days, this will not hurt your coral.
6. When doing water changes you can syphon the sand lightly, using a turkey baster to blow off the rock weekly will help.
7. Add an Emerald crab, I added one & he wiped out a tank full of the green hair algae in a week.
Hope something in here helps - remember it will pass - normal new tank progression - you will have a pristine beautiful tank soon !
Last edited: