brown algae taking over

its on the sand, on the rocks, on the overflowbox,the walls, and even the return hoses. It looks like hell and want to get it off of everything. I tried scrubbing it but it comes back. tried killing the lights for about 2 weeks but came back a week later. right now im leaving the lights on 12-13hours to try to grow it so it will run out of silicates and then die off. will this work or is there a better way?
ammonia-0ppm
nitrite-0ppm
nitrate-0ppm
Ph-8.2
salt-1.022
thats all I know

 

How old is the tank? It sounds like diatoms to me. First algae to colonize the tank... Natural progression of things, it will work its way out but adding a few snails and diatomaceous herbivores will help.

 

only about 1 1/2months, but should I keep the lights on longer?

 

12-13 hours is a little long IMO. Just let it ride out naturally. It's no use in trying to speed progress along, remember Patience is the key to a good healthy tank.

 

+ 1 from me
Diatoms, if it is Diatoms, which I also suspect it is
will run their course irrespective of lighting

provided your using RODI water and not tap water, the silicates you have are simply from all the new plastics etc that are in your system, once they are used up (varies in time from one set up to another) the Diatoms go away

they only ever come back again, if you add a new Power head, or new sand etc - anything new that adds a source of silicates can trigger a new smaller outbreak

if its any help to you
my last set up - I recall Diatoms arrived at week 4 or 5 and where completely gone by week 9 or 10 - at its very worst the tank looked like an explosion in a cocoa powder factory , when it cleared , the tank looked the same as it did the day I set it up ( clean and new)

Steve

 

Got some pics of said algae?

 

i know about the lights but thats whats scaring me. they seem to respond to the lights Ill try to get picture tomarrow.

 

WOW brings back memories of when mine was new and I was so frustrated. Just let it go, as everyone here has said. They will go away. Add some snails and crabs. Be patient. I know it can be hard.

 

Diatoms is without a doubt in my mind what you are experiencing esp since the tank is alittle over a month old. Good thing is that like stated numerous times it will ride its way out, eventually, but most herbivores prefer diatoms over other algal sources... Just about all snails will eat it, some crabs will pick at it and tangs of the genus ctenochaetus will eat it, also will some acanthurus tangs. Lawn mower blennies will consume it.... Problem with diatoms on the sand though is not many critters actively eat off sand esp snails, if you want snails to eat it off the sandbed you will need to use conchs, such as a fighting conch or other strombus you can find...So as you can see the list is already fairly long as to what will eat it.
If the diatoms still won't let up after some time,increasing pH and alkalinity as well as the use of kalkwasser and carbon can help. Eliminating its food sources is usually the best way to go. You will never get rid of diatoms completely, if so no one would need to wipe the glass , but you can essentially rid it from your sand and rocks.

Good luck

 

my 55 gal salt reef just went from generic lighting to compacts total of 130w. been up since october.
A month ago i made the switch. So i am no longer fish only with a green star polyp and a bubble tip anenome.
but 2 weeks ago brown algae started cover the sand and lower parts of the glass. but i am noticing it's only in the areas where the jets don't touch as much.
i just ordered a new one to add and shoot water down the front of the tank.

either way... this is a first for me... i am trying to read all these posts but i don't think mine is as bad as the person that started this thread