browny/ red horrible stuff!!!! help!

hey guys

need help, my tank is still really new about 6 weeeks old!

alot of browny/ red algae is growing on the sand and rocks, is this common algae with alot of air bubbles

am i leaving the lights on to much or maybe not enough?

im guessing i can buy something from the local fish store?

what do you guys suggest?

russ:-/:-/:-/

 

With such a new tank, you don't want to start using algicides. Many don't work well, if at all, and just add more chemicals that stress your livestock.

The brown is common diatoms and will go away on its own. The red with air bubbles sounds like cyanobacteria which is generally caused by phosphates. Did you start your tank with tap water or RO/DI?

 

thanks for reply

no bought all my water from the fish store, never put tap water in

saying that about 2 weeks ago i washed the sponge and plastic balls in tap water, then was told off by the local fish shop store! lol so learned my lesson there, maybe thats the reason??

plus i did a water change about 2 weeks ago, probably need to do another after im back from brazil

 

also i have no skimmer yet! im guessing i need 2 buy one

 

Are you running carbon, and if so, is it reef-grade? Cheap carbon can leach phosphates in saltwater.

You can vacuum out the cyano when you do a water change, but until you find and correct the source it will continue to return.

 

not putting carbon in the tank, as far as im aware

 

Do you have any livestock in the tank? If not, you can leave the lights off for a few days.

Vacuum out the cyano and do a 10% water change. If the cyano returns, you may have something in the sand or rocks. Where did they come from? Is it used sand? Is it live rock from the LFS? You might also want to test your make-up water for nitrates and phosphates before using.

 

Can you put up a picture? Maybe it's dinoflagellates.

 

ya i have livestock in there 3 fish, 2 shrimps and snails, no corals or plants tho.

okay will do both of those vacuum and water change

i bought live sand and live rock all from the LFS and 3 bags of normal coral sand

 

this is gona sound really sad. im 27 i dont no how 2 upload pics!

i no its bad!