ID this Algae?

Hi all,

I've had my tank up for around 12 weeks now and at first I started getting a few spots of coraline algae (pink and green....at least I think it is coraline). About 3 to 4 weeks ago it started with this brown looking algae and now it is getting a little worse and was wonding if someone could tell me if it is diatoms or dino (please don't be dino) or whatever. Also the rock/algae seems to be putting a TON of bubbles into the tank.

Here are my parameters....oh, this is a FOWLR btw:

hardness = 6.5
NH4 = <.25
NO2 = .05
NO3 = 5
PO4 = 0
Calcium = 390
PH = 8.1
Sg = 1.022

Help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Jack

 

Most new tank usually have an algae outbreak that will eventually die off. your most important parameter (phosphate) is 0 so your good. but your salinity is to low. It should be aroiund 1.024-1.026. Your DKH is also low. should be around 10. and your calcium is on the border of safe but should be around 420.

 

oops sorry, just noticed you have FOWLR but still has stated your algae outbreak is normal for a new tank. also I noticed you used dry rock instead of live. Which is fine, but since these rocks lack corraline the nuisance algae tends to spread on them more. eventually corraline will take over.

 

btw. Just curious, if you have a FOWLR, why do you have so much expensive lighting?

 

That way if I ever wanted to change it over to a reef tank I won't have to buy new lighting.

Thanks for all the info!!! So, that brown algae will just go away at some point? What about all the stupid bubbles?

 

Those bubbles will go too. This is the exact thing that happened to mine when I started. but although calcium isnt a concern yet for corals, keeping it up will promote corraline growth. and you still will want to bump the salinty up.

 

and it souunds to me like your tank has all the essentials to add a few corals. a few button polyps or mushrooms maybe even some LPS will probably do well as is now. Hell if your paying that energy bill ever month to run those halides, you might as well get your moneys worth. After all corals are always worth money and more as they grow

 

I agree but with the fish I have I don't know if corals will survive...lol. I do have (1) piece of rock with mushrooms on it (small piece) and it has survived so far.

I have a:
(1)pinnatus batfish (and it's eating like crazy!!!)
(1)power blue tang
(1)sailfin tang
(1)flame hawk
(1)hippo tang
(1)emporer angel juv

Think I can put some corals in with those fish???

I need to get my calcium to what and my salinity to what?

 

What is the best way to raise the Calcium?

 

Dosing with calcium !

BTW, love your batfish. How's it working out so far?