Is this algae and how do I get rid of it?

You know that brown stuff you see on the glass under the sand? Ive always had that and now that I got a halide light, it's creeping up over the sand and taking over my tank. It's in my filter and even my poor hermit and turbo snail are covered in this stuff.

Is this algae or diodomes? What can I do to control it?
Water parameters are:
Sainity-1.026
temp-77.6
nitrates-0
nitrites-0
ammonia-0
ph-8.2
phosphates-2.5 (doing 2 water changes a week to bring down)

 

Most likely diatoms. The phosphate is your problem. If you are using tap water to make your saltwater you need to get a RO/DI filter as soon as you can. Also start using granulated ferric oxide to remove the phosphate in a reactor or canister filter.

 

Diatoms only occur when there's new plastic (silicates) in the tank, so it's not likely them.

 

They supposedly come back at times when lights are changed, but that is not the cause but a contributor. If GFO is not run there will be no control of phosphate and whatever it is, and cyano is also a good possibility, getting to the source is what needs to occur which I believe you will agree with.

 

Oh, I absolutely agree with the source needing to be fixed; just not with the ID lol.

Does it peel off in sheets? Does it have air bubbles or like "strings" flowing off of it?

 

I dont think I can run a reactor in this tank. It's only a little 10g half moon tank.

Ive had the stock LEDs on it which dont do much. Always thought it was cool that I never had algae other than the brown stuff under the sand, lol.

I got the halide light last week and a couple corals and poof, this stuff is growing way fast.

Im using tested RO/DI water from the fish store. Originally, my nitrates and phosphates were both maxed out (long story with me getting suckered with this tank). It's taken me 3 months to get the tank under control with 0 nitrates. The phosphates have come way down.

All of that wouldnt contribute would it since the water tests good now? What could I do for such a small tank to control it?

 

No, it just looks like brown sand. It looks exactly like what I would see under the sand on the glass but now it's coming out everywhere. It's on the rocks, on the filter (just cheap little whisper filter) and on the powerhead. It's even on the turbo snail and hermit crab shells.

 

You can run GFO in the filter, just buy a 200 micron bag and some GFO. That will help drive your phosphates even lower and should help with the brown pest.

 

Oh wait, what is GFO? I might have some. I bought some stuff originally when the nitrates were through the roof.

 

Granulated Ferric Oxide