Algae Questions

[bostontim]

I noticed today that all the rocks I purchased that were in another members sump have color now. THey are almost a rust color and some covered in bubbles. Also the back of the sand and the corners(i assume where there isnt much flow) is getting green algae on it. WHat do I do?? Should I worry about the bubbles??

 

[JayM]

the rust color sounds like diatoms, and the bubbles are probably caused by the fact that they have algae on them and are under more intense light in a display than a sump. Your tank is new, you have standard new tank issues.

What are your parameters? What did you put in there for cleanup crew?

 

[LockeOak]

The brown diatoms often fade on their own, but if they persist a few measures that seem to help are a) leave your lights off for 2-3 days to weaken them (it won't hurt your corals for a few days), b) make sure your alk is on the high end of normal, they don't seem to like that, c) reduce nutrient input to your tank, d) siphon off what you can, but don't expect much, e) clean-up crew! I like ceriths and hermits for diatoms, hermits for the sand and ceriths for everything else. Astreas work well but they require some babysitting. Nassarius won't help except maybe by burying brown sand under white sand.