Brown Algae (Diatoms)? [Yup!] – 03/03/09 I am not sure but I do believe my brown algae problem is Diatoms. <<Yessiree…but hardly a “problem” based on your pics>> I am attaching pics of my problem...please feel free to use these pictures as needed on your web site. <<Thank you>> FYI this is a new tank and is still cycling. <<So is experiencing the normal/natural algae succession… (In my best ‘Master Po’ voice… “Ahh, patience Grasshopper”)>> I have read a lot about starting a new tank and am pretty well convinced this is Diatoms. <<Indeed>> My tank is a 125H (60x18x24) hoping for a reef if I can get past my intimidation level. <<A time for reading/research… Do see WWM re>> I am running 2 250w MH lights 12hours a day, 2-1300 gph powerheads cycled for 15 <minutes> alternately, 30g refugium w/ 50/50 pc light on 24/7, 2 cheap skimmers doing pretty well, Plus a homemade O2 fuser that adds O2 through my return pumps about 1 time per hour flooding the tank with micro bubbles. <<Mmm, do read here and among the linked files (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bubtroubfaqs.htm). Micro-bubbles can be problematic>> Let me know what your opinion is of my algae problem. <<Is not a problem… Let your tank keep cycling as it is…and start your research re your desired biotope to replicate>> Thanks- your site is great and I find a lot of good reading. <<Me too! >> -Anthony <<Cheers, Eric Russell>>

Algae ID, Likely Diatoms 1/27/09
Hello crew,
<Hi Mike>
I have a 30g tank set up for a month now. For the past week and a half I have noticed this rust looking algae growing on my live rock and live sand.
It hasn't really been a problem (I can only assume). Its now spreading all over the in and out takes of my filter (205 Fluval) and has almost completely covered my power head. I have looked all over your FAQ's on a bunch of different algae but I really haven't found one that hits home (sorry I'm more of a picture type person). The characteristics of it are as follows:
On the sand it looks as if someone dyed it to a rust color, its not hairy or slimy looking, just a different color. I have 5 Turbos and a sand sifting star (which eat a lot of it daily).
The rock and plastic in the tank literally look like they're oxidizing, the rock has all changed color.
If I really have stumbled across the right answer then my assumption would be that its harmless and the bloom will subside when cycling is done and go away on its own? Now is where my questions come in. First off could it be that my temperature is too high?
<No.>
Its currently 80. I have done a 20% weekly water change and all my levels are zero. This stuff is growing extremely rapid and im curious to know if im doing something wrong. If it will subside does that mean it will go away entirely, if so usually how long after cycling is complete?
<Mike, what you have is a diatom explosion and is not unusual in new set-ups. Keep up your husbandry and this will soon go away. See the link here and I'm sure the pics you see will be similar to what your are seeing in your tank.
http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/algaecontrol/l/blpicalgaediato.htm>
I forgot to add I currently do not have a protein skimmer (I bought a cheap one and it makes way too many micro bubbles, everything I have done to get rid of them ended in disaster so out it went.) would this have any effect on algae?
<On algae, oh yes. An efficient protein skimmer is one of the best investments you can make to improve water quality.>
Thanks
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
-Mike

Diatoms?: how to proceed  8/23/07
Dear Crew,
<Mark>
I know the information is on your web page; I just can't seem to put it all together.
Tank parameters:
90gal set up for 3 years. Have always seemed to have an algae problem of one kind or another since automatic fish feeder fell in the tank while I was at work 1.5 years ago.
Water flow is approximately 1500 gph
Filtration: sand and protein skimmer
pH 8.2-8.4
NH3=0
NH2=0
Alk=9dKH
NO3=undetectable with Aquarium Pharm.
PO3=undetectable with Aquarium Pharm.
Calcium=400ppm
5 gallon water changes weekly
Livestock:
4" yellow tang
3" flame angel
2" cleaner shrimp
2 species of Montipora
3 species of Acropora
2 species of star polyps
1 frogspawn colony
Three weeks ago I added Kalkwasser to replace evaporation since my calcium levels were a little low (350ppm vs. the 400ppm as present). Two days after I added the Kalkwasser I noticed my BGA was replaced by what I believe to be diatoms (I looked at them with a microscope and found they were too large to be BGA, but did not appear as symmetrical as I would expect from diatoms.
<Bacillariophyceans are distinctive... as you state>
Cells were oval shaped with only one plane of symmetry).
<Not diatoms. Were organelles, nuclei apparent?>
Also, many of them float to the water's surface during the day; less or not at all at night.
The SPS don't seem to be affected but the frogspawn and star polyps don't look very good (stay closed most of the day).
<Yikes...>
In an effort to rid my tank of this bloom I replaced my DIY protein skimmer with a Tunze DOC 9005, added an inch of 1-3mm aragonite sand (it was down to 2.5), and switched from tap water to RO that I buy from the LFS. I also added a small clump of Chaetomorpha to my tank.
<Really? Am assuming you mean/t the genus Chaetomorpha>
What should my next step be? Keep up with the water changes and wait it out?
<Yes, I would... unless the Stony Corals continue to "look bad"... in which case I'd effect another, larger water change and use carbon in your filter flow path>
Buy some new live rock and/or order live sand activator to recharge my system with small detritivores?
<Also a good move>
Was this caused by the CaOH precipitating PO3 thus killing the BGA and leading to a diatom bloom?
<Possibly... but not diatoms... some other Protista>
Thanks for a wonderful website,
Mark
<Do send along pix if you can. Bob Fenner>

Re: Diatoms?: how to proceed   8/24/07
Hi Bob,
<Mark>
Thanks for your quick reply. I forgot to mention that I also stopped adding Kalkwasser a few days ago. As a result the pH in my tank reverted to pre-Kalkwasser readings: 7.8 in the morning and 8.2 in the afternoon. Also my calcium increased to 420ppm. This could be due to experimental error (difference in reading of only one drop) or due to increase calcium solubility in the lower pH.
<Better to look into bolstering alkalinity slowly through your water changes over time here...>
The corals do look a little better today, but I am concerned about this Protist bloom. I looked at a sample I took from the bottom of the tank (first time was from top/dead) and found that when alive they are very mobile.
<NOT Diatoms...>
It looks like they use cilia for locomotion. Also they seem to contain brown chloroplasts and a nucleus. Enclosed is a Word document with a picture pasted onto it. Are there any good herbivores for this?
<I see... more likely Dinoflagellates...>
I am afraid to buy fresh live rock at this point because I think it would become smothered.
<Mmmm>
Thanks,
Mark
P.S. I did mean Chaetomorpha (not Chaetomorpa)
<Ah, good. Bob Fenner>

Re: Diatoms?: how to proceed... Maybe Euglenoids    7/25/07
Hi Bob,
Just wanted to thank you for your help. I did some searching and it looks like these are Euglenoids from the genus Trachelomonas
(though from what I've seen on the internet this is mostly a freshwater genus). The following link convinced me; especially the movement.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://silicasecchidisk.conncoll.edu/Pics/Other%2520Algae/Other_jpegs/Trachelomonas1.jpg&imgrefurl= http://silicasecchidisk.conncoll.edu/LucidKeys/Carolina_Key/html/
Trachelomonas_Main.html&h=235&w=288&sz=38&hl=en&start=27&tbnid=H0z0lEY
Vy3pntM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=115&prev=/images%3Fq%3DEuglenoids%26start%3D20
%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
<Okay>
So eventually the alkalinity will improve with water changes?
<Mmm, yes... should... with higher alkalinity in the new water...>
I've had low pH (7.8-8.2) for at least 1.5 years with weekly water changes. Of course the addition of the Tunze skimmer may take some pressure off the buffers in the saltwater mix (Instant Ocean).
Thanks again,
Mark
<I would look into supplemental bolstering of your alkalinity here... Bob Fenner>