Brown Hair Algae Reef Tank

I havent yet done a microscope check but this will be my next move.

Brown hair algae reef tank.

The first thing to do is to control the amount of light that the tank receives. Diatoms feed on available silicates in your system and will run their course in time. Almost sure to appear in a new system diatoms are some of the most abundant organisms on earth. My uv is now connected up.

Ok first of all what are they. It is good that you remove the brown algae from your reef tank due to the following reasons. I will send you a microscope pic asap and will then. Brown algae can appear in a reef tank which has just completed its cycle and also an established one.

They usually surface in the aquarium as a brown powdery like substance within a week or so after a tank finishes its cycle. The easiest and most straightforward way to identify brown algae in your freshwater fish tank is by its color. Well diatoms are a brown algae that typically appear in a reef tank that has just completed its cycle but they can also appear in an established reef tank. Hair algae is caused by bright light and nutrients like phosphate and it will often grow on rocks first but can grow across a sand bed if the sand is left undisturbed.

Brown diatoms are often seen in new aquariums that have just completed their biological cycling process. I have a 1200lph pump which pumps into uv and then straight into skimmer. Thankyou for the replies. The substance is usually mustard or rusty brown color.

It usually grows as a thin layer on the substrate glass pumps rock sand and any other surface in the reef tank. Brown diatom algae can be found in the oceans down to depths of about 600 feet so they won t have any problems finding enough light to multiply in your brightly lit reef tank which may be only 24 inches deep. It dwells on all kinds of surfaces especially glass surfaces that is where they are the most easily visible. Diatoms look ugly but in most cases they are harmless so the key is to not panic when they appear.