What is this brown algae?

StirCrazy · #1 07-30-2006, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fortheloveofcrabs

Umm, not to be rude, but it is photosynthetic. In fact, cyano is believed to be one of the oldest bacteria today (some say as much as 3.5 billion years old). We actually owe this little brown mess quite a bit. It is thought that cyano was responsible for most of the early oxygen on earth. Cyano created this oxygen through photosynthesis.

If we were talking about the type of cyano comanly knowen as "blue green algae" I would totaly agree with you but seeing as we have a different strain with no green chloroplast I am not sure if these are photosynthetic or not. so I can't say I am wrong or I am right but I know I have had this kind in tanks which were in total darkness.

Steve

MikeP · #2 07-30-2006, 06:00 PM

The tank is a few months old. It is 30 gallons FOWLR. Substrate is crushed coral (I know now that was a mistake I took most of it out a while ago) 30 pounds of live rock. I do not have a skimmer and don't plan to buy one for this tank (I'm going to be setting up a 190 gallon so I'm saving money for that) I was told by lots of people that a skimmer isn't totally necessary for a tank this size. I thought I had enough flow with to hang on filters but I could buy a power head to help. I add water as it needs it and do a water change every week to 10 days. How long should my lights be on for? Is there something I can buy that will eat this stuff? A crab maybe? The LFS has sally lightfoots and hermits. The algae is darker than when that pic was taken it is dark brown to almost black in color now. It's growing on the LR and substrate. I hope this is enough info. Let me know if I left anything out

Thanks for any help.

MoeReefer · #3 07-30-2006, 06:23 PM

here is a site which may have what you are looking for, if not it is still good info.

cheers

MoeReefer · #4 07-30-2006, 06:24 PM

oops, forgot to add the web site to my post. here ya go.

cheers
http://www.xtalworld.com/Aquarium/hitchfaq.htm

Kabong · #5 07-30-2006, 06:59 PM

If all you have is hang on filters for circulation, That would be your problem.
You need to get a power head, Or 2 would be even better.
In my 30 I run a 125Gph and a 175Gph giving a total of 300Gph.
Which most consider a minimum flow at X10 the size of the tank.

MikeP · #6 07-30-2006, 07:38 PM

OK I will buy a power head next week. So since I got no replies on what I can add to my clean up crew should I assume that there is nothing that likes to eat this type of algae? All I have for clean up now a CBS and a turbo snail. Is there something I should add to help prevent other algae from starting up?

Thanks

Kabong · #7 07-31-2006, 04:25 AM

I don't know if they will eat it but some Nassarius snails will help by moving the sand bed a bit.
Scarlet hermit's are allways cleaning the sand so some of those may help as well.
Cerith snails may work as well, But im not a big fan of them.
They allways seem to end up on there backs.