Two questions

[holabird]

Might be stupid questions but I am not sure so better to ask.

Do corals add to the bioload of the tank or just the fish?

How long before you should see coraline algae in the tank? I know that depends on a lot of things but should it be 2 months, 6 months, a year on an average?

I have never had red slime or green hair algae in the tank but I keep having the brown diatom blooms. Will this go away eventually?

Sorry, three questions slipped in there. Thanks for the input.

 

[sharkbait]

Corals do add to the bioload. As for coraline algae you will notice it growing on all your plastics first then it will begin to spread to the glass. As for how long it takes to start depends on your setup and how well your parameters are and how stable the tank is. Diatom's will go away. It's part of the cycle. Now if you are still getting it after your tank is cycled then you need to check your parameters.

 

[holabird]

Just did water tests and everything came out great. pH was 8.2, 0 on ammonia, nitrate and nitrite.

Tank has been up and running about 5 months. Have some fish and some coral. Still getting the brown dust like film on the glass and live rock. Seeded the live rock with coraline covered rock but it is not expanding from there.

Tank is a 180 with a 70 gallon sump and a 45 gallon water change tank all plumbed into the system.

 

[carpenter981]

are your using an RODI for your water or tap water? Im using tap water with a dechlorinator and getting a brown dusty algae in a few places...

 

[holabird]

I am using RODI water. The brown dust comes off easy just wish I didnt have to do it.

 

[demifelix]

Increase your magnesium and you will see great growth rate on your coraline algae. As far as brown algae while nitrate reads 0, you may want to check for phosphate, and if your phosphate level is high then you can use GFO or something like that.