Brown Algae - Diatoms
Diatoms are single celled algae, brownish in color. It starts out as a dusting on the substrate that rapidly turns into a mat that can cover the tank over in just 5 days, provided that they have a surplus on nutrients available.
The cause: excess nutrients, silicate and silicic acid are the ingredients for a diatom bloom. Silicic acid enters the aquarium by using tap water; substrate can contain silicates that leach out over time. RO/DI units can filter silicic acid out, but only for a limited time. Eliminating silicates can control diatoms.
How too Solve this Problem
Real Algae Control
Algae in the tank is natural, as long as the growth is controlled and not spreading with at an explosive, destructive rate.
Algae eaters are a helpful tool to prevent algae from getting out of hand, however they do not eat all algae types. Further, they prefer "fresh" and "young" algae. Outgrown old algae are mostly left untouched.
Algae spores are always present in the water. Spores can be introduced by almost everything that is introduced to the aquarium. New fish, snails, plants, rocks, freeze dried food, shrimp, etc. All these spores require to explode is enough nutrients, that's when the trouble starts.
Algone controls nutrients. Effectively absorbing excess nitrates, thus making it unavailable for the algae to consume. Controlling nutrients will control the algae growth by either reducing or preventing any blooms and/or rapid growth. Controlling vs. destroying is the only method of keeping the aquarium naturally balanced.
Algae need three things in order to grow: water, nutrients, and light.
Water and light are essential to fish, plants, corals, basically the aquatic environment.
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