algae in new systems

R

ReefNut2010

So my tank has been up for 3 weeks and after cleaning pumps ,sump and tank, I see a lot of brown algae on the LR ,LS, and base rock. Is this normal? What can I do to slow down this nuisance algae? I don't have a clean up crew yet. Tank still cycling.
 
it will eventually go away as the tank balances out and you start getting a good maintenance schedule down to keep the parameters in check. the cycle itself can last 4-6 weeks, some times less, some times more. have you tested your water parameters lately? if so what are they?
 
Waite about a week and do a water change, check parameters and add a clean crew to begin work on that nuisance algae. Like Wes stated it's part of the cycle but it's ugly to look at. It'll get better with time.
 
great point, a small start on your clean up crew can start helping get things in check but do start out small...in your 125 i would just start out with 8-10 critters whether you do half and half snails to crabs or just snails. you can start building up the crew as the tank ages and things settle little by little.
 
Ok guys, I feel a little better... [smilie=sadsmile.gif] . These diatoms are very ugly, and I'm hoping they don't stick around to long. My parameters are still off. Amo is at .50 ppm, nitrites are high at about 8 ppm and nitrate is starting to climb, phosphate is about 2 ppm. As soon as the cycle is done I'll do a large water change and throw in some blue legged hermit crabs and some nassarius snails. Hopefully these guys are a good start and keep things in order. I read Nassarius snails need at least 4" of sand. Is this so? I only have about a 2.5" sand bed. Will they be ok, or should I look for a different species? Thanks for your input. It's appreciated.
 
Nassarius are omnivores they will require feeding in that new tank. IMO, I would hold off on them until you get a few fish. As for as sand depth, you should be okay.
 
I'm cutting back on the time lights are on, but also want to encourage Corraline growth, so they go on for a couple of hours a day. Will my ultraviolet sterilizer help in keeping the diatom population at bay? I'm thinking of turning it on, but i'm concerned it will slow the cycle down. Any thoughts??
 
Diatoms are the basic building blocks for a new set up. It is food for your bacteria. If you don't have livestock now, there is no reason to run the lights more then a few hours daily. It will fade away if you can stop tinkering with it. The more you interact with it, the longer it takes to go away. Usually it blooms for about a week and then is gone.
 
@ReefNut2010 wrote:
OK said:
When they cant keep up! Just give them time to catch up - i started with 6 blue leg hermits and 1 large mexican turbo snail. Algae kept increasing so 2 weeks later I bought 8 more snails and it has been great for a month now.
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Hey Tom How's it going? How is your tank doing? As you can see... I mean read [smilie=lol.gif] , I'm advancing, and the tank is coming around! I really like those Hermit crabs but hear they are murderous little suckers!! I did'nt get any because of this. Any truth? Have you lost snails to these guys? I have a Powder Blue Tang & a 6 line wrasse in my quarentine tank now. Hopefully if all goes well, in 6 weeks they can be swimming around in my 125.
 
Things are going great. Got a few coral frags and a pair of clowns right now. Just added the last rock so time to get my levels up- magnesium is a little low because I started with some left over instant ocean salt. Now I'm using brightwell aquatics salt and the levels out of the bucket are good.

Right now my snails are large and my crabs are small (TWSS). In the past I have had large crabs attack small to medium sized snails -or the snails that can't right themselves.


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I'm glad things are progressing nicely for you. I have some small Cerith, & Nerite snails, with a couple of Nassarius snails.Also have a Peppermint & cleaner shrimp. I plan on adding a Coral Banded and fire shrimp later. I don't think I'll be getting the crabs. I'm afraid they'll become a problem eventually. Post up some pics of your tank for me. I don't think I've seen any of yours.
 
@ReefNut2010 wrote:
I'm glad things are progressing nicely for you. I have some small Cerith said:
Yeah i need to update my tank build thread...Spring Break next week - I see some free time in sight! Those kids are about to wear me out!!
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OK so my tank was looking real nice after the diatoms were eaten or ran out of food, but now I got the green hairy stuff growing , along with some other types of algae !! Will this eventually run out of a food source ( and get eaten by the snails) or will I have to take further measures?
 
Same thing on my end. My green hairy stuff was unlike normal hair algae...it was branching. I tried to get a picture but got a blur.

I got my magnesium and other levels up, large trochus snail crew and one day it was gone. I think the Mg had the most to do with it. It hasn't come back. Can't hurt to get your Mg up to 1300-1400, so try that...just not more than 50ppm per day and it increases salinity so watch that too.


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