Diatom bloom - Is this normal?

F

firemantx

[Ok, its been 3.5 weeks since that water has been added. The Diatoms are Everywhere. Everywhere I look it is brown. The sand has turned a dark brown. I even have a little hair algae on one of the rocks. :shocked:

110W PC 10K and 8700 ( I know, I know, when I finish my new hood - MH and maybe t5 to supplement :lol:)
Temp = 78
Salt = 1.025
PH = 8.2
Ammonia = .15
Nitrite = 0
Nitrates = 0
Protein skimmer
Hot mag 250
21lbs live rock

I have all new test kits (salifert) coming in the mail. So I will be able to test for more stuff and be more accurate.

Here is the kicker, 8 lbs of that live rock is from LFS in lewisville. I do not think it was cured. However, I then went to tranquil scape to buy more and it was cured. This has been in the tank for 2.5 weeks.

Do I need to do anything or sit? My last tank I just cycled with fish and that seamed so much easier. Oh well. Also, should I be cleaning the surface of the sand or let it be.

I think that is all my questions for now. Since this I have got a 18G tub, heater, powerhead to place my live rock in to REALLY make sure it is cured and everything.

What else should I be doing??]
 
[No fish, right? If so, I would not do anything. No water changes or anything. Let the stuff grow. After a while it will use up all the nutrients that are making it grow (i.e. silicates, phosphates, etc). They will then die off. IMHO this lessens the chance that they will come back as long as you are carefull about what you add later.

I had a a cyano outbreak in my FO when I set it up and this is what I did. No cyano since, (knock on wood) :D]
 
[:shocked: Ya i did cody. Why you say that? Only got 8 lbs from them though.


I will only get live rock through tranquil scape now though

Lights are on a 3hr per day cycle, Tank is not close to window, it is tucked into a corner on my room. Right now, just the cheap light that comes with tank is lighting it.]



Edited By firemantx on 1106750963
 
[Mainly because its like 7 or 8 dollars a LB there. Also, most of the employees know very little about the hobby, and im not to impressed with their tanks either. ALmost every tank has cynao, or hair algae, aptasia, or bubble algae, or somthing in it that I dont like.]
 
[Can some one clarify for me. I was told diatomic algae looks like dust and that what is being described is brown hair algae?

Is brown hair the same as diatomic or what is the difference?]
 
[I just have a bad case of diatoms. There is only one rock that has the green hair algae on it. Thats the rock that came from a LFS in lewisville.


Hey, Could Oceanic salt added to this problem. From what everyone is saying, I might just get kents instead.]
 
[Ok, I guess I can wait. Now I really have too though.

I am building a custom stand and hood. So, until those are built, I cant do anything to the tank, or it will get too heavy to move]
 
[I have no idea. Its a stand that I got when I bought the tank. I still have to 20G in the kitchen.

It has 2 small openings in the front for stuff and then a small cabinet that is too short for a 10G sump.

I am building a pretty strong stand. Its going to be taller and have room for a big sump and all my goodies underneath.

I am thinking about 3 feet tall. That will give plenty of room for sump, lights and shelves for all my stuff

Then I am making a custom hood with the help of TrackZ ( I think that is his screen name) with room for 2 MH retrofits and stuff]
 
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