Algae bloom in nano tank

[giga84]

I am trying to cycle the tank so i added a few pellets of New Life Spectrum
Small Fish Formula 0.5mm and testd the nh4 reading after 3 days it was 5 mg/l. So i added the bacteria culture (make given below) . But noting happend
so i tried carbon dosing and without knowing added 1 teaspoon of sugar. The next two days the water was full to bacteria and the tank was like a white mist. I also removed the protein skimmer. Yesterday the water became clear again and have also started the protein skimmer. But now the diatom bloom has started. So this time i just added 15ml of the bacteria culture only.

My question is will the NH4 and NO2 levels come down, also will the diatom bloom go away, And when should i test the tank water again.

My goal is to keep a pair of damsel or clownfish. BUT mainly pulsing xenia and green star polyps and no more. Since i am from chennai-india my resources are limited.

Thanks

Tank specification:

1. volume = 32.5 liters
2. Lighting = 24 w 12000k - 15000k (sunsun ADS-300h)
3. Filteration:
a. sponge
b. activated carbon 100gm
c. Bacteria growing Bio-ball (Fm908) 500gm
d. Dead coral rock (about 1.5 kg to 2.0kg)
4. Protein skimmer - skimz SH1 (L88xD85XH388 mm) with pinwheel pump rated for 200L
5. Lighting schedule 8.00am to 6.00pm (10hrs) (by automatic timer)
6. Added Aquarium Systems Eco- Balance Probiotic Reef evolution Bacteria(15ml
as per instructions)

Water Parameters taken by JBL combiset test marin

1. KH Carbonate hardness(dkh) - 14
2. pH acidity - 8
3. NH4 ammonium(mg/l) - 1,5
4. NO2 Nitrate(mg/l) - >1 (greater than 1 because 1 was the highest reading i don' know the exact reading)
5. NO3 Nitrate (mg/l) - 15

PHOTOS:

 

[mcgyvr]

Yes the ammonia and nitrite levels will come down..
and yes the diatoms will go away eventually..

This is all part of cycling a new tank and the "ugly stages" associate with a new tank..

You need to learn more patience.. NOTHING good happens fast in this hobby..

I would suggest you stop adding anything to the tank except new freshwater to account for what evaporates.
Notice I said new "freshwater" and not "saltwater" as the salt does not evaporate so evaporation top offs should be done with fresh water only

You can/should turn the skimmer back on too..

Cycling a tank can take up to 4-6 weeks depending on specifics..
Once ammonia and nitrite levels drop to zero you can perform water changes (saltwater this time) to reduce nitrate levels to acceptable levels and start slowly stocking the tank.. Typically a clean up crew (snails,etc...) is added first but a fish or 2 should be ok too..
Again don't rush and add too much at one time as the bacterial population is still evolving/growing/increasing and will continue to do so over the next few months or more..

 

[giga84]

Thank you for the reply. Also Is my equipment list enough. And should i test the water parameters once i three days.

 

[mcgyvr]

A powerhead should be added for proper water circulation..besides that your equipment list is just fine..
Testing parameters every few days is just fine if you want during cycling..

 

[jlmawp]

I am trying to cycle the tank so i added a few pellets of New Life Spectrum
Small Fish Formula 0.5mm and testd the nh4 reading after 3 days it was 5 mg/l. So i added the bacteria culture (make given below) . But noting happend
so i tried carbon dosing and without knowing added 1 teaspoon of sugar. The next two days the water was full to bacteria and the tank was like a white mist. I also removed the protein skimmer. Yesterday the water became clear again and have also started the protein skimmer. But now the diatom bloom has started. So this time i just added 15ml of the bacteria culture only.

Phew! That's a lot of stuff you've done. Dosing and protein skimmers and bacteria cultures...you don't really need to do any of that during a cycle. I would just sit back, relax, and check your water parameters every 3 days or so and wait for the levels to drop. Save all that other stuff for later, let the tank cycle naturally.

 

[giga84]

Thanks for all the replies guys will wait. The bloom grown a lot now. Regarding Powerhead my waterpump is,
BOYU FP-28
1.Power - 11.5 w
2. 950L/Hour - QMAX
3. 1.0m - Hmax
Is this enough or should i add a powerhead.

 

[mcgyvr]

Typically we recommend having 30x display tank volume in powerheads per hour..
So your 32.5L tank and a 950LH powerhead is 950/32.5 = 29x = perfect..

If you limit the light the algae bloom may not be as fast/aggressive.
You don't need light during cycling..

 

[giga84]

Thank you mcgyvr. But i am going to keep the light on for now.

Just an update
Nh4 = 0,05 from 1,05
No2 >1



latest picture (Note i have cleaned the glass)

 

[giga84]

just a update :

1. KH carbonate hardness (DKH) --7
2. pH acidity -- 8.4
3. NH4 Ammonium (mg/l) -- <0,05
4. NO2 Nitrite (mg/l) -- 0,6 (significant reduction but the rock is covered in brown stuff)
5. NO3 Nitrate (mg/l) -- 15
6. PO4 Phosphate (mg/l) -- <0,02

Pictures :



Thanks again to the mcgyvr, jlmawp and the reef community members for guiding me properly.

 

[jlmawp]

Glad you got back to clear!

The longer I go in this hobby, the phrase "just wait a few days" becomes more and more true.

 

[jrill]

Turn your light off....

 

[giga84]

If I turn my lights off won't it come back after the lights come back on. This has happened to me before.but I didn't cycle the tank like now.

 

[mcgyvr]

All is good.. Continue what you are doing..
Get the "ugly stages" over and done with now..

 

[giga84]

Update:

1. KH carbonate hardness (dKH) --- 7
2. pH Acidity --- 8,2
3. NH4 Ammonium (mg/l) --- < 0,05
4. NO2 Nitrite (mg/l) --- < 0,01 (Yeah! finally)
5. NO3 Nitrate (mg/l) --- 1 ( )
6. PO4 Phosphate (mg/l) --- < 0,02

Pictures:


Questions:
1. Am i at the valley point as discribed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-oMAZnnh4g&list=PL_Ai3HDQ35gEtkxh8HGKgKvdsG0rmUeZ4&index=2?
2. If not can i add a hermit crab or a turbo snail?
3. Are the white spots bacteria concentration because in some place in the rock and the bottom glass they have eaten away the brown stuff?

MAIN QUESTION IS WHAT TO DO NEXT?

Again thanks to mcgyvr, jlmawp and the reef community members for guiding me properly.

 

[mcgyvr]

Tank is likely cycled and you can now start adding the clean up crew..
I personally avoid craps and do snails only.. Crabs just tend to go after/eat your snails more than anything..
Throw in a handful of various snails and see how they do cleaning up the tank..

 

[giga84]

Thanks will follow your advice

 

[giga84]

Update:

Added 5 turbo snails after 4 days 1 died and notice algae bloom . So i cleaned the glass and the sponge and skimmer, did my test. Below are the results

1. KH carbonate hardness (dKH) --- 8
2. pH Acidity --- 8,2
3. NH4 Ammonium (mg/l) --- 0,1 (up by 0,05)
4. NO2 Nitrite (mg/l) --- 0,6 (very high)
5. NO3 Nitrate (mg/l) --- 5
6. PO4 Phosphate (mg/l) --- < 0,02

I see that my NO2 has gone up very high and there is an algae bloom on the glass as shown in the pictures. I have added Aquarium Systems Eco- Balance Probiotic Reef evolution Bacteria. What should i do now?

pictures:

 

[mcgyvr]

What should i do now?

I wouldn't add more bacteria in a bottle products personally..
and just do 10% water changes every week or so and let the tank be..

It needs time to mature..
Turning the lights off or only running them for a few hours max a day wouldn't be a bad idea at all either..

 

[giga84]

thanks mcgyvr will follow your advice and post the results!

 

[giga84]

update:
One turbo snail died. Four surviving . Tank is much better. I do weekly 20% water change.

1. KH carbonate hardness (dKH) --- 7
2. pH Acidity --- 8,2
3. NH4 Ammonium (mg/l) --- <0,05
4. NO2 Nitrite (mg/l) --- 0,1
5. NO3 Nitrate (mg/l) --- 5
6. PO4 Phosphate (mg/l) --- < 0,02

Pictures: