... and all things bad started to grow.

[Divedog]

It has been awhile but I am being told that it is normal. The new tank has had water since 6/1 and LR since 6/9. The LR came in as nice as it could have, probably. The water tests out fine. Everything tests out great, actually.

Since than those colors have faded for the most part and everything unwanted has shown up. Green & hairy, Red & hairy, green matte, red matte, you pretty much name it.

This week I have reduced the daylight lighting and added some snails. The growths seems to have slowed down a bit. The snails are slowing making their way through the tank and clearing what they get a hold of.

Any suggestions? or just ride it out?

 

[Dert42]

water changes?
they seem to help me with algea blooms

 

[Divedog]

At what amount and frequency?

 

[Shooter7]

What are your nitrate and phosphate levels? You using RO/DI?

 

[ol'saltybastage]

this tank is only a few weeks old? i'd just ride it out. maybe throw in a few snails assuming your amm cycle is done.

 

[Divedog]

Salinity 1.023
Ph 8.2ish
Alk 10ish
Amm less .25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Temp fluctuates from 79.3 to 79.8

Actnicis come on at 6:45 to 11:00
Daylights changed to 1:00-9:30
Lunars 11:00-1:00 (just becuz)

Have not tested for phosphates. Yes, I am using RO/DI water which had all new cartridges replaced to fill the tank. Also, all evap water thus far has been from this unit.

Added 10 Astraea (?) snails Wed night which are having a mowing party on the overflow, currently. None have passed.

 

[Shooter7]

Yep, I'd let it ride too, given those results. Something to be said for letting the water stabilize. Had cyano in my 120 when I set it up, despite great test results. I didn't do anything to it at all, let the tank just run, and it eventually just went away.

 

[Divedog]

I know it will vary from tank to tank, however, what kind of time frame does it normally take to correct itself? i.e. when should the real concern start setting in?

 

[Shooter7]

I let mine go a month before I did a water change. By that time the cyano had faded almost totally. I had only two tiny fish in there, a 150 gal total system volume, the whole time. So everything stayed in check. I used that time to make sure all my other values were staying stable and just let it run. Yours sounds a bit worse than what I had to work with, so it may take a while longer.

 

[DrBDC]

No need for water changes until you start to get nitrates. You shouldn't have phosphates yet but it wouldn't hurt to test for them depending on the rock source.

 

[ol'saltybastage]

the first tank i started i let sit until the nitrates had spiked and dropped to less than 12.. it was a DSB.. it took a good 4-5 weeks. even that being said that tank isnt going to be truely stable for months. IMO tanks seem to freak out about every 3 months for the first year. of course this vary's with different tanks and how much you move stuff and play with settings..

 

[Divedog]

The LR was from DFS/LA. It was 45lbs of prem fiji & 35lbs of Tonga Branch. It actually had a lot of real nice coraline algae on it. Some pieces have maintained there color.

The nasty stuff has actually concentrated in 3 areas of the tank. All of which have good circulation on them. One piece is directly in the line of fire from a powerhead which has the rotating head.

 

[Dert42]

didn't realize your cycle wasn't done. sorry!

 

[bkh24]

seems like too much time with lights on too. I have always heard around 12 hours and you are at 16 for your atinics and that is enough light to grow some serious algae. I would dial it back to go off by 7:00 pm or maybe make them come on later in the day. 8 hours of daylight bulbs should be fine and moonlights dont really matter but in my opinion the atinics are on too long.

 

[Divedog]

Thanks, bkh24, I actually was away for the weekend and after I got in last night I did what you had suggested. I reduced the time on both the actinic and daylight. The actinics may get some more time cut. I'll have to take another look at the cycle that was programmed.

 

[chadfarmer]

let it ride

if you are using sand you should have some nice algea blooms


you have an algea phase that you will go through

in this hobby you will always fight algea, all kinds so it is normal