Diatom/GHA question

[InvoluntarySod]

My newly cycled 24g is almost completely covered with diatoms that are now turning to green hair algae. Today I plan to change my filter floss and do a water change, I have also cut my lighting period down to 4-5 hours. Should I also scrub the glass and rock or should I just let things run their course? My CUC isn't helping much but that is probably because it is rather small, 3 astreas and 3 red leg hermits. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[taillonjohn]

Your "newly cycled tank" is still going through cycling processes. Different kinds of algae will now grow, then die, as other stronger algae types take over. This is all part of the cycling process. If it was my tank, I would let is run its course and not worry....

How long has your tank cycled?

 

[WaterKeeper]

Right John, it is part of the algae blitz. Eventually the diatoms are replaced with green algae and the real battle begins. Adding snails can hasten the removal process however.

 

[gummi]

Diatoms then green hair algae are part of the cycling process. This is normal. They should go away like the diatoms will.

I just got past the diatom stage. No hair algae yet so knock on wood.

 

[InvoluntarySod]

What I meant by cycled is that there is no ammonia or nitrites and my nitrates are below 10. The tank has been up for a little over a week but I used water, LR, and LS from a previously established tank that I downsized, so the spike leveled out quickly. The lighting I have for this tank is 3 times the wattage I had on my 55g so I thought the light was contributing to the rapid algae growth.

 

[drummereef]

Mmm probably not the lights. Most likely it is from the nutrient bloom happening as the tank cycled. If you aren't using RO/DI water, I would recommend doing so. Like the above said it's normal to go through these algae blooms while cycling. It should go away on its own in time.

 

[InvoluntarySod]

I am using RO/DI pre-mixed salt water from my LFS. Perhaps if I just do water changes more frequently it will help.

 

[taillonjohn]

One week your tank is not cycled. Here is the greatest article I've read about what happens when your tank is cycling.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=249112

 

[InvoluntarySod]

I know a tank is not cycled in one week but all of my water, rock, and sand came from a previously established system that had cycled hence the very short cycle time. The rock and sand were not out of water for more than 30 minutes and they were put back into the same water albeit a smaller amount of it.