Green Hair Algae During Cycling?

[theMaroonClown]

So today I was looking at my tank after a long day at class. and i seemed to notice small algae growing on the glass its only been a two days since I got a reading of 0.50 ammonia today I tested and got a reading of 2 ppm. So I'm guessing I'm having my ammonia spike. Throughout further investigation of the tank I found what seems to me as green hair algae on the the small plastic plant I have in the tank. I was thinking of removing it right away to hopefully stop it. I have not used tap water to top off the aquarium only RO/DI water from my LFS. And the last time I checked my phosphate it was around 0.25. The only thing thing that i think that might have caused it was that yesterday my father opened my window in the afternoon and the tank took some light for about 2 hours before i got home and noticed. I have dark curtains so when I am home I know for sure there isn't any sunlight hitting the tank. What should I do about the little fake plant? Should i recheck my phosphate levels ?

 

[JUNBUG361]

Hard to tell from pictures or my eyes are deceiving me

 

[theMaroonClown]

yeah its really hard to see it I'm gonna try to zoom it in

 

[theMaroonClown]

its really hard to actually zoom it in but I circled it out. Its a very small amount but I don't want too be dealing with it later on. Or will it die after the cycle is over .

 

[JUNBUG361]

How many days the tank cycling?

 

[theMaroonClown]

Its only been like the third day with ammonia readings. no nitrate readings but specks are green are starting to grow on the glass and sand

 

[JUNBUG361]

Hard to tell in the early stages of cycling, keep testing water parameters & monitor for now

 

[OldReefGuy]

apart from your plastic plant, anything else in the tank?
If not, then do your cycle without any lights

 

[theMaroonClown]

No just live sand and some rock and okay I will do that.

 

[Green Chromis]

So today I was looking at my tank after a long day at class. and i seemed to notice small algae growing on the glass its only been a two days since I got a reading of 0.50 ammonia today I tested and got a reading of 2 ppm. So I'm guessing I'm having my ammonia spike. Throughout further investigation of the tank I found what seems to me as green hair algae on the the small plastic plant I have in the tank. I was thinking of removing it right away to hopefully stop it. I have not used tap water to top off the aquarium only RO/DI water from my LFS. And the last time I checked my phosphate it was around 0.25. The only thing thing that i think that might have caused it was that yesterday my father opened my window in the afternoon and the tank took some light for about 2 hours before i got home and noticed. I have dark curtains so when I am home I know for sure there isn't any sunlight hitting the tank. What should I do about the little fake plant? Should i recheck my phosphate levels ?

:fish1: Hi Maroon Clown, yes 2 days of a cycle is a very short time to worry about most tank parameters, one thing, your PO4 levels are high? Did you start your system with a high quality live or dead rock? You need to get your PO4 levels down, try using some GFO or other phosphate remover, as this will help you with your algae control. Just give your system some time to mature, and find out what is causing the high phosphate readings. :fish1:

 

[theMaroonClown]

Hello Green Chromins I've used the shrimp to try to spike up the ammonia a little bit but I've already removed it. The rock I bought from the LFS is supposedly live rock but it was on a rack left to dry out. (Dead Rock I guess. I'm not so good with the terms yet) Don't really know if it was high quality. I would have to check my receipt to see or visit the LFS today. And I had that PO4 reading right away. literally the day after the sand cleared up I went and brought a sample of water to LFS and he told me there was a reading of 0.25 he never prescribed me to lower it. He just said to check with him this week to see if it fluctuates. I am gonna head over there today after my classes to see what he says probably will buy the PO4 test kit also i have all the other ones except that one.

 

[mcgyvr]

Don't worry about the phosphates at this time..
Just keep letting the tank cycle for the next 3 weeks and you should be good to go..

Yes you can remove the plant and clean off the algae.. But realize its only going to get worse before it gets better..
Algae/brown diatoms are a 100% normal part of a new tank and will go away on their own provided you keep doing water changes to keep nitrates and phosphates low.

All tanks go through the "ugly stage" at the start and that will pass.. Keeping lights off assuming you have no corals is a good way to keep it at bay..

 

[theMaroonClown]

Yes I've only been leaving the moonlight on for a 4 to 6 hours and then no light for the rest of the day. I have no coral and okay that makes me feel more comfortable. I thought I had an algae problem already. And Im definitely doing a water change in the following weeks to come. Thank you

 

[mcgyvr]

I thought I had an algae problem already.

Algae during the first few months of a tank is not a "problem" at all IMO.. Its a normal part of the process..

Now if you aren't doing anything to remove excess nutrients (nitrates/phosphates) then that will become an algae problem after time..

Just keep working on keeping nitrates/phosphates low (water changes are your friend there) and as the tank is maturing more all those "normal" ugly stages will just pass.. But don't freak out as no matter what you do those "ugly" stages just need to happen and will pass.. People can do more harm freaking out then just sitting back.. looking at whats going on... and adapting in a calm logical manner..

 

[Reefiez]

MaroonClown, I'd highly suggest you watch the BRS 52 weeks of reefing on youtube. I'm new to saltwater too, and I've rewatched those videos literally 5 times over. It will provide you with a good basic understanding of everything you need to know. Week 13 talks about tank cycling, and week 48 is all about algae. Hope it helps!

 

[theMaroonClown]

Reefiez yeah I've been watching those videos a lot almost done with them but will rewatch them

 

[Sk8r]

If you see more incidence of it on rock and sand, use a GFO reactor (qv) to eliminate phosphate, which is not necessary to nor helped by the cycling process. I'd also argue against plastic ornaments, which may bring manufacturing oils and such into the tank.

 

[mcgyvr]

If you see more incidence of it on rock and sand, use a GFO reactor (qv) to eliminate phosphate, which is not necessary to nor helped by the cycling process.

Personally I would NEVER recommend a GFO reactor for a situation like this at a time like this..
Give the tank time and see what happens..
If.... in the next few months you have a phosphate issue that isn't getting better with water changes/avoid overfeeding,etc.. alone then maybe start thinking about one..

But they are going to see more algae (pretty much guaranteed) and I don't want them to think they MUST use GFO because there is a "problem" and again I remind them this is all 100% normal in a new tank and will more than likely pass without anything but water changes alone..