Lime Green Algae

[swalke2]

Was wondering if somone could take a look and let me know if this is a comon beginning to my tank or I am doing somthing wrong or need to change somthing.

I am in week 3 of cycling my tank 29g. Over the weekend I put in about 12# of dry rock that had been sitting in the sun since July. A few days after adding I noticed a lime green algae forming. I assumed this is an algae bloom and to be expected but then I read somplace else that I dont want an algae bloom and then read I do want one.

I guess right now I am reading and hearing conflicting info so Im getting a bit confused on where my tank is at and what should be happening during week 3of a cycle. I posted a similar post on another fourm but was simply told not to worrie. I appreciate that but it doesnt tell me whats going on.


I have since added more rock, photos include just the dry rock and with the live rock.

My current setup
29g tall tank
Lighting is T5 24" 24x2 T5 10 K Daylight lamp and 1 T5 Actinic -03 lamp
Aquaclear 50
Koralia 1
Koralia 2 (waiting for a part)
25# play sand
5# carbi live sand
25# of live rock

Thanks for any assistance, help, advice, comments yadda yadda..

Steve

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

What you are seeing is normal and nothing to woory about as long as the rock was not exposed to contaminates like fertilizer, insecticide or iron laden water while in the sun.
I noticed you have a pretty good film on your water's surface that will impede gas exchange and cause low PH and other problems.
If you plant to remain sumpless you might want to consider adding one of these for your existing PF.

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12703

 

[swalke2]

Thanks. Thats is an interesting item.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

I have never used one so if it is a piece of crap please don't blame me.
An overflow and sump would be best but hopefully it will work as advertised and clean up your water's surface.
For $10 it's worth a shot.

 

[WSI2406]

I used one on my old 10 gallon setup and it worked great. The only issue was the space in my tank. There was not too much. It does work, and it's only $10. One thin too, add some more powerheads. Point one at the surface that also helps with the gas exchange.

 

[bertoni]

If you point the pump at the surface and get some rippling going, that'll reduce or eliminate the surface film, most likely. That's what I did.

 

[GT3]

Don't see you have a skimmer, I have the same problem even when powerhead pointing at surface, the film is not going anywhere, therefore it will only spread out but not going out of the tank.

 

[E36328i]

A protein skimmer will dramatically help with the surface scum. You can also modify your power filter to skim off that top layer without buying anything other than a couple of PVC fittings--you use two "T" fittings (one slightly below the water line at the surface and the other attached to the powerfilter intake) and an elbow with a couple inches of 1/2" PVC. Cost is much less than the surface skimmer and works just as well.

 

[bertoni]

Don't see you have a skimmer, I have the same problem even when powerhead pointing at surface, the film is not going anywhere, therefore it will only spread out but not going out of the tank.

That's interesting. How much rippling does the tank have on the surface?