New tank inquiries

[Loves to dive]

Hello everyone. I have a new Red Sea Max 260E, 70 gallon tank, initially set up by LFS guy on 2/20. He used 60 lbs of live rock, live sand and tap water (I know, I know). The last few days have displayed a large outbreak of brown algae, diatoms I believe. Nitrites are 0, ammonia is 0, nitrates are high, like 80 ppm. I've got a cleaning crew on the way. So wait it out, or so something?
Thanks in advance!

 

[Pet Detective]

I mean you're going to go through this anyway, cleaners will help, but only time will really matter.....next investment RO filter.

Good luck!

 

[matty21]

Buy clean crew and then more clean crew..it’s going to take a whe not much you can do except doing some water changes and cleaning all the algae

 

[mcgyvr]

Whats the problem?
Sounds like exactly what should be happening..

Welcome to your first tank and the 100% normal "Ugly stages"

You should be doing water changes to reduce the nitrate level though just to ensure its not going to fuel nuisance algae in the future..

 

[homer1475]

Whats the problem?
Sounds like exactly what should be happening..

Welcome to your first tank and the 100% normal "Ugly stages"

You should be doing water changes to reduce the nitrate level though just to ensure its not going to fuel nuisance algae in the future..

+1 (I find myself going to write pretty much exactly what mcgyver wrote quite a bit lately):wavehand:

Sounds like your cycle is complete. Do a large water change to deplete some of the nitrates and add a small CUC. Welcome to the hobby. :thumbsup:

 

[mcgyvr]

+1 (I find myself going to write pretty much exactly what mcgyver wrote quite a bit lately):wavehand:

Sounds like your cycle is complete. Do a large water change to deplete some of the nitrates and add a small CUC. Welcome to the hobby. :thumbsup:

I've thought about requesting the site name be changed to "Ask mcgyvr" :jester:
Or really just redoing the stickies into one large FAQ and closing the forums as nothing is new anymore..

 

[homer1475]

While the basics never change(tank needs to be cycled), the process in which one achieves that changes all the time(triton method, red sea method, pure ammonia, old school "throw away" fish, etc, etc).

Also quite a bit of old tech becomes new again in a rethinked fashion that works better(ATS, display refugiums,).

 

[kiMxD]

It's important for you not to use tap water anymoreas it contains silicates that will help in getting more algae. I'd suggest you to buy RO water (cheaper than saltwater) from your LFS and mix with you preferred type of sea salt.

Good luck!