newbie question for a new tank

[harleychic]

Hi all!
Not a complete newbie to the hobby, but the last time I set up a tank was in the "bad old days" when you put the tank on the stand, filled it with newly mixed saltwater, put some LR in there, plugged everything in and crammed it with damsels and cleaner crew. While this was cruel, yes, I have to say, my clean up crew in my 55g included an urchin (thrown in 2nd day) and I never had an algae problem.
So I set up a 3g four days ago, been monitoring the salinity and temp only. Noticed some "red slime algae" yesterday, (there was some in the LR holding tank I bought from, shame on ME). I pulled the piece out, and scrubbed off as much as I could. Today I noticed more, as well as a lot more green on the rocks.

Questions: Should I put a snail or two in there already?
Also, already decreased the photo-period.
LFS has some nice red macroalgae, should I get some of that now to absorb nutrients?
Any help appreciated, thanks!:rollface:

 

[Avi]

If the problem is red slime "algae" which isn't algae, but rather it's cyanobacteria...then I wouldn't do anything other than regular water changes with a good quality water source...RO/DI is best. It's normal to have a bit of some cyano in the initial setup. You can add some snails, though, it won't hurt. But, just keep doing the water changes.

 

[harleychic]

Thanks Avi
Should I be doing water changes already during the cycle? Tanks only been up 4 days

 

[papagimp]

Lowering lighting wno'treally help with the cynobacteria. And since the tank is new and cycling, expect this stuff to only be fueled heavily. I would invest in some chemiclean and dose with that while the tank is still livestock free. Adding snails or anything else at this point may just be slowly killing them if the ammonia or nitrite were to spike. If the rock used was good live rock and fully cured, than adding the snails probably won't be problem. But don't expect them to eat the cyno at all.

Funny that you added an Urchin 2nd day on a new tank and it lived. They are kinda sensitive to water quality and even high nitrates may cause there demise.

 

[harleychic]

It lived for three years until heater malfunction cooked everybody!
Looking back on it now, it is rather shocking about that urchin. No algae issues, no aiptasia, no cyno. Really good luck with that tank....for awhile anyway!

 

[reeftexas]

im with AVI regular water changes work well for me RIDE ON!

 

[Avi]

harley...with the tank so new...only a matter of day old...to have cyano is an alert that the water you're using is a potential problem. I'd try getting a hold of a good water source...RO/DI..which wouldn't be expensive for a tank the size of yours and do the water changes.

 

[harleychic]

Thanks for all the input Avi, and everyone else! (ride on texas!)
Actually I am using RO/DI, there was a little cyno on the rock when I got it, didn't really notice until I got it home. It's not really that much, I guess I'm just being a little anal about it!
How often should I do changes during the cycle?
When I had my old tanks I would do 10% weekly after the cycle was over.

 

[drummereef]

Good to know you are using RO/DI. Just make sure the TDS after the DI stage is zero. Don't want to be adding any excess nutrients from the water source. I would wait to do a water change until the cycle has finished. Then go ahead and get on a 10% weekly schedule like you were doing before.