Cycling Coralife BioCube 29, algea problems

willskoolyou172 · 11/30/2013, 08:48 PM

I bought a biocube 29 on Sunday 11/24. I put about 25 lbs of premium live rock, 1 bag of live sand, and removed the bioballs. The water was an issue. The LFS is about 40 minutes away and I couldn't fit that much water in my car. So I bought RO water from the glacier machine at publix(local supermarket) and mixed the salt myself. The salt I bought was Red Sea coral pro salt and mixed it to 1.024. I was letting it cycle for about 4 days and brown algea started growing all over the live rocks. I thought it was diatoms and the water did show nitrates. But after reading a million forums I believe it's dinoflagellates. It looks like little brown hairs and when the lights are on it produces little bubbles on the ends of the hairs. I went to the LFS on Friday 11/29 and had the water tested and they said to add some fish and this bacteria product TLC for saltwater aquariums. They said if it was still cycling that it would help speed up the process and be easy on the fish, which are 2 clowns. The ph was alittle low so I bought some marine buffer which fixed the problem. The clowns have been in for 2 days and seem fine. But I still have this algea everywhere and I don't know what to do about it. I don't mind leaving it if it's normal and will go away on it's own but when I read about Dino I don't think that's the case. I just put cardboard on the glass because I read it helps but I want to know how this will affect my young tank. And where did this stuff come from? I read it could be from low quality water or salts. I know I have quality salt but the water in not sure, it's supposed to be RO but maybe the filter was bad?? Il take suggestions about how to fix it, how to make sure the clowns and tank are ok, and how to keep it from happening again.

domb54 · 12/01/2013, 07:35 AM

First of all never go back to that fish store you are in the first stage of Algae young tanks get and your tank is still cycling you don't need your lights on during this period your fish will likely get stressed and need qt when ammonia spikes so have a spare tank ready don't add fish back until tank is fully cycled. If it's only going to be fish only or fowlr tank you can treat fish in that tank but then can never go with corals or inverts. Best off reading all the sticky's in each forum very helpful

marcaharding · 12/01/2013, 09:14 AM

your tank is still new and while new, the brown algea will go away. Like domb54 said, read all the sticky's in the forum page and you will understand what your going through. The cycle will take some time. If you are patient enough to let it ride, you will see success but know that there will always be something that you can or could have done better.

11/30/2013, 08:48 PM	#1
willskoolyou172 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 1	Cycling Coralife BioCube 29, algea problems I bought a biocube 29 on Sunday 11/24. I put about 25 lbs of premium live rock, 1 bag of live sand, and removed the bioballs. The water was an issue. The LFS is about 40 minutes away and I couldn't fit that much water in my car. So I bought RO water from the glacier machine at publix(local supermarket) and mixed the salt myself. The salt I bought was Red Sea coral pro salt and mixed it to 1.024. I was letting it cycle for about 4 days and brown algea started growing all over the live rocks. I thought it was diatoms and the water did show nitrates. But after reading a million forums I believe it's dinoflagellates. It looks like little brown hairs and when the lights are on it produces little bubbles on the ends of the hairs. I went to the LFS on Friday 11/29 and had the water tested and they said to add some fish and this bacteria product TLC for saltwater aquariums. They said if it was still cycling that it would help speed up the process and be easy on the fish, which are 2 clowns. The ph was alittle low so I bought some marine buffer which fixed the problem. The clowns have been in for 2 days and seem fine. But I still have this algea everywhere and I don't know what to do about it. I don't mind leaving it if it's normal and will go away on it's own but when I read about Dino I don't think that's the case. I just put cardboard on the glass because I read it helps but I want to know how this will affect my young tank. And where did this stuff come from? I read it could be from low quality water or salts. I know I have quality salt but the water in not sure, it's supposed to be RO but maybe the filter was bad?? Il take suggestions about how to fix it, how to make sure the clowns and tank are ok, and how to keep it from happening again.

12/01/2013, 07:35 AM	#2
domb54 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: menomonee falls wisconsin Posts: 143	First of all never go back to that fish store you are in the first stage of Algae young tanks get and your tank is still cycling you don't need your lights on during this period your fish will likely get stressed and need qt when ammonia spikes so have a spare tank ready don't add fish back until tank is fully cycled. If it's only going to be fish only or fowlr tank you can treat fish in that tank but then can never go with corals or inverts. Best off reading all the sticky's in each forum very helpful

12/01/2013, 09:14 AM	#3
marcaharding Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Waxhaw, North Carolina Posts: 54	your tank is still new and while new, the brown algea will go away. Like domb54 said, read all the sticky's in the forum page and you will understand what your going through. The cycle will take some time. If you are patient enough to let it ride, you will see success but know that there will always be something that you can or could have done better.