2+ Weeks Cycling - Green Algae

cm11599ps · 04/04/2011, 07:15 PM

I've been cycling with 2 table shrimp for over 2 weeks now. I used all dry rock and dry aragonite.

I've been testing the water every 3 days and on 3/30 I had 8, .5 and 10 for the big three. The next day I noticed some green algae forming on some of my rocks and sand. The tank also went from crystal clear to being a little cloudy, kind of like when I first put sand in. I'm assuming the cloudiness is some sort of bacterial bloom associated with the drop in ammonia and/or rise in nitrite discussed in the following paragraph.

I tested again on 4/3 and we are now at 4, 5 and 10 for the big three. Ammonia dropped substantially and nitrite skyrocketed in those 3 days. Green algae seems to have increased a little bit.

I have a few PH's cycling on/off. I have one PH that is always on and downflow from this PH is the highest concentration of the green algae on the rocks and sand. You can even see it blowing around a little bit. The areas where the PH's cycle on and off don't have as much algae. Little bubbles form on my dry rocks which I'm assuming is just the algae photosynthesizing and creating oxygen.

I'm using RO but there was a little bit of tap water left in the tank and sump after my initial leak testing. Temps hover between 77.5 and 79.5 with a 4 bulb T5 set on a 10 hour actinic and 8 hour daylight. PH hovering around 8.3 Phosphate seems to be around .1 as my kit jumps from 0 to .25 and the test tube is somewhere between those two colors.

I was expecting brown diatoms, not this green algae. Your thoughts?

carpenterman23 · 04/04/2011, 07:19 PM

Sounds normal to me. I just finish cycling my 55 gallon and had the same thing. I first had the green hair algea and now the brown diatoms that is slowly going away. I added my clean up crew to control the algea. Adding my sump with macro in there helped a ton.

brian762 · 04/04/2011, 07:22 PM

All i can say is that it is part of a new tank. How much tap water was left in your system?

duncantse · 04/04/2011, 07:34 PM

Sounds normal for a new tank. I experienced cyano,diatom,bacteria bloom, and GHA during my cycle and after it.

cm11599ps · 04/04/2011, 07:40 PM

I figured I was on the right track but I was expecting some diatoms to come first. I really don't remember how much tap water I had but I want to say a gallon or 2. My tank is 55 with about 22 gallons more in the sump/fuge.

It's been cycling for just over 2 weeks and I'm hoping to add part of a CUC in about 2 weeks.

briankmarsh1980 · 04/04/2011, 09:52 PM

I wouldn't worry about testing your water for another 2 weeks and I wouldn't have the lights running at all right now. When you hit the 1 month mark that's when I would start water changes and start a light cycle. Everything you said sounds normal so far. Your tank will go through all kinds of algae booms and such for a while, it takes about a year for a tank to mature.

HanoverFist · 04/04/2011, 10:18 PM

edited

cm11599ps · 04/05/2011, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briankmarsh1980

I wouldn't worry about testing your water for another 2 weeks and I wouldn't have the lights running at all right now. When you hit the 1 month mark that's when I would start water changes and start a light cycle. Everything you said sounds normal so far. Your tank will go through all kinds of algae booms and such for a while, it takes about a year for a tank to mature.

I'm actually testing it every 3 days to show people how the cycle works. I know it's not going to be ready so soon. I'm going to report my stats when I'm done.

I alreadt shut my lights of yesterday and only have the led's come on at night.

socalsalttank · 04/05/2011, 07:20 AM

Add some cheap fish in there.

SWINGRRRR · 04/05/2011, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by socalsalttank

Add some cheap fish in there.

Uh-oo. I wouldnt say that.

cm11599ps · 04/05/2011, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by socalsalttank

Add some cheap fish in there.

Thanks, but that's not what I plan on doing. I have a specific stocking list for my tank and don't want to deal with any problem fish (damsels) later on if they survive.

There's also no reason to add any fish because my ammonia was at 8 a few days ago and has since went down to 4. In that time frame my nitrite went from .5 and skyrocketed to 5.

My next test will be either Wednesday or Thursday so I hope to start seeing an increase in nitrates.

04/04/2011, 07:15 PM	#1
cm11599ps Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Port Jefferson Station, NY Posts: 1,413	2+ Weeks Cycling - Green Algae I've been cycling with 2 table shrimp for over 2 weeks now. I used all dry rock and dry aragonite. I've been testing the water every 3 days and on 3/30 I had 8, .5 and 10 for the big three. The next day I noticed some green algae forming on some of my rocks and sand. The tank also went from crystal clear to being a little cloudy, kind of like when I first put sand in. I'm assuming the cloudiness is some sort of bacterial bloom associated with the drop in ammonia and/or rise in nitrite discussed in the following paragraph. I tested again on 4/3 and we are now at 4, 5 and 10 for the big three. Ammonia dropped substantially and nitrite skyrocketed in those 3 days. Green algae seems to have increased a little bit. I have a few PH's cycling on/off. I have one PH that is always on and downflow from this PH is the highest concentration of the green algae on the rocks and sand. You can even see it blowing around a little bit. The areas where the PH's cycle on and off don't have as much algae. Little bubbles form on my dry rocks which I'm assuming is just the algae photosynthesizing and creating oxygen. I'm using RO but there was a little bit of tap water left in the tank and sump after my initial leak testing. Temps hover between 77.5 and 79.5 with a 4 bulb T5 set on a 10 hour actinic and 8 hour daylight. PH hovering around 8.3 Phosphate seems to be around .1 as my kit jumps from 0 to .25 and the test tube is somewhere between those two colors. I was expecting brown diatoms, not this green algae. Your thoughts? __________________ LIRA Member Current Tank - 55 gallon. Custom CLF1 sump, fuge, overflow & SVS2-24 skimmer from Lifereef. 4x54 Watt AquaticLife T5 HO Light Fixture W/ 4 Lunar LEDs. 2 EcoTech MP40's, 70lbs assorted

04/04/2011, 07:40 PM	#5
cm11599ps Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Port Jefferson Station, NY Posts: 1,413	I figured I was on the right track but I was expecting some diatoms to come first. I really don't remember how much tap water I had but I want to say a gallon or 2. My tank is 55 with about 22 gallons more in the sump/fuge. It's been cycling for just over 2 weeks and I'm hoping to add part of a CUC in about 2 weeks. __________________ LIRA Member Current Tank - 55 gallon. Custom CLF1 sump, fuge, overflow & SVS2-24 skimmer from Lifereef. 4x54 Watt AquaticLife T5 HO Light Fixture W/ 4 Lunar LEDs. 2 EcoTech MP40's, 70lbs assorted

04/04/2011, 09:52 PM	#6
briankmarsh1980 I'm a member of **!!!!!! Join Date: May 2010 Location: Maricopa, Arizona Posts: 2,127	I wouldn't worry about testing your water for another 2 weeks and I wouldn't have the lights running at all right now. When you hit the 1 month mark that's when I would start water changes and start a light cycle. Everything you said sounds normal so far. Your tank will go through all kinds of algae booms and such for a while, it takes about a year for a tank to mature. __________________ My skim don't stink _______________________________________________________________ 210 gallons with stuff!!!!!!!

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04/04/2011, 07:19 PM	#2
carpenterman23 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 181	Sounds normal to me. I just finish cycling my 55 gallon and had the same thing. I first had the green hair algea and now the brown diatoms that is slowly going away. I added my clean up crew to control the algea. Adding my sump with macro in there helped a ton.

04/04/2011, 07:22 PM	#3
brian762 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 654	All i can say is that it is part of a new tank. How much tap water was left in your system?

04/04/2011, 07:34 PM	#4
duncantse Fish Advisor Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,604	Sounds normal for a new tank. I experienced cyano,diatom,bacteria bloom, and GHA during my cycle and after it.

04/04/2011, 10:18 PM	#7
HanoverFist Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Phoenix, Az Posts: 626	edited

04/05/2011, 07:20 AM	#9
socalsalttank Moved On Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 59	Add some cheap fish in there.