New tank advice

stormtrooper99 · 03/25/2015, 07:38 PM

Ok, a bit of background. I am starting a new 75 gallon reef tank so I purchased what I thought was live rock and sand. They really stunk, so at the advise of this forum, I thoroughly rinsed the sand and scrubbed and rinsed the rock. I filled the tank and added the sand and rock. After a few days I tested my my water and ammonia was at 4 ppm (maybe higher). I let it cycle for a few days more then dosed the tank with Dr. Tim's nitrifying bacteria. Within 48 hours the ammonia had fallen to .50 ppm, but the nitrites were at 5 ppm and nitrates at less than 5 ppm. It's been 5 days since and my ammonia is at 0 ppm and my nitrites are still at 5 ppm. My nitrates have risen to 10 ppm. Now I have have a breakout of algae. It's all over the rocks and starting to get onto the walls. I have no fish or critters in the tank. From what I've read, the parameters are within acceptable ranges to add some hermit crabs and snails, since nitrites don't affect marine animals like fresh water animals. Could I add them now to control the algae, which is quickly getting bad? Any advice is welcomed. Thanks!

CafeReef · 03/25/2015, 09:09 PM

Are you running your lights?

What kind of algae? Brown diatom? How often and how much of a water change are you performing and are you using tap water or rodi water for your top offs?

nmotz · 03/26/2015, 02:32 AM

Yeah if you don't want to deal with algae right now just cut the lights. Algae happens in almost everybody's tank at this time in the cycle. I wouldn't worry about it all that much. You are nearing the end of the cyle.

Nitrite can harm marine livestock so I'm not sure who told you that it doesn't affect them. The cycle is over when your ammonia & nitrites read zero and you can only measure nitrates. At that point you can add CUC as long as there is algae for them to eat. Many people add a huge CUC to the tank right away even if there isn't much food for them and that inevitably leads to a bunch of dead snails that foul up water quality.

Also remember that CUCs aren't intended to fix huge algae problems. Proper husbandry and water quality maintenance do that. Perform water changes, skim, physically remove algae, run GFO/carbon, watch bioload....these are what will take care of algae problems long term. Best of luck!

kissman · 03/26/2015, 05:24 AM

Cycle can take up to 6-8 weeks. Be patient. Nitrites will kill Marine Life

stormtrooper99 · 03/26/2015, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CafeReef

Are you running your lights?

What kind of algae? Brown diatom? How often and how much of a water change are you performing and are you using tap water or rodi water for your top offs?

Yes I have brown diatom and hair algae. Using ro water. Haven't done a water change yet because I had 4 ppm ammonia and wanted to spur the cycle. I have no bio load at all in the tank yet. Ammonia has dropped to 0, but nitrites are still at 5 ppm. I have killed the lights. Planning on doing at least a 30% water change this weekend.

stormtrooper99 · 03/26/2015, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmotz

Yeah if you don't want to deal with algae right now just cut the lights. Algae happens in almost everybody's tank at this time in the cycle. I wouldn't worry about it all that much. You are nearing the end of the cyle.

Nitrite can harm marine livestock so I'm not sure who told you that it doesn't affect them. The cycle is over when your ammonia & nitrites read zero and you can only measure nitrates. At that point you can add CUC as long as there is algae for them to eat. Many people add a huge CUC to the tank right away even if there isn't much food for them and that inevitably leads to a bunch of dead snails that foul up water quality.

Also remember that CUCs aren't intended to fix huge algae problems. Proper husbandry and water quality maintenance do that. Perform water changes, skim, physically remove algae, run GFO/carbon, watch bioload....these are what will take care of algae problems long term. Best of luck!

Very good advice, thank you. I read an article here about the nitrites http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/ (need to scroll to the section about nitrites). Basically says don't worry about nitrites. Don't know what to believe.
Not having HUGE algae issues just yet, but I plan on supplementing feeding for the CUC beyond algae control. Btw, I am skimming and have a carbon filter. Killed the lights except when I'm working on the tank. No bio load at all.

firebirdude · 03/26/2015, 09:10 PM

Cut the lights completely and you've still got time left in the cycle. Don't add anything yet. Crabs and snails aren't going to control diatoms and hair algae anyway.

Algae growth is a part of this hobby. Very common in new tanks. As far as I'm concerned, anything <1 year is pretty darn new.

Greatwhitetang · 03/26/2015, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kissman

Cycle can take up to 6-8 weeks. Be patient. Nitrites will kill Marine Life

±1 once ammonia and trites are 0.. Do small water changes until trates are 30 or less.. Then add cuc.. Nitrites are def. Still toxic to marine animals

03/25/2015, 07:38 PM	#1
stormtrooper99 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Maryland Posts: 10	New tank advice Ok, a bit of background. I am starting a new 75 gallon reef tank so I purchased what I thought was live rock and sand. They really stunk, so at the advise of this forum, I thoroughly rinsed the sand and scrubbed and rinsed the rock. I filled the tank and added the sand and rock. After a few days I tested my my water and ammonia was at 4 ppm (maybe higher). I let it cycle for a few days more then dosed the tank with Dr. Tim's nitrifying bacteria. Within 48 hours the ammonia had fallen to .50 ppm, but the nitrites were at 5 ppm and nitrates at less than 5 ppm. It's been 5 days since and my ammonia is at 0 ppm and my nitrites are still at 5 ppm. My nitrates have risen to 10 ppm. Now I have have a breakout of algae. It's all over the rocks and starting to get onto the walls. I have no fish or critters in the tank. From what I've read, the parameters are within acceptable ranges to add some hermit crabs and snails, since nitrites don't affect marine animals like fresh water animals. Could I add them now to control the algae, which is quickly getting bad? Any advice is welcomed. Thanks! Last edited by stormtrooper99; 03/25/2015 at 07:44 PM.

03/25/2015, 09:09 PM	#2
CafeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Elkhorn, NE Posts: 1,405	Are you running your lights? What kind of algae? Brown diatom? How often and how much of a water change are you performing and are you using tap water or rodi water for your top offs? __________________ 50 Gallon cube

03/26/2015, 02:32 AM	#3
nmotz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: FL, USA Posts: 1,433	Yeah if you don't want to deal with algae right now just cut the lights. Algae happens in almost everybody's tank at this time in the cycle. I wouldn't worry about it all that much. You are nearing the end of the cyle. Nitrite can harm marine livestock so I'm not sure who told you that it doesn't affect them. The cycle is over when your ammonia & nitrites read zero and you can only measure nitrates. At that point you can add CUC as long as there is algae for them to eat. Many people add a huge CUC to the tank right away even if there isn't much food for them and that inevitably leads to a bunch of dead snails that foul up water quality. Also remember that CUCs aren't intended to fix huge algae problems. Proper husbandry and water quality maintenance do that. Perform water changes, skim, physically remove algae, run GFO/carbon, watch bioload....these are what will take care of algae problems long term. Best of luck! __________________ Mantis shrimp are the best! Current Tank Info: 20L Peacock mantis shrimp tank

03/26/2015, 05:24 AM	#4
kissman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lynchburg, Va Posts: 2,963	Cycle can take up to 6-8 weeks. Be patient. Nitrites will kill Marine Life

03/26/2015, 09:10 PM	#7
firebirdude User and Abuser Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,836	Cut the lights completely and you've still got time left in the cycle. Don't add anything yet. Crabs and snails aren't going to control diatoms and hair algae anyway. Algae growth is a part of this hobby. Very common in new tanks. As far as I'm concerned, anything <1 year is pretty darn new.