Algae problem two weeks into the cycle, help!

jgroton86 · 08/22/2006, 11:15 PM

I haven't cycled a tank in two years, and kind of forgot what to do about algae problems. I started a 90 gallon and put about 100 lbs of uncured lr, 15 lbs of cured lr, and about 40 lbs of sand (20 lbs live) in two weeks ago. I recently had algae completely take over the tank two days ago. It is mostly brown algae, however there is some green algae (kind of like a micro grass). Apparently this is not good. My question is.... should I just not worry about it because the tank is cycling? Or should I do something? I did a 20% water change with RO water. Nitrite is 24 mg/L, nitrate is 15 mg/L, total ammonia is .4 mg/L as of a few days ago. Also, I've got the hqi/pc by current on only 7 hrs a day now, bc when I started using the lights the algae popped up. Any advice is welcome!!

HaKs310 · 08/22/2006, 11:42 PM

Sounds like hair algea. Don't worry about, just a phase in the cycle.
Ammonia should hit 0, nitrite should spike up then hit 0 as nitrate goes up.

GlobaLPimP · 08/23/2006, 11:15 AM

Do you have a DI filter on your RO set-up? Once your water is stable - get about 30 or 40 snails.... they will mow it down for you

jgroton86 · 08/23/2006, 05:17 PM

There is not a DI portion. However, some of the water in there is not RO water, because I initially filled it up with sink water. Thanks for the advice. I'll just wait it out and continue water changes. Then I'll throw in the cleaner crew when things stabilize. I appreciate the feedback!

GobyJohnKenobi · 08/23/2006, 06:02 PM

On the advice of a LFS employee I also cured my live rock over a sand bed.

Later I read that doing so will result in elevated nutrient levels for an extended time, because the sand bed will absorb some of the organics from the curing rock.

Yep. It has taken me 6 months of dilligent and large water changes while skimming the entire time for my nitrates to go to zero. This is without having any fish in there to feed.

On the bright side, my sand definitely is "live".

IME: Start skimming now and keep up with the water changes and testing for nitrates. If you can, wait until they are fairly low and add corals and macro algae before the fish. And Astrea snails can knock out brown algae like there's no tomorrow!!

GobyJohnKenobi · 08/23/2006, 06:09 PM

On a side note:

I didn't run any lights on my tank for two months.
Then actinics only 24/7 for two weeks.
Then two weeks very gradually adjusting the light cycle to normal.

I have no nuisance algae what-so-ever. None. The brown algae came on a rock with some RPE's from another reefer.

Just an experiment I tried to help deal with the elevated nutrients and avoid the possibly resulting nuisance algae.

08/22/2006, 11:15 PM	#1
jgroton86 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 5	Algae problem two weeks into the cycle, help! I haven't cycled a tank in two years, and kind of forgot what to do about algae problems. I started a 90 gallon and put about 100 lbs of uncured lr, 15 lbs of cured lr, and about 40 lbs of sand (20 lbs live) in two weeks ago. I recently had algae completely take over the tank two days ago. It is mostly brown algae, however there is some green algae (kind of like a micro grass). Apparently this is not good. My question is.... should I just not worry about it because the tank is cycling? Or should I do something? I did a 20% water change with RO water. Nitrite is 24 mg/L, nitrate is 15 mg/L, total ammonia is .4 mg/L as of a few days ago. Also, I've got the hqi/pc by current on only 7 hrs a day now, bc when I started using the lights the algae popped up. Any advice is welcome!!

08/22/2006, 11:42 PM	#2
HaKs310 Forever Learning Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Whittier, CA Posts: 1,241	Sounds like hair algea. Don't worry about, just a phase in the cycle. Ammonia should hit 0, nitrite should spike up then hit 0 as nitrate goes up. __________________ IM Fusion Pro 20 Peninsula \| Nanobox Duo Plus M \| AquaIllumination Nero 3 \| XP Aqua Duetto Dual-Sensor ATO \| Eheim Jager 75w Heater

08/23/2006, 11:15 AM	#3
GlobaLPimP Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 911	Do you have a DI filter on your RO set-up? Once your water is stable - get about 30 or 40 snails.... they will mow it down for you __________________ This hobby is educational; it teaches you how to spend a lot of money in a hurry! Current Tank Info: 75gl, SPS, LPS, IceCap/T5/SLR, 2 modded Tunze 6045's, PCI 350 skimmer w/ Gen-X 2400, 95lbs LR, GEN-X 4100 return

08/23/2006, 05:17 PM	#4
jgroton86 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 5	There is not a DI portion. However, some of the water in there is not RO water, because I initially filled it up with sink water. Thanks for the advice. I'll just wait it out and continue water changes. Then I'll throw in the cleaner crew when things stabilize. I appreciate the feedback!

08/23/2006, 06:02 PM	#5
GobyJohnKenobi Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	On the advice of a LFS employee I also cured my live rock over a sand bed. Later I read that doing so will result in elevated nutrient levels for an extended time, because the sand bed will absorb some of the organics from the curing rock. Yep. It has taken me 6 months of dilligent and large water changes while skimming the entire time for my nitrates to go to zero. This is without having any fish in there to feed. On the bright side, my sand definitely is "live". IME: Start skimming now and keep up with the water changes and testing for nitrates. If you can, wait until they are fairly low and add corals and macro algae before the fish. And Astrea snails can knock out brown algae like there's no tomorrow!!

08/23/2006, 06:09 PM	#6
GobyJohnKenobi Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 413	On a side note: I didn't run any lights on my tank for two months. Then actinics only 24/7 for two weeks. Then two weeks very gradually adjusting the light cycle to normal. I have no nuisance algae what-so-ever. None. The brown algae came on a rock with some RPE's from another reefer. Just an experiment I tried to help deal with the elevated nutrients and avoid the possibly resulting nuisance algae.