Algae

[autumnpine]

First off I want to say that this forum is a great idea! Anyway, I've had my tank up and running for about 12 days now and everythings seems to be going right on time. I have noticed though that within the last few days a few pieces of my CC have a bright green algae on it. Nothing serious, just a few pieces. Could I possibly have a start of an algae bloom or is this normal? If it is an algae bloom I sure could use some advise, and also curious if any treatment will interfere with my run-in time. Thank for any advise you can give.

 

[ruaround]

Since your tank has only been up for 12 days, The best advice would be: Just let it cycle. Dont do a water change until its finished. You should see a brown bloom soon, then you know you are towards the end of the cycle...Are you monitoring the perams? If so what are they???

 

[autumnpine]

I'm hoping by param's you mean sal., nitrites, ammonia, etc. If so, they are as followed:
Salinity: 29.5 ppt
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: .50 ppm
Nitrites: 2.0 ppm
Nitrates: 10 ppm
Does this sound about right? <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />

 

[ruaround]

Looks like the perams of a cycling tank!!! Keep us posted on how its doin, What are your plans as far as inhabitants???

 

[autumnpine]

I haven't really decided yet on my new room mates. I don't want anything real aggressive. I'm cycling my tank with a couple yellow tail damsels (I have read that they are very territorial) which after reading some of the posts here I wish I would have been more educated on my choices, but anyway I welcome any suggestions that anyone may have

 

[zack schwartz]

What size tank? You should see an algee brown algee blown at the end of the cycle too~!

 

[bob the builder]

I thought brown algea came first, then green?
Anyway, this is perfectly normal. Just let it grow everywhere and later on, it will provide food for your cleanup crew. No need to get worried at all. Just leave it. YUMMY's are in tore for the clean-up crew! Also, what lights do you have and how long do you keep them on per day? The algea will eat up the Nitrate, so that is good. Algea has a bog part in the food chain you know. I hope this helped.

 

[autumnpine]

It's a 29 gallon. I have the light that came with the tank. I have looked at some lights designed for swf but not to sure what to get. It will be a fo tank. I've heard that coralife is a good brand but they carry several different types.

 

[dsa_mom]

as long as you mention lights, you might just want to stick with the light(s) you got with the tank until you decide just what you want. Upgrading lights is expensive, you dont want to buy something and then later decide you really need something else. Good Luck!

 

[karlas]

if staying fo your regular lighting will be fine. you dont really need the other lighting unless you start getting into corals or clams. there are inverts you could go with like feather dusters, crabs, shrimp, starfish that would give you some variety even with the regular flourescent.
as far as the cycle let it go water changes can slow down your cycle. the alge blooms are perfectly normal. when you here of an established tank this means it is at least 6 mths or older. within this time there can be several alge blooms diatom, hair (green,brown), cyano. as the tank ages and if taken care of water quality will improve and the nusiance alges will come and go.