Brown looking algae
- Thread starter slider101
- Start date
m0nk
Active Member
Originally Posted by slider101
http:///forum/post/2861159
I am getting a brown looking algae on my rocks and heater. I think this may be Diatoms from what someone told me. Is this good or bad? Do I need to do anything for it? I am still waiting on the tank to cycle, only had live rock in it for a little over a week.
Diatoms will eventually die out and get taken care of by the addition of a clean up crew. Are you sure the tank hasn't completed the cycle? Have you been testing the water? Diatoms usually start popping up at the end.
http:///forum/post/2861159
I am getting a brown looking algae on my rocks and heater. I think this may be Diatoms from what someone told me. Is this good or bad? Do I need to do anything for it? I am still waiting on the tank to cycle, only had live rock in it for a little over a week.
Diatoms will eventually die out and get taken care of by the addition of a clean up crew. Are you sure the tank hasn't completed the cycle? Have you been testing the water? Diatoms usually start popping up at the end.
slider101
Member
I have an ammonia reading of 0, Nitrates of 20 and nitrite of what appears to be 1.0 I have an API test kit and the Nitrite is a dark purple color if that means anything to you. I hope it is almost cycled so i can do a partial water change and put in my cleanup crew. What does everyone recommed for a cleanup crew?
m0nk
Active Member
Originally Posted by slider101
http:///forum/post/2861193
I have an ammonia reading of 0, Nitrates of 20 and nitrite of what appears to be 1.0 I have an API test kit and the Nitrite is a dark purple color if that means anything to you. I hope it is almost cycled so i can do a partial water change and put in my cleanup crew. What does everyone recommed for a cleanup crew?
If you have nitrite then it's not fully cycled, but close. You need to have 0 nitrite before adding a cleanup crew because they're more sensitive to it. As far as what sort of cleanup crew to have, that's mostly personal preference, but I personally have several types of snails (cerith, nassarius, margarita, astrae, and mexican turbo), hermits, and shrimp. Be patient, and when your nitrite reaches 0, do a water change and get your cleanup crew.
http:///forum/post/2861193
I have an ammonia reading of 0, Nitrates of 20 and nitrite of what appears to be 1.0 I have an API test kit and the Nitrite is a dark purple color if that means anything to you. I hope it is almost cycled so i can do a partial water change and put in my cleanup crew. What does everyone recommed for a cleanup crew?
If you have nitrite then it's not fully cycled, but close. You need to have 0 nitrite before adding a cleanup crew because they're more sensitive to it. As far as what sort of cleanup crew to have, that's mostly personal preference, but I personally have several types of snails (cerith, nassarius, margarita, astrae, and mexican turbo), hermits, and shrimp. Be patient, and when your nitrite reaches 0, do a water change and get your cleanup crew.
slider101
Member
I have an ammonia reading of 0, Nitrates of 20 and nitrite of what appears to be 1.0 I have an API test kit and the Nitrite is a dark purple color if that means anything to you. I hope it is almost cycled so i can do a partial water change and put in my cleanup crew. What does everyone recommed for a cleanup crew?
m0nk
Active Member
Originally Posted by slider101
http:///forum/post/2861218
So my nitrate doesn't have to be down to 0 only my nitrite and ammonia right? After the cleanup crew is added how long till I add fish and coral, and anomes and stuff?
Nitrate of 20 or lower would typically be ok for inverts and fish. When your nitrite is at 0 do a water change, then ghost feed for a few days to be sure you don't get any ammonia or nitrite spikes, then add a cleanup crew and slowly start adding fish... about 1 per month. You can start with hardy coral in a month or two, but anemones need much more established tanks and adequate lighting, so you'll want to hold off on one of those for some time.
http:///forum/post/2861218
So my nitrate doesn't have to be down to 0 only my nitrite and ammonia right? After the cleanup crew is added how long till I add fish and coral, and anomes and stuff?
Nitrate of 20 or lower would typically be ok for inverts and fish. When your nitrite is at 0 do a water change, then ghost feed for a few days to be sure you don't get any ammonia or nitrite spikes, then add a cleanup crew and slowly start adding fish... about 1 per month. You can start with hardy coral in a month or two, but anemones need much more established tanks and adequate lighting, so you'll want to hold off on one of those for some time.
m0nk
Active Member
Originally Posted by slider101
http:///forum/post/2861273
I don't want to sound dumb but how do I ghost feed?
That just means putting in a little bit of fish food when there's no fish in the tank to eat it. This will feed the bacteria and if it breaks down into ammonia then the tank isn't truly ready for livestock yet.
http:///forum/post/2861273
I don't want to sound dumb but how do I ghost feed?
That just means putting in a little bit of fish food when there's no fish in the tank to eat it. This will feed the bacteria and if it breaks down into ammonia then the tank isn't truly ready for livestock yet.
t316
Active Member
Originally Posted by slider101
http:///forum/post/2861301
Got ya, thanks. Any particular kind of fish food or just what I plan on using with my fish when i get them. I hate to ask all these stupid questions but i want to minimize my mistakes so I can stock asap.
Anything will work
http:///forum/post/2861301
Got ya, thanks. Any particular kind of fish food or just what I plan on using with my fish when i get them. I hate to ask all these stupid questions but i want to minimize my mistakes so I can stock asap.
Anything will work
blacktop pete
Member
i have the same brown algae on a few of my live rocks. my tank also has not finished its cycle. Is this normal tank cycling for about 10 days now
t316
Active Member
Originally Posted by blacktop pete
http:///forum/post/2861341
i have the same brown algae on a few of my live rocks. my tank also has not finished its cycle. Is this normal tank cycling for about 10 days now
Yes, that's still normal. Cycle time depends on a several things so there is no exact amount of days that it will take for every tank. The brown diatoms will slowly go away after that. The key is to restrain yourself from running out and making livestock purchases, even after your cycle. Put one (1) thing in at the time, then wait to let your tank adjust to the new addition. Livestock produces poop. Poop turns into all kinds of other stuff if your cleanup crew and equipment cannot handle it. So running out and overloading your tank too quickly can cause a crash and you might lose everything.
http:///forum/post/2861341
i have the same brown algae on a few of my live rocks. my tank also has not finished its cycle. Is this normal tank cycling for about 10 days now
Yes, that's still normal. Cycle time depends on a several things so there is no exact amount of days that it will take for every tank. The brown diatoms will slowly go away after that. The key is to restrain yourself from running out and making livestock purchases, even after your cycle. Put one (1) thing in at the time, then wait to let your tank adjust to the new addition. Livestock produces poop. Poop turns into all kinds of other stuff if your cleanup crew and equipment cannot handle it. So running out and overloading your tank too quickly can cause a crash and you might lose everything.
blacktop pete
Member
what is a good clean up crew to get once the cycle is finished.
t316
Active Member
Originally Posted by blacktop pete
http:///forum/post/2861371
what is a good clean up crew to get once the cycle is finished.
see monk's answer up above (post #5)
http:///forum/post/2861371
what is a good clean up crew to get once the cycle is finished.
see monk's answer up above (post #5)
blacktop pete
Member
Thanks 360
slider101
Member
Also what is the recommended lighting time? I have a 260W PC light fixture and was wondering how long to leave the lights on. Right now I have them on a timer and they come on at 7am and off at 12am and the LEDs stay on all the time. Any suggestions? Also does Diatoms grow extremely fast? I swear I can almost watch this consuming my rocks!
slider101
Member
These diatoms are spreading like crazy! What am I suppost to do? My tank stilll hasen't cycled yet and I have this brown stuff that I can almost sit and watch spread that fast! Am I going to just have to let it cover everything first until I cycle or should I do something about it now?