Week old tank question

[dubbin1]

I have question concerning our tank that has been setup for about a week now. We are getting a lot of brown algae that is starting to turn green. I have read that this is normal but it is all over my liverock and crushed coral. I have watched all my chemical readings for the last week and have seen them rise and fall. The ammonia is back down to 0, pH 8.2, nitrite 0, and nitrate 5.0. I know I am far from ready to put fish in the tank but is there any cleaners that I can put in there to help cut back on all the algae growth? My nice white crushed coral is now a crappy brownish green color along with the liverock :nervous:
edit: I forgot to ask, What is with all the bubbles that starting showing up all over my liverock? There are thousands of them :notsure:
Thanks
Dwayne

 

[kyle10]

yeah u can add acleanup crew now...mabey try one from this site.i think there selling stuff again.that should help with your algae problem.

 

[beaslbob]

add plant life. Adding a cleanup crew will remove the existing plant life and vastly reduce the tank's ability to support livestock.
Wait until the system has ran for at least three weeks fishless. That will allow fish born parasites like ICH to die off from the lack of a host fish.
It will also allow your plant life to get the nitrAtes back down to 0.0. By getting plant life you desire built up such as macros you will not only have little and probably no ugly algaes but be ready and more than able to support the future livestock.

 

[dubbin1]

Could you give me some ideas on what to get? I really dont know what I should have in there or how many of whatever I get. I have a 46 gal tank.
Thanks
Dwayne

 

[beaslbob]

In display something like caulpera prolifera (kelp like) or gracillera (tumble week like) is good. I suggest the prolifera with gracilera for tang food. if a refugium brillo pad is nice.
you could also try true grasses like turtle grass. Mine has lasted but not spread.
the SWF shaving brushed and blades are another option and they do ship them as livetsock which is good. they are nice but stay low to the substrait. and can therefore be a pain to arrange prune etc etc etc. Profilera is much easier to harvest.
Ask locals what they use. They may be tossing away a bunch each month and free is good.
If you need some links for info or sources, email me at beaslbob@aol.com

 

[reefnut]

Originally posted by beaslbob
Adding a cleanup crew will remove the existing plant life and vastly reduce the tank's ability to support livestock.
BS , your BS are getting bigger and bigger Bob. I'm about to need boots it's getting so deep.
Algae will help your filtration to a point but removing it will NOT vastly reduce the tank's ability to support livestock.

 

[dubbin1]

Originally posted by ReefNut
BS , your BS are getting bigger and bigger Bob. I'm about to need boots it's getting so deep.
Algae will help your filtration to a point but Iwill NOT vastly reduce the tank's ability to support livestock.
So should I get a cleanup crew or not? Now I'm really confused because I dont know what to get as far as plants and cleaners go. If I get cleaners then what should I get? I have a buddy that has a 150gal tank and I will ask him if he has any plants (that he wants to donate) that bob mentioned.

 

[reefnut]

I would wait until the cycle is complete then add a cleanup crew. Snails, hermits, etc.

 

[beckzilla]

Dont listen to beaslbob. To make a long story short he is a total idiot. Add a cleanup crew now. You will not be sorry.

 

[beckzilla]

Sorry, i got ahead of myself. Add the crew after the tank has fully cycled and forget about bobs stupid plants. his is an opinion that almost nobody else shares!:notsure:

 

[mailman441]

before going any further get rid of the crushed coral and get live sand or u will be sorry

 

[beckzilla]

The only problem i have with his methods is that he tries to steer newbies away from other proven methods and to adopt his ways only. I have read alot of his posts and it becomes obvious after awhile.

 

[beckzilla]

Ok, i took a little step over the line but when you have read as many of his posts as i have it does get infuriating. Sorry.

 

[beckzilla]

Yea, have lived here almost my whole life. Graduated from Penn in 1974- back when it still wasnt a small university.

 

[dubbin1]

Originally posted by mailman441
before going any further get rid of the crushed coral and get live sand or u will be sorry
Why would I be sorry?

 

[beckzilla]

It has almost 3000 now.

 

[dubbin1]

So does this mean that I need to start all over again? Can I add the Livesand on top of the cc?

 

[dubbin1]

Originally posted by Reef_Magic
is your cycle done or in the process?
I am one week into it and have a ton of growth on the liverock and CC already.

 

[dubbin1]

Well you guys got me worried now thinking that I need to switch to ls

 

[dubbin1]

Can I change it in the future if the cc gets to be too much of a hassle and not hurt the fish any? Or will I have to start the cycling process over agin?