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View Full Version : Beginner Here..... Holy Algea !!


keenstyle1
11/17/2010, 07:54 PM
This picture is One day of Algea. It's not in a heavily sun area. I just started this tank 3 weeks ago, temp is around 77 degrees. Haven't tested water yet. Started with live sand and dry rock. Is it a water flow issue possibly? Does there need to be more current?

Tuscaquatics
11/17/2010, 07:56 PM
Probably diatoms,which are normal for a new tank. Do you use tap water? If so, that is fueling it. Is the tank completely cycled? Do some tests and find out your parameters.

aleonn
11/17/2010, 08:12 PM
The brown diatoms are normal during the process of tank cycling. The real algae will be coming soon :)

bazineta
11/17/2010, 08:15 PM
Note that the diatom bloom can be absolutely epic. What you've got there is minor. Remember, no matter how bad it gets, this too shall pass.

RyanEG
11/17/2010, 08:51 PM
Welcome to the hobby, first off. As was posted above, those are diatoms, they are part of the natural algae cycle of setting up a reef tank. You will more than likely get some hair algae in the coming weeks too.

Sk8r
11/17/2010, 09:04 PM
[welcome]
It's going to get worse before it gets better. Age helps. But there's an initial phosphate load in a new tank that just has to work its way out, and the green hair algae is coming, for sure. Diatoms, yes: the brown stage will give way to sheets of green. Ultimately, it will give way to bubble algae, and then hopefully, with good water management, coralline will cover your rocks and you will not have those troubles. Do use rodi water exclusively, to prevent increase in phosphates, which are algae food.

Sk8r
11/17/2010, 09:04 PM
[welcome]
It's going to get worse before it gets better. Age helps. But there's an initial phosphate load in a new tank that just has to work its way out, and the green hair algae is coming, for sure. Diatoms, yes: the brown stage will give way to sheets of green. Ultimately, it will give way to bubble algae, and then hopefully, with good water management, coralline will cover your rocks and you will not have those troubles. Do use rodi water exclusively, to prevent increase in phosphates, which are algae food.

rdmcgraw
11/17/2010, 11:04 PM
+1 onall that, but there is good news...this usually marks the beginning of the end of your cycle. :) phosphate/silicate scrubbers will help if it bothers you that much though

keenstyle1
11/18/2010, 10:14 AM
Thanks for all the great response! Really appreciate it.