Stopping (or slowing) algae growth

[SuperDaveA]

I have a 12 gallon nano tank that has been cycling for about 4 weeks now. I have so far added 1 Turbo Snail, 1 Trochus Snail, 1 Brown Blotch Snail, 3 Tiny Hermit Crabs and 1 Peppermint shrimp. My tank over the last week or so has started to get algae all over the rocks that are not covered in coralline algae already. It does not appear to be a hair algae or slimy algae or anything like that. It is just a coating of green on the rock surface. I have attached a picture for clarification. My LFS advised not running my light so much (I run the white for 10 hours and blue antic for 12 hours). If I cut down on the white light would the blue antic still continue to grown my algae or is the white light needed to support algae growth. Thanks!

<a href="http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc400/CountThis/?action=view&amp;current=Rock2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc400/CountThis/Rock2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc400/CountThis/?action=view&amp;current=Rock1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc400/CountThis/Rock1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[disc1]

Most tanks go through algae blooms early on. I would cut the lights down. You don't really need the photoperiod during the cycle. But I don't see anything in the pic that would make me worry. You've got some nice coralline growth on those rocks.

I might be seeing things, but is there an aptasia on the top rock in the second pic most of the way to the left side. Kinda on the front of the rock?

[Fishfish0001]

Is it just me or does that just look like a rock covered in GSP?

[docbattysreef]

Your tank looks to be cycling quite nicely. That algae doesn't look like anything to worry about. I would cut the photo period down till you get corals though.

[firebirdude]

Your lighting period is too long for starters. With no corals, I'd have the whites on for 6 hours MAX.

[SuperDaveA]

Thanks for all the input. This is my first saltwater tank so I really have no idea what looks normal and what looks bad. Should I be cutting down the lighting time on both the whites and the blues? or just the whites? I had read somewhere that the blues help the coralline algae grow and that's why I had them on so much.


I might be seeing things, but is there an aptasia on the top rock in the second pic most of the way to the left side. Kinda on the front of the rock?

That guy is some sort of little fillter feader or something.
Here's a little better picture:
<a href="http://s1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc400/CountThis/?action=view&amp;current=filerfeeder.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc400/CountThis/filerfeeder.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I do have some aptasia in the tank but they are super tiny and my Peppermint shrimp seems to be doing a good job eating them at night. I look at them as a food source for my shrimp rather than a nuisance since I can't see them unless I search for them and look real hard :)

Is it just me or does that just look like a rock covered in GSP?

What is GSP?

[sjwitt]

The "thing" looks like a very pretty tube worm... good to have. The green could be green coralline algae. Cut the lights back (both) an hour a day and see how the tank responds.

[Fishfish0001]

Ignore what I said, close up shot disproved me.

GSP - Green Star Polyps

[fla_tony]

Looks like nice rock to me. You will see algae blooms for the first six months. No big deal just keep your po4 under control.

[tkeracer619]

GFO

Its never too early to control it.