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New Tank Question

K

kason42

So I broke down my nano and filled up my new 56 gallon about two weeks ago. I also have a 20 gallon sump. To the display, I added live sand, a bunch of live rock from the nano as well as about 20 pounds of new rock. For light, I have 2 96 watt PC 50/50s, and a 250 watt hqi. The water flow basically consists of a small powerhead from the nano, and the return from the sump (I'm adding more flow as I get the money necessary to do so, which will be soon) I also have a skimmer running. I added my fish, a yellow clown goby, a small maroon clown, an anthias, and a scooter mandarin. I also added the coral from the nano which are a torch coral, a pipe organ, a green digi, a few zoa colonies and a xenia.

Here's my question...I'm having a problem with brown and green diatom blooming everywhere. I didn't think the tank would really go through a cycle being that the majority of the rock in my tank is well past curing, and the 20 pounds of new rock was sold as cured. There really isn't much sand, and the water is from a good friends very healthy reef tank. Anyway, it is obviously cycling, and the algae has probably grown much more because of the lights. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do? Will the algae growth cease soon, and then significantly disapear with the use of snails and other janitors, or am I going to have a problem? I have about 15 astreas, a couple scarlets, and a handful of blue legs, am emerald crab, and I'm picking up three mexican turbos today. Any suggestions?
 
J

Jcurry@wesketch

Typically the different algaes will only flourish for a short while in a fallow tank as the nutrients are used up and converted into other compounds. That's why it's recommended that you let the tank cycle for a month before adding livestock. Unfortunately the brown and green diatoms will probably persist longer than usual because of the excess nutrients you'll be adding from feeding your fish. To stay ahead of it you'll need to do more water changes and limit your feedings,which will be very difficult with an Anthias and a Mandarin. Both of which require frequent feedings to maintain optimum health.
 
W

Whitebird1

Sounds normal, new rock sold as cured, moving every thing, a short cycle can be expected. Skim Heavy and do water changes. Check water paramiters AND increase flow ASAP. Cutting the time the lights are on may help also. If any live stock seems stretsed, check ammonia. All else fails= Dilutioin is the solution- with good new water. Then just wait till the tank balences. good luck. tose up some pics if you can.
GregH

Spell Check is broken!!
 
K

kason42

I watched closely for a while to see if I could pick up on any stress signs, but the fish all seem to be doing excellent. Everyone eats, vigorously might I add, and respiration looks to be normal. Hmm. I tested again today, and the nitrates are the only problem. They're about .15. I just hate the algae, and I know I should have waited, but I didn't really feel it would be a problem. Also, I'm doing daily water changes, and intense skimming. I also picked up three large mexican turbo snails today, and they seem to be doing quite the job. Thank you very much for the advice, wish me luck.
 
K

kason42

oh, also, I added all the sand from the nano to the sump in order to keep all the pods for the mandarin. Actually, they all go crazy over the little critters, but I still feed a little bit twice a day for the anthias and the maroon clown.
 
M

mnat

Officer Emeritus
Staff member
Moderator
How long are you running your lights for? I assume you did not have that much light in the nano and you might want to acclimate your corals to the more intense light from the hqi. Also, algae feeds on light, nitrates, and phosphate so cutting out any of these things will probably help you.
 
K

kason42

Yeah, I knew that, but I ignored it. When I saw the blooms begin to take over, I quickly regretted my ignorance. I quickly reduced the amount of light bought a **** load of snails, and began to heavily skim, change water and clean the glass. The actual full on blooming is done. I assume the tank was just going through a small cycle being that the water parameters are now solid. I'm still not running the halides though. No real need being that I have no SPS. Thanks for everyones help.
 
M

MU8ST7ANG

I had a similar thing happen to me about 3 months ago. I moved my 54 gallon to my new 90 with a 30 gal sump. Well after about 2 weeks the hair algae/brown algae came in full effect. about a week later it vanished literally then i bought a yelelow tang and he takes care of anything that might be left of the algae.
 
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