Great, I think I goofed again...

The n00b in me assumed it would be just fine to add cured live rock to my tank. I added about 40lbs, and currently the rock has this slimy brown stuff (diatoms?) on it, as does the sand and class. I also have a lot of the slimy brown stuff floating on the top of the water as well.

My skimmer is pulling out tons of stuff. My water has become cloudy in the past couple of days, so I guessing I started another cycle...stupid me, I should have known better. Guess I thought since it was cured it wouldn't cause this. Does this sound like a cycle? Mini-cycle or full cycle? Pretty sure I know the answer...

Anyway, I have 2 clowns, a squirrel fish, blue damsel and a lawnmower blenny along with some snails. Should I be concerned for them? They look healthy. They're eating, swimming around, and their fins aren't clamped to their sides.

I tested for Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite 2 nights ago and all was good, zero all around. Plan to test it again tonight.

Plan to do a 10% water change tonight. Would that be wise?

I did see some green algae starting to grow on the sand this morning and the brown slimy stuff seems to be maybe going away some, but hard to tell. I know I'm getting lots of green algae on my glass which is easy to clean off.

Just looking for some thoughts and direction. Thanks. Hoping at some point I actually have the common sense to do a little reading on here before I make assumptions :

 

Any time you add more LR especially uncured rock be prepared for a cycle. I hope you at least scrubbed it down in salt water before putting it in the tank to remove as much dead stuff as possible. You definitely want to do water changes since you have fish in there. If you don't the ammonia will kill them. Keep testing the water & follow the cycle.

 

Actively keep testing water params...can't let get out of hand or fish will die.

If they start to, do some back to back subtantial water changes.

 

Sorry guys, I mistyped...Met to say CURED Live Rock. Sorry about that...

 

You may not see a spike of Ammonia, Nitrite or Nitrate. But it looks like you are seeing typical post cycle Algae blooms. If this is the case there is little you can do. Water changes and ride it out.

How much LR was in your tank before you added 40lbs.

J

 

Not much, maybe 10/15 lbs.

 

Ya I would watch your NH3, NO2 and NO3

 

actually you could be ok. You seem to have a decent amount of livestock and therefore probably have enough bacteria to help ride out the initial effects.

 

Ok, good info, thanks. I'll keep an eye on everything and just start doing water changes if everything is ok.

Is the brown stuff floating around and on top of the water pretty normal? Is it indeed diatoms? It's all over my rock too...tank looks pretty brown in general.

 

Wanted to post an update. The yucky brown stuff is gone from the top of the water, and the cloudiness is gone as well. Still some diatom's on the back of the tank on some on the live rock, but it's looking WAY better.

Cleaning crew is working hard and doing a great job. I did a 15% water change today too using water from my new RO/DI filter.

Hoping things start getting much better from here on out!