Have been cycling for 3 days now and already have algea

Telgar,
you told me to keep my lights off until amnonia and nitrite spike and went down to zero but I have a yellow tail Damsel will it affect him also I have some sort of tunicates growing would not having the lights on be bad? Need more advice on that one.
Thanks

 

It is understandable that you want to get it right. However the above advice is good. Mostly you'll wait a bit and then when it is cycled (nitrates = 0; or alternatively consistently very low), you'll work on the next stage of stocking.

You can be working on researching what you will want to add AFTER the cycle ends. Make a wish list and look for eBay or trade in values for equipment you want or need:
(1) ATC refractometer - accurate measurement of salinity
(2) test kits ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and nitrate to start
(3) protein skimmer
(4) lighting for what you want to grow

Lots more, that is just the short list. Have fun.

 

no the lights being off will not affect the fish. Did you use fully cured rocks, live sand, etc? If so you will go through the cycle faster. Have you tested your water parems yet?

Again, like everyone else stated, just sit and wait it out. You will see a wide range of diatom blooms in cycles esp as you get closer to the end

My first tank (Like so many others) I was completely unprepared. The LFS made a mistake when they mixed the SW (double or even triple mixed the amt of salt) and my SG was at 1.50. (was not discovered until the added it to my cured LR, my new live sand, etc) They had me wait 5 days and then they came back and did over a 50% water change out with RO water. (killed my LR and sand...at least probably wiped it out some). I loved the tank and left the lights on at least 12 hours a day during the cycle. At one point in the cycle I had green hair algea so bad that it looked like I had the front yard in my tank...every rock was covered in several inches of hair algea. Finally I talked with one of the more knowlegable employees at the store and was instructed on light schedule. I turned off all lights for a couple weeks and allowed it to finish cycling

 

to answer some of the question above.
I have a refractometer a skimmer and the light needed to support a reef my test kit should be here tomorrow.

I thought I was already failing to this hobby, i did so much reading and then now that i am doing it i feel like i am doing it wrong. I guess i did not expect the cycle to be so mind wondering.

So basically lights off and let it be until my parameters are stable is that right?

Thanks on your help

 

sounds like your on the right track.

 

+1, you are doing great!;D