Some Sort of Alage???

I recently started a 72 gallon bowfront maybe 4-5 weeks ago. I did not put any live rock in there and I have probably around 70-80 lbs of just dead lace rock. I figured it would just seed itself with some live sand. But anyways I have this film of brownish/greenish algae growing on all the rock. Should I be worried or is this the rock seeding/curing iteself? I have done 2 15-20% water changes so far and all my readings are good NO3 = 0 Phosphates =0 and ph=8.2.

 

looks like you have barely started the cycle, Diatoms IMO.

 

Would it help to get a little live rock to help it out or just leave it be?

 

I would just leave it. You are way to early for the things you have in there to be honest. I would test your water, I bet you are going to see a spike somewhere.

Normally you will see this for about 1-2 weeks in a cycling tank then they should never come back.

 

leave it. once your tank matures it will go away. stop with the water changes until you are fully cycled. did you use anything to start the cycle?

 

No just maybe a handfull of live sand.

 

no lr/ls won't help you, diatoms burn themselves out as the devour bio-avail. silica. it isn't the normal NO3 PO4 nutrient problem, it is a you got something new that was exposed to air and bio-available silica is everywhere so you have diatoms sort of problem. Enjoy the pod maturation in your tank, they love this stuff, good time to get to seeding.

 

My tank is farely new too. Have Diatoms bad. What do you mean by the seeding?

 

Just let it go and don't do any more water changes until you see your cycling stabilize fully. What will now happen is your diatoms will die off, you will see a small spike in your NO3, then your bacterial system will increase to naturally remove them. Right now, the diatoms are using up the NO#3, giving you a false 0ppm reading. Keep and eye on your softies too to make sure they don't die.

 

so with a new tank.. when do you start doing water changes?