what's next

hey all

I have a 55gal tank with a wet/dry and a protien skimmer compat lighting system with a wide spectrum white and an antica bulb.

I started the cycle with 26 lbs of live rock and I had the lights on for 12 hours a day. The tank started to grow some brown aglea, so my local shop suggested I turn my lights off which I did that that helped.

The cycle finished last week so we added 3 snails, a hermit card, a cleaner shrimp and one Green clamitis.

So my question is where do I go from here, I can see that the brown algea will be a prob so should I stock the tank with macroalea? or soft corals? or more snails. Or can I keep the lights off as I add more animals to the tank???

 

I left my lights on for 12 hours a day when cycling. I had brown algae (diatoms) all over my tank, however within a few weeks it completely dissapeared and I didn't have anything in my tank except some live rock. I wouldn't worry about it for now and also leave off putting anything else in the tank to let things settle and also to ensure that the snails and crab have enough food.

 

i agree with frizza. the brown algae will starve itself out. if its still there in a few weeks the lfs should have something to help you.

 

Yes I agree the brown algea is a natural part of setting up a new tank. It will go away. I would also recoment not adding anything else until it is gone. But that could be a few weeks

J

 

Refugiums are good for growing caluerpa(macroalgae)which will compete for nutrients in your water with the brown/green algae(microalgae). Caluerpa will help to eat the food required by the micro algae thus cutting down or eliminating the unwanted algae! Your algae bloom is due in part to the lighting as well as the nutrients in the water. As stated above, I wouldn't add anything to your tank as far as livestock, because it will increase the nutrients in the water feeding the microalgae. I would also do a water change. I would only put your lights on for only a few hours a day. Test your water perameters as well-make sure your ammonia, nitrate and nitrite are gone still and check phosphate level too. You may want to buy more snails and hermits, eventually, a Lawnmower Blenny, Brittle starfish and/or a Tang or some sort to help with microalgae problems in the future as well as now. The other thing is when you cycled your tank thru, you probably killed some living organisms in and on your rock, possibly causing a spike ammonia etc.That is why you need to check water again and perform another water change(10-20%)
good luck!