White things on the glass

The brown hair type algae has started to either turned green or a green type is starting to take over. It also is starting to grow on the glass in the back. Anyway on 2 of my rocks there is really alot of it and its long some up to 3in. I mean it looks like I have a lawn growing on these 2 rocks. I think this is ok, but I just want to be extra careful and ask if this much algea is ok and will not harm the rock.

 

Also, its been a week that I have had these shrimp in my sump and I still haven't has an ammonia spike and the shrimp are decaying.

 

What are your test readings right now?
Ammonia =
Nitrites =
Nitrates =
pH =
Calcium =
Alk =
Phosphates =

 

ammonia = 0.4ppm
nitrates = it reads 10ppm I dont know if this meand 10ppm or less or 10ppm this is the lowest reading on the kit
Nitrites = 0.2ppm
pH = 8.2
Didn't test alk calcium or phosphates

 

You know I was just thinking, and I may be completely wrong but who knows. I used live sand, I added cocktail shrimp a week ago and I have ALOT of green hair algea in my tank. I never had an ammonia spike and my nitrates are low. Could it be that the live sand is converting the ammonia to nitrites and then nitrates quickly because I already have alot bacteria in the sand so there is no ammonia spike and the green hair algae is consuming the nitrates thats why I have a low nitrate reading. And if so what would be the next step

 

Very plausible.  Could also be that the algae is absorbing the nitrates during photosynthesis.  Test early in the moring before the lights come on to see what you get.

Patience is the best course of action, wait and let your tank balance itself out for a good 8 weeks or so.  Removing the source of nitrates, less feeding will control your algae better than anything.

 

THANKS CRAIG I WILL CHECK THE AMMONIA NITRATES ECT...TOMMORROW MORNING AND THEN I  WILL REMOVE THE SHRIMP OR WHATS LEFT OF THEM.  BOY I DONT LOOK FOWARD TO THAT!!!! THANKS IM TRYING AGAINST MY NATURE TO BE PATIENT ;D ;D ;D!!

 

LOL!!!

It happens to all of us. There is a saying-----Nothing Good ever happens fast in a reef tank.

 

I tested the ammonia nitrate nitrite and pH on Sat morning before the lights were on and they were the same:
ammonia 0.2ppm
nitrite 0.2ppm
nitrate >10ppm
pH 8.1
So, what do you think

 

Export with water changes and feed less often. Of you use flake food, go to a more meaty diet as vegeatable matter is higher in nitrates. If you use frozen mysis for example drain the food or soak in RO/DI water to eliminate unnecessary phosphates. Get yourself a phosphate test and let us know what that reading is.

Don't add livestock or make any changes for several weeks. Let your tank balance out and establish a baseline. You will become a testing expert, eh?