Having a bit of a problem

B

Bama8200

AC Members
Oct 6, 2008
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I am new to SW and I am just getting my tank cycled, it has been cycling for about 2 weeks now, I have a good amount of live rock and live sand. I have a sump for my filtration. I am having a lot of algae problems, I am having this brownish Red algae that has bubbles in it growing on some rocks and some of the sand, I am also having a bad problem with Green Hair Algae. It just started over night and it is growing at a RAPID pace. Anything you konw that I could do to help?

All inputs appricated.

Thanks,

Bama8200
 
Don't worry. This is usually what happens in a as tank. Just measure the hposphate levels in your tank. If there is any, just add some phosphate remover. Also test for nitrates. The build up of these can result in an aglae bloom. Also see if you have enough water movement. That brownish stuff u described usually builds up when there is not enough current.
 
What can i do to increase the current. I have added another powerhead inside the tank and that doesn't seem to help.
 
maybe turn the lights off completely, that could help slow down the algae growth rate - when the tank is cycling, you only really need the lights on if you have any corals/etc hitch-hiking on your liverock that you want to try and keep alive (although the cycle process itself may cause them to die off anyway)
 
Any chance of a photo to help ID the types of algae. Usually I would say diatoms which is common during and after cycling, but the fact you state it's red with bubbles in it makes it sound more like cyano which is generally caused by phosphates and nitrAtes.

What are your actual parameters?

Do you use RO water?

How many powerheads/GPH do you have for turnover?
 
When this first started a couple of days ago, I checked my Parameters and i had a LFS check them and everything was normal, In my sump I have a pump that is 840 gal per hour but I know that is prob only pumping 500 gal per hour if that since I am pumping it through tubing about 4 ft. As far as water I use tap water that i condition. I will check my parameters when i get home tonight and see what they are then. would adding another pump to my sump help? my overflow box isn't even 1/4 full of water.
 
your tap water could be the problem....i would recommend that you invest in a RO unit or you might end up with a constant battle with algae.
 
I have another powerhead in my tank it is like a 600 gal per hour but it doesn't seem to be helping. What size RO unit would i need for my 55 gal tank?
 
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