algae in new tanks

[piano15]

I was wondering, do tanks always get diatoms or green algae during or just after a cycle?

 

I have seen a very small dusting on my rocks and I'm just seeing a bit of green on one as well but not much else

 

I have lots of feather dusters on my rocks and hitch hiker snails too

[BJV]

cycle without lights..............

Barry

[piano15]

Lights aren't on during my cycle:)

 

Just wondering because a lot of ppl have advised that you should see algae blooms during cycling

[fishfreak0114]

Algae is normal during the cycle

[fishstick41]

is the tank near a window?

[Benny314]

If your lights aren't on then that's why there's next to no algae growth.

Once the tank is established you'll always have some sort of algae growth somewhere and to be honest you want it, it's part of the natural ecosystem your trying to recreate in your tank. The trick is to keep it under control so it doesn't take away from the display or choke out corals etc as in the confines of a small tank algae can quickly take over.

[ajmckay]

"normal" is relative.

 

Generally, yes, diatoms are common in new tanks. However, that's not to say you will experience diatoms or other algae growth in a new tank.

 

Likewise running your tank with no lights doesn't guarantee you won't have diatoms/algae because they can still feed off nutrients. It really depends on the rocks and the conditions of the individual tank.

[chercm]

such a headache with diatoms growing like nuts. what can i do ?

[FlowerMama]

Usually once the diatoms show up you can begin adding some clean up crew. They do disappear on their own- that's another part of the cycle.

[Benny314]

Diatoms tend to show up in low flow areas. Try getting a bit more water movement in the affected areas.

After that you need to check and keep on top of your nitrate and phosphates and get some clean up crew or a fish that turn the sand over.

[chercm]

i have sand star and sand dollar and snails . i am using the caribea sea coral sand . is this sufficient ?

[Benny314]

Can't see why not, may well be a flow or nutrients problem or just a bloom that needs to burn it's self out and pass. How long are your lights on for? Are the affected areas directly under high light points?

[chercm]

do i need to keep doing water change to siphon the sand bed ?

[Benny314]

That will help, regular water changes without syphoning will help keep nutrients in check to begin with but the syphoning will reduce the visual impact of the diatoms.

Try to avoid stirring up the sand when your syphoning as you'll suck out all the food the starfish will need to live on.

[chercm]

How should I syphon the sand ?

[Benny314]

Sorry I assumed you already were. You can get sand/gravel cleaners (large plastic tubes with a pipe on the top) that allow you to suck the sand into the tube so all the dirt comes out with out much going down the pipe into your bucket.
When using one of these just be sure not to dig it into the sand, hold it over the diatoms and you should find they get sucked up. The microscopic creatures living in the sand are needed by the starfish as food, if you don't disturb the sand itself they won't get syphoned out.

 

Sorry this random conversation has sort of high jacked the thread a bit.

[chercm]

Oh I have been digging into the sand , I have been using zeovit . Increased my dosage for zeozym