Algae problem

[ElTigreBlanco]

Hello everyone. I'm sure this topic has been covered many times, but I'm new to this forum and could not find the answers I was looking for. I would like to say that I'm new to the hobby and pretty ignorant to a lot of the info that goes with it so bare with me please. I have a biocube 32 led. That has been up and running for 6 weeks. The tank has cycled. I have about 25# of live rock and I have live sand in the tank. I have been getting a lot of green dust algae. I clean it off and it's back in about an hour. I tried using a rag to clean it so I'm not just swirling it around. Is this just an issue because the tank is so new, or is there something I can do to fix the problem? Thanks in advance for the help. I will try to post a couple pictures.

 

[EmdeReef]

Welcome!

It’s perfectly normal to have algae initially. Did you use dry rocks? It’s possible it’s leaching phosphates and helping feed the algae. How much do you feed?

You can try adding a small bag of phosguard in the media basket to see if it helps.

 

[ElTigreBlanco]

Thanks for the reply. I used live rock. I also forgot to ask if it was normal for my rock to turn green like it has? I try blowing it off but nothing moves

 

[Idoc]

My rock did the same thing... and has remained slightly green! You might want to look at your light schedule and maybe reduce it's time on and the intensity a bit as well, especially the whites (if you don't have corals).

 

[EmdeReef]

Thanks for the reply. I used live rock. I also forgot to ask if it was normal for my rock to turn green like it has? I try blowing it off but nothing moves

Yes, a normal progression, many rocks go through a diatom bloom followed by getting colonized by a lighter green algae species. I wouldn’t worry.

The fact you’re having the issue over hours vs days would indicate the tank is still balancing, may have too much light and likely has too many nutrients but I don’t think it’s a problem. Also, you don’t have to use a rag, it’s fine to just scrape the algae off. Over time it will all balance itself off provided you keep on top of water changes and filtration etc.

 

[ElTigreBlanco]

Thanks for all the help. I did a 5 gallon water change last week, and will look to do one weekly. I will look at my light schedule

 

[Susan Edwards]

I had both the green on rocks that eventually turned dark green before the coraline algae and had that awful dusty glass algae. It went away. I've just cycled a new tank and am not looking forward to dealing with that glass algae again....

 

[ElTigreBlanco]

How long did it take to go away Susan?

 

[Jason mack]

A tank can take anything from 2 weeks too 12 weeks too cycle , and every tank is different, what you have now is what’s called the uglies , diatoms , green hair algae , cyno .. use this time too research and learn, have patience.. lots needed .. your tank will clear up once it stabilizes , nothing good happens fast in a reef ..
Do regular water changes and make sure all your parameters are good and you will be fine !