Algae - type and clean up crew recommendation?

Twodogsnnc · May 12, 2019

I currently have only 5 hermit crabs and I am noticing a lot more algae growth. Tank has been up since September, but just started running the lights (it’s a Red Sea reefer 425 - 88 gallon display). What cuc should I add to help control this? What type of algae is it?
Thanks.

reacclimating 2 the hobby · May 12, 2019

diatoms… very strange to me if you've been running since September without a light. Did you ease into the light or turn it on full cycle right off?

Twodogsnnc · May 12, 2019

reacclimating 2 the hobby said:
diatoms… very strange to me if you've been running since September without a light. Did you ease into the light or turn it on full cycle right off?

I started my lights last Sunday on acclamation mode and the below settings:

Any recommendations on what to do or clean up crew?

OutsideBrian · May 13, 2019

Twodogsnnc said:
I started my lights last Sunday on acclamation mode and the below settings:

Any recommendations on what to do or clean up crew?

Just ride it out. It’s part of the “ ugly” stage

Hemmdog · May 13, 2019

What’s your water source? It’s very odd you would be experiencing this if you started in September. Also why did you wait so long to turn the lights on and get your reef going? Here to help, just curious haha.

Twodogsnnc · May 13, 2019

I use a BRS 5 stage RODI unit. TDS is 0. I use Red Sea blue bucket salt. I used a mix of Marco and reef cleaners rock.

The tank delay was related to some set up challenges. It was originally set up partly by a local store and not leveled correctly. They eventually came back and fixed it. For some reason (settling?) it got a bit out of level again. At that point I was pretty burnt and so let it run for several months with very little attention before draining and leveling my self a week or two ago. Maybe since the rock was exposed while I leveled I kicked off a mini cycle?

reacclimating 2 the hobby · May 13, 2019

I don't run a light during my cycle, its not necessary, but if you didn't ghost feed or start the cycle then it never did cycle. Your tank was running since September but wasn't building up the back bone of a reef tank filtration system within the live rock. Now you're experiencing diatoms which are part of the ugly stage of it. Ride it out, start testing for ammonia, ghost feed.

Algaewarrior · May 13, 2019

Get some snails. I like astreas. Hermits don't really take care of the diatoms like snails do.

Twodogsnnc · May 13, 2019

reacclimating 2 the hobby said:
I don't run a light during my cycle, its not necessary, but if you didn't ghost feed or start the cycle then it never did cycle. Your tank was running since September but wasn't building up the back bone of a reef tank filtration system within the live rock. Now you're experiencing diatoms which are part of the ugly stage of it. Ride it out, start testing for ammonia, ghost feed.