Cycling and algae help please?

[Reefdiver77]

I have set up a new aqua reef 300 tank as my first marine. I have upgraded and added equipment to give what I am told the best possible start.

Aqua One Aqua Reef 300 with weir and sump.
Bubble Magnus skimmer
2 x reactors
4 wave makers
Wave controller
Auto top up
Newjet 3000 return pump
120lb live sand
120lb Fijian Live Rock
3 x 10k white t5
1 x marine blue t5

Salinity 1.025
Ph 8
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Temp 77
nitrate is 4ppm
phosphate is 0.08
iodide reads less than 0.01
combined iodate and iodine reads with a colourless result
Calcium is 410ppm
Alkalinity meq/l 2.7 DH 7.6
Magnesium is 1300ppm

Just so you know ammonia and nitrite have never read any differently, always 0? Is this normal?


Running for two weeks total
System running one week water and sand
Added live lock for second week
Reactor one has carbon and phosphate
Reactor two has marine bio pearls

Live rock has much brown algae and on glass some dark purple hair type algae beginning to grow, I have had not spikes in ammonia or nitrite salinity and ph constant. Special blend and new tank stabilization added since day 1 as per manufacturers dosage.

My questions are as follows

1. Is the brown algae normal and do I need to do anything about it?
2. Should it be cycling if so what do I do to kick start?
3. Should I be checking any other parameters yet?
4. Should I make any alterations to the setup, how did I do?
5. Is it time to start adding inverts , coral or fish slowly if so what order?

Thanks in advance for help it will be much appreciated, I want to get this right for the livestock not for my viewing pleasure!

This is the purple/red type hairy algae starting on just this one rock

This is the brown algae pretty much on all rocks some on glass and sand

This is one rock near to top completely different green algae with some purple

Is all this ok at the moment?

Reefdiver77

 

[Joker79]

Questions:
Was the live rock cultured? (Live)
When brown algae (diatoms) start to appear it generally indicates the end of a cycle and your tank is preparing to support inhabitants. Or you have left your lights on for too long of periods.
Recommendations would be to add some cuc to the tank they will help to get rid of the algae. Most of it will go away on its own.

 

[Reefdiver77]

Questions:
Was the live rock cultured? (Live)
When brown algae (diatoms) start to appear it generally indicates the end of a cycle and your tank is preparing to support inhabitants. Or you have left your lights on for too long of periods.
Recommendations would be to add some cuc to the tank they will help to get rid of the algae. Most of it will go away on its own.

Not 100% sure what you mean by cultured? I bought it from LFS hand selected from a holding tank that they had?

Lights on 8-10 hours a day?

I am I right on both counts?

 

[Joker79]

Your live rock is cultured then if gotten from the lfs.
I would say start off slowly with a clean up crew and proceed from there.

 

[Reefdiver77]

Your live rock is cultured then if gotten from the lfs.
I would say start off slowly with a clean up crew and proceed from there.

Excellent that's great news thanks for your advice!

 

[Joker79]

No prob!! Enjoy!

 

[Palting]

My goodness, man!! You've started off with more equipment that several successful old time reefer I know! :thumbs:

Anyhow, the fact that you started with all cultured live rock and now have nitrate means your tank has the full spectrum of aerobic bacteria. You are cycled. The only remaining question is, do you have enough bacterial population to handle the bioload of the first fish? With 120 lbs live sand and 120 lbs live rock I would assume you do. One way to test is feed a pinch of food daily for a week, then test. If you ammonia and nitrite remain at zero, then you are ready for fish.

Algae, whether green, brown or red, or even cyanobacteria, bloom as part of the maturing process of a young tank. So long as you keep your phosphates and nitrates under control, they should not become an issue. Are you doing water changes yet?

You may want to cut down on your light period at this time. The only thing the light is feeding at the moment is the algae.

How tall is that tank?

 

[Reefdiver77]

Hi thanks for the response!

Yes very fortunate to be off to a great start with all the equipment

No water changes yet, I will cut lights until fish then dimensions as follows

Aquarium size 102 x 52 x 73cm high
Cabinet 102 x 52 x 88cm high