How does this happen in 6 hours

[Jake_the_reefer]

So I had a short shift today at work I was only gone for about 6 hours. The tank was perfectly clean and now that I am home it's so thick in algae you cant see through it no direct sun at all. Could it be my nitrates? The tank is newish. It has cycled rock and bioballs

 

[Mical]

It's probably a combination of things. Newer tanks go through the "uglies" as they cycle. I found lowering temp to 78-79 deg slows algae down also. After a recent move 1 of my heaters developed a mind of it's own and temp sailed up to 83 deg and the algae bloom would do that in 2-3 hrs.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

It's probably a combination of things. Newer tanks go through the "uglies" as they cycle. I found lowering temp to 78-79 deg slows algae down also. After a recent move 1 of my heaters developed a mind of it's own and temp sailed up to 83 deg and the algae bloom would do that in 2-3 hrs.

Will extra water changes help?

 

[Mical]

Will extra water changes help?

It wouldn't hurt, but new tanks go through this and it's now the "patience game". Search - New Tank Uglies and you'll get the idea.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

It wouldn't hurt, but new tanks go through this and it's now the "patience game". Search - New Tank Uglies and you'll get the idea.

My 20g never got hit this bad. Will pre cycled media help?

 

[lapin]

You have heated water, light and nutrients. Stuffs gonna grow. If it didnt, then I would be worried. Until something else can out compete the film algae or eats it off the glass, it will continue to grow. Actually looks kinda kewl.

 

[LOVEROCK]

The tank uglies are due to phosphates leeching our from dry live rock right ? So if you bleach them and soak them in rodi water , in theory you can avoid the tank uglies ?

 

[CivicS14]

Are you using RO/DI water?

 

[Phycodurus]

on newly set-up tanks, isn’t it good practice to keep the lights entirely off for several weeks to minimize the algae blooms?

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

on newly set-up tanks, isn’t it good practice to keep the lights entirely off for several weeks to minimize the algae blooms?

I've heard up to a week personally.

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

Are you using RO/DI water?

You are going to hate this reply. I've never used rodi in either of my tanks. My reef tank has never had a bloom like this while the Fowlr is having a bad bloom

 

[Jake_the_reefer]

When I move I need to install one but right now I'm not sure if the landlord would approve

 

[LOVEROCK]

You are going to hate this reply. I've never used rodi in either of my tanks. My reef tank has never had a bloom like this while the Fowlr is having a bad bloom

What’s your tds and where !

 

[SPR1968]

The problem you have could well be the ugly stage of a new tank, the picture isn’t clear but it looks like possibly diatoms on some of the rocks/sand maybe

It could also be high nutrient levels, especially if your not using 0 TDS RODI for water changes, which is the basic requirement for keeping a marine tank, especially if your thinking of corals. If you can’t make it yourself because of your situation, it may be worth buying ready made saltwater from a good LFS as a temporary fix.

Maybe post you water parameters including nitrate and phosphate so we can have a look

 

[ReeferReefer]

Most rodi systems can be temporarily installed on a hose or faucet.

 

[Evan28395950]

Other option is distilled water from grocery store, works great for me.

 

[ZaneTer]

If it were me and it was a new tank then I would cool the water to 78F and add some chaeto. I would let the chaeto do the heavy work removing most of the excess nutrients. It really doesn’t take long and it would help the pod population grow too.

 

[ZaneTer]

Double post

 

[TheGreatWave]

Too much light. Consider a RODI regardless.

 

[ZoWhat]

Algae Bloom. Google it ;Bookworm