How to rid green algae

[johnyboy]

I just put my water up in my new tank and the water is green and there's little green plants and stuff growing on the rock causing the water to become green. How do I get my water clear and clean.

 

[Mike J.]

Sounds like you've got some real problems. So the tank is brand new? Can you tell us more about it. Where did you get the rock from? What have you done so far?

 

[johnyboy]

My salinity is perfect. I used rodi water and got the Fiji premium live rock from Petco but they get t from a third party. The rock was out of water for 3 or 4 days because my rodi system was lost in shipment. Then I got everything running. Idk what's going on but the water is a tint of green but it is pretty clear. There seems to be some black stuff in the rock. It looks like some stuff is dying off on the rock idk. But the green water is annoying me. Maybe it's just part of the cycle? I have no lights on or anything

 

[Reefing Madness]

Black stuff on rock, if its live rock, would be die off. Algae will happen normally in new tanks. What ya need to post is the barage of water parameters.
Amm
Nitrites
Nitrates
Phosphates
Tell tail signs of a new tank and if there are any problems, it will show here.

 

[johnyboy]

Is die off ok? I'm getting my test kits soon so I will know the parameters soon. My salinity is perfect as well.

 

[Mike J.]

You can't help die off. It'll help cycle your tank. You should get a test kit. So you track your nitrogen cycle.

 

[johnyboy]

Yes I'm going to get one. I also have the microbe lift special blend bottle to help with the cycle. But I am getting a little more more to put in. Should I wait to get the rock before dosing the tank with that or can I start it now and just put the rock in when I get it ?

 

[Mike J.]

You can start anytime, but be aware that adding rock, especially live rock, might cause another ammonia spike.

 

[johnyboy]

Exactly so why would I put the microbe lift in now ?

 

[Mike J.]

Well, look at it this way. Once you have a mature tank a large animal could die and there'd never be an ammonia spike. You've got weeks to wait for a good cycle anyway.

 

[johnyboy]

Ok so just start this microbe lift now ? Maybe it will help the green water as well

 

[Mike J.]

I'm not really familiar with microbe lift. Doesn't it just neutralize ammonia and nitrates. I'm not sure if it contains Nitrosomonas europaea, and Nitrospira bacteria does it? Not my cup of tea, I've always naturally cycled a tank.

 

[johnyboy]

It clears the water starts the cycle and it has good nutrients for the corals

 

[Mike J.]

A miracle in a bottle? I'm thinking it's more a freshwater product, but maybe I'm mistaken. It does claim to have the bacteria mentioned in it. This what you're using?
Microbe Lift Nitrifying Bacteria - 16 oz

However you decide to cycle, I'd make sure that it can process food without an ammonia spike before I put live animals in.

 

[johnyboy]

No it's called microbe lift special blend

 

[johnyboy]

What do u mean process food ? Btw I appreciate all this feedback man

 

[Mike J.]

https://www.microbelift.com/products/home-aquarium/bacterial-products/special-blend/
It sure claims to be a miracle product.

Simply because it's late and off the top of my head. Nitrogen cycle = a source of ammonia, ammonia levels rise and slowly populating nitrosomonas europaea bacteria oxidize the ammonia to nitrite. Nitrite levels rise and Nitrospira-like bacteria multiply and oxidize nitrites to nitrates. So you'll have high reading of ammonia go to zero then nitrites go to zero then you'll have high nitrates which you export with a suitable water change. Then when you feed the tank you check to make sure there is no ammonia produced and there is enough bacteria in there to process ammonia waste.

 

[DLuce510]

It's important to start running carbon, gfo, and a skimmer from the start.