Is this too much algae?

[Brakaan]

My 16g Biocube is 9 weeks old. I started getting an algae bloom about 4 weeks in. I saw huge improvement after I did water changes to get nitrates to 0 and I added a bicolor blenny and 3 turbo snails.

But there’s still algae.

It’s mostly on the live rock and mostly a thin layer. The snails go over it all day but I don’t see any bare spots where they’ve been.

I’ve even started noticing clumping sand.

I have lights on a timer for about 12 hours total per day.

My question is: is this a normal amount of algae? Do I have to accept it as part of the scape? Or is there a way to get rid of ALL of it? And if so, how?

 

[Silent]

Tank is new. The algae will probably get worse than it is now. It will go away and get better if you keep up the water changes and nutrient control. Nothing to worry about yet.

 

[bsr2430]

Dude, mine was way worse. Probably times 1000%

 

[tupes]

How did you cycle you tank? Being it's new it's going through the ugly phases .

Do you have you phosphate level? Nitrites should be around 10 +/-
Phosphate should be around .05 +/-


In short dont get discouraged or panic when you see the algea. Just test your water and ask questions like you're doing.

 

[Brakaan]

I did a fishless cycle using Dr Tim’s ammonium chloride dosing. It took about 2 weeks. When nitrites were 0 I did a 50% water change and started adding fish. After the water change nitrates were about 15-20

I hindsight I should have waited until nitrates were at 0 too but I think I didn’t really understand the consequence of too many nitrates at the time. I think that’s what started the algae bloom. I aggressively did water changes to get nitrates to 0 about 4 weeks ago and they’ve been 0 ever since.

I don’t have a phosphate tester. I am swapping out my activated carbon every 4 weeks.

I’m thinking about adding chaeto and starting a refugium. Thoughts?

Can I add coral at this time or do I need to wait for algae to get under control?

 

[mrbluewildcats]

The algae is just a sign your tank is progressing, and like others have said probably get worse before it gets better. Not sure what kind of lights you have, but you can shorten the cycle and cut back on algae growth. If you can program them to ramp up the intensity, better still for extending the cycle. I added corals a little soon and some did fine, others not so much. I would wait if I had it to do over again until the tank is more stable, but every tank is different and others have different experiences. With only 3 fish and doing regular water changes, your nitrates may not go up above 0. Until you do get some corals, 0 is what you really want.

 

[Webslinger]

It will go through all the algae stages. Usually takes about a year.

 

[ahiggins]

Looks like it’s on the right track definitely not too much. The green (not fuzzy) on the rocks are good things to have.

 

[Justin Cook]

I wouldn't add cheato or start a refugium at this point. It looks really good for it's age and I would just let it keep finding it's own balance. It take time and I keep going back to the picture you posted and don't really see any algae to speak of. There's some light green on the rock but that's not a bad thing. You should start seeing some coralline before to long. In short, it looks great, don't fool with a good thing.

 

[Pickwun]

Just stick with whichever method you've picked. Don't hop back and forth between miracle cures trying to "fix" natural stuff. If you stay the course in two or three years it will all balance out - until something else shows up.
PS: You've hardly got any algae. When your rocks look like my avatar you've got algae.

 

[Brakaan]

Thank you all for the much-needed perspective. I’m new to this hobby so I’m not really sure what to expect. Your experiences are helpful.

I just look at some photos on here and see these pristine rocks and sand and think: “I want that! Must add more snails!”

So what I have isn’t “algae outbreak” per se, maybe more like pond scum or moss? It honestly doesn’t look unattractive to me. But it looks more like a freshwater river than an ocean reef.

 

[Paul B]

Leave it alone, maybe go out to see a movie.

 

[Brakaan]

Leave it alone, maybe go out to see a movie.

I’ve got tickets to see Onward tomorrow.

 

[Cory]

That green color is basically the roots of hair algae.

 

[MichaelReefer]

It's normal. This will happen for a while.

 

[Brakaan]

Tank is new. The algae will probably get worse than it is now. It will go away and get better if you keep up the water changes and nutrient control. Nothing to worry about yet.

Maybe a dumb question but, what makes it go away? Does it die from lack of nutrients? Do corals “out-compete” it for nutrients? Does it have to be eaten or removed by a clean up crew?

I’m fine waiting, just curious what I’m waiting for.

 

[Uncle99]

In time it will turn purplish

 

[Silent]

Setting up a new tank has phases. Cycling then comes diatoms, then probably some hair algae or some other type, then things might start to balance out, then maybe coralline algae will cover rock and prevent other types from covering rock.

 

[Magellan]

Thank you all for the much-needed perspective. I’m new to this hobby so I’m not really sure what to expect. Your experiences are helpful.

I just look at some photos on here and see these pristine rocks and sand and think: “I want that! Must add more snails!”

So what I have isn’t “algae outbreak” per se, maybe more like pond scum or moss? It honestly doesn’t look unattractive to me. But it looks more like a freshwater river than an ocean reef.

Just remember: most people aren’t going to take pics of their tank when the glass is cloudy with film algae and things are looking a bit rough. They take the pics right after a water change and tank maintenance day

your tank looks completely normal for its age. a couple more snails, maybe some nassarius as well to help turn over the sandbed, and lots of patience