New biocube

[KPH]

Hello all. Got a question. I've had this tank set up for just less than a week. I run the halide light that came with it for about 10 hours a day or so and I noticed some brown algae growing on some of the rocks and now the sand. Since it was a smaller tank I used some pre mixed water in the 5 gallon jugs from the local shop. So it's not a tap water issue. Is it the light? Really don't like the idea of fighting brown algae this early even before fish go in or anything.

Any advice??

 

[Ribo15]

Hello all. Got a question. I've had this tank set up for just less than a week. I run the halide light that came with it for about 10 hours a day or so and I noticed some brown algae growing on some of the rocks and now the sand. Since it was a smaller tank I used some pre mixed water in the 5 gallon jugs from the local shop. So it's not a tap water issue. Is it the light? Really don't like the idea of fighting brown algae this early even before fish go in or anything.

Any advice??

Youre tank will go through some “ugly” stages and will get some funky brown algae’s growing. Don’t sweat it. Give your tank a month or so and it will outgrow this stage. Let it cycle and do it’s then.

 

[KPH]

Youre tank will go through some “ugly” stages and will get some funky brown algae’s growing. Don’t sweat it. Give your tank a month or so and it will outgrow this stage. Let it cycle and do it’s then.

Good deal. You think the halide lamp is fine or should I go ahead and swap to an LED source?

 

[Sebastiancrab]

welcome , I am a biocube owner myself, I have a 29g, if you need any advise I can help, mine is extremely modified including a sump with overflow box, welcome to R2R

What kind of light do you have?

 

[Sebastiancrab]

Welcome from Nashville!

 

[KPH]

What kind of light do you have?

It's the metal halide lamp that came with the oceanic biocube.

 

[jstncoffman]

What kind of light do you have?

I have a radion xr15 pro gen 4

 

[jstncoffman]

Hello all. Got a question. I've had this tank set up for just less than a week. I run the halide light that came with it for about 10 hours a day or so and I noticed some brown algae growing on some of the rocks and now the sand. Since it was a smaller tank I used some pre mixed water in the 5 gallon jugs from the local shop. So it's not a tap water issue. Is it the light? Really don't like the idea of fighting brown algae this early even before fish go in or anything.

Any advice??

How old is the tank?

 

[KPH]

How old is the tank?

I got it up and running a week ago tomorrow. Just put a little live rock, live sand, pre mixed "live" water and that's it.

 

[jstncoffman]

I got it up and running a week ago tomorrow. Just put a little live rock, live sand, pre mixed "live" water and that's it.

Your nitrogen cycle will get ugly, diatoms will bloom, alge will grow but over a coarse of time it will clear up, monitor nitrates and nitrites, amonia levels, once it all sets in the tank will mature, water changes weekly 10 to 20% and let the good macro algae and bacteria grow,

 

[KPH]

Your nitrogen cycle will get ugly, diatoms will bloom, alge will grow but over a coarse of time it will clear up, monitor nitrates and nitrites, amonia levels, once it all sets in the tank will mature, water changes weekly 10 to 20% and let the good macro algae and bacteria grow,

Yeah. I did the same for my freshwater cichlid tanks I've had. But the bloom was always cloudy water and never a bunch of algae right away. Just got a little worried something was really wrong.

Do you guys fishless cycle? Or pick a couple of hardy fish and go in with them early?

Thanks!

 

[Lazydayz]

Hello all. Got a question. I've had this tank set up for just less than a week. I run the halide light that came with it for about 10 hours a day or so and I noticed some brown algae growing on some of the rocks and now the sand. Since it was a smaller tank I used some pre mixed water in the 5 gallon jugs from the local shop. So it's not a tap water issue. Is it the light? Really don't like the idea of fighting brown algae this early even before fish go in or anything.

Any advice??

Ugly phase like others have said. I know in the BRS/WWC hybrid method they cycled with no lights on to reduce the ugly phase. I personally only ran my MH for 4 hours when I went through the cycle. Might be worth a try.

 

[KPH]

Ugly phase like others have said. I know in the BRS/WWC hybrid method they cycled with no lights on to reduce the ugly phase. I personally only ran my MH for 4 hours when I went through the cycle. Might be worth a try.

Makes tons of sense. I'll try that. Only running it when I'm home

 

[Ribo15]

Makes tons of sense. I'll try that. Only running it when I'm home

Fish less cycle is the only way to go IMO. They have such good bacteria for starting a cycle these days there is no need to put any fish through that process. With enough bottles some will stock a tank right away. The “cycle” won’t take too long and use this time to get familiar with your water testing. Once the ammonia is 0 and nitrates are reading a little then you know you’re ready to add your first fish!

 

[jstncoffman]

Yeah. I did the same for my freshwater cichlid tanks I've had. But the bloom was always cloudy water and never a bunch of algae right away. Just got a little worried something was really wrong.

Do you guys fishless cycle? Or pick a couple of hardy fish and go in with them early?

Thanks!

I always fish cycle, helps the cycle

 

[Difrano]

Welcome and love you will start with a biocube! It was my fist tank and loved it for 5 years. I had up and downs, Cyano and Dino outbreaks at the end it was a Fish, rock and sand only no corals. My stock for 5 years was: 2 clowns they paired and spawned, 2 firefish that also paired and spawned, 1 Yellow Watchman Goby and 1 tiger pistol. I used Tampa Bay Saltwater live rock and for years had all kind of hitchhikers showing up, plus i had a CUC based on peppermint shrimp, Trochus Snails, Florida Cerith snails, and nassarius snails.

I would recommend you to do a fishless cycle add ammonia and bacteria until nitrates show up, do a water change and start introducing your fish slowly.