Algae question

[ReeferItis]

I bought this rock 2 Saturdays ago and it was dark...and since yesterday alot of this green stuff is on alot of the rock...just woukd like to know what kind of algae it is and what part of the cleanup crew should I get...tank has been cycling for 11 days

 

[NanaReefer]

Some rock will change colors as it ages. Doesn't look to me like an algae issue at all. More like the beginnings of Coralline growth.

 

[ReeferItis]

Ok cool cause the rock was kinda ugly looking before the color came...will it always be green or will it change to purple one day??

 

[Mike J.]

Can't identify the algae this soon in the game, but can tell you that it is perfectly normal. Wait until your nitrites have reached zero. Then check your level of nitrates. Then do a water change to bring nitrates down and thus reducing algae growth.

Nevermind, I see you have a fish in there. You'll need to do regular water changes to keep pollutants like nitrites and nitrates down.

Key to this is: Keep you nitrates down and you'll have a lot less problem algae.

 

[ReeferItis]

Yea I put 4 damsels in last friday...so ill most like do my first water change in like another week and a half...if that is bad algae and not coralline algae what part of the clean up crew should I go get and how many?? Just a starter 20 gallon tank

 

[Mike J.]

You can get a custom clean up crew at this site very inexpensively. Almost like free just pay for shipping.

Cleaner Packages with Free Shipping

 

[ReeferItis]

I would like to support my lfs...what do I get first snails or crabs or shrimp???

 

[Mike J.]

Scarlet hermits are the most reef safe of the crabs; and, as a bonus, they will eat hair algae and bryopsis, get 2 of them. 1 Turbo Snail, 2 Trochus Snails for algae on glass and rocks. Some people prefer Astrea Snails. 2 Cerith Snails and 2 Nassa Snails for the substrate.

That's about all you'd need for a 20 gallon. This is just a recommendation, ask your LFS for guidance. The rule of 1 per gallon is not really correct and experts agree on one per 10 gallons for the larger snails. You could starve them with too many.

 

[ReeferItis]

Thanks for the help mike...since its only been 11 or 12 days should I wait a little longer for the cuc or can I go ahead and do it in the next couple days?

 

[Mike J.]

The cuc goes in when your nitrites level out to zero.

 

[ReeferItis]

Ok cool thanks Mike

 

[ReeferItis]

I put some chaeto in my tank today...

 

[ReeferItis]

I also just tested my phosphates and calcium...phosphates are in between 0.25 and 0.5 and calcium took 20 drops which would make it 400...is this ok and if nit what do I need to do??

 

[Mike J.]

At this point in your tank life the parameters that are a need to know are ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Since you have animals in your tank we really need to know these. You'll also have to do some stepped water changes regularly. It's way to early for you to worry about your calcium level, your water changes will take care of that for now. Yes 380 - 450 is where you want to be, even though that is irrelevant at this stage in the game.

Marinedepot.com | Reef Tank Parameters

 

[Mike J.]

Right now this is probably the most important thing you need to read.

The Mature Aquarium

 

[ReeferItis]

My ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are all at 0 its weird...still havent done a water change since I started the tank...I think im just going to let it run for another month before doing anything else to it...thanks mike im going to read both of those links before I go to bed tonight...

 

[Mike J.]

I see you have four damsels in there, so you'll need to do water changes. I'd suggest a minimum of two gallons a week. What are you keeping your specific gravity at? Are you topping off every day?

 

[ReeferItis]

The specific gravity is at 1.024 and yes I have a bucket of ro water that I top not daily but every couple days

 

[clownfitch]

Once your sure the tank is established and you do have some micro algae growth you might look into an Algae Blenny or Starry Blenny. These little guys are awesome and full of character. My AB keeps my live rock and substrate cleaned with a little extra attitude to boot! I have another 30 gal tank I just started up this past weekend that I plan to stock with a Starry once I am sure I have established some micro algae growth.