Serious algae bloom in new aquarium

[Oliver199234]

My entire tank is basically a broccoli soup.

My tank is not more than 1 month old. I had diatoms a few days ago on the rocks and bottom of my tank.

Initially my tank was still clear until I scrap the bottom to clear some diatoms and the next day diatoms are all gone.

Nothing brown and my tank started to look cloudy and now it's bright green.

It's a fish only tank, no sand with a few live rocks. I have placed my powerhead near the surface to increase oxygen.

Currently my tank is not overstock as I only have a clownfish and a small hippo blue tang in my 3 feet aquarium.

Does algae bloom always come after diatoms? What can I do now? I was hoping the problem can go away if I do nothing.

 

[funkychunks88]

Get a cheap UV filter from Amazon. I had one with my brown new 31gallon AIO and I couldn't see my eel at all though it. Bought one that sticks to the glass for 30 bucks and it went away in a few days.

 

[Shnetts]

How long do you have your lights on for?

Theres easiest way to clear it will be a UV sterilizer

 

[eliaslikesfish]

attaching a pic as well will always help

 

[Oliver199234]

How long do you have your lights on for?

Theres easiest way to clear it will be a UV sterilizer

8 hours a day. Is that too long?

I'm wondering if it's possible for the algae to go away on its own if I reduce the light to 3 hours a day and do a weekly 15% water change

 

[eliaslikesfish]

I keep my lights off at all times when cycling, always helped with the algae at the beginning.

 

[Shnetts]

8 hours a day. Is that too long?

I'm wondering if it's possible for the algae to go away on its own if I reduce the light to 3 hours a day and do a weekly 15% water change

Reducing the light would help. If you have no corals then its a good option. Depending on what light you have you could just lower down the white light and keep blue.

 

[vetteguy53081]

My entire tank is basically a broccoli soup.

My tank is not more than 1 month old. I had diatoms a few days ago on the rocks and bottom of my tank.

Initially my tank was still clear until I scrap the bottom to clear some diatoms and the next day diatoms are all gone.

Nothing brown and my tank started to look cloudy and now it's bright green.

It's a fish only tank, no sand with a few live rocks. I have placed my powerhead near the surface to increase oxygen.

Currently my tank is not overstock as I only have a clownfish and a small hippo blue tang in my 3 feet aquarium.

Does algae bloom always come after diatoms? What can I do now? I was hoping the problem can go away if I do nothing.

Is this tank by chance at or near a window?
What type of tank and filtration?
Are you using tap water or RODI water?

Please post pics under white light intensity of entire tank

 

[Gumbies R Us]

My entire tank is basically a broccoli soup.

My tank is not more than 1 month old. I had diatoms a few days ago on the rocks and bottom of my tank.

Initially my tank was still clear until I scrap the bottom to clear some diatoms and the next day diatoms are all gone.

Nothing brown and my tank started to look cloudy and now it's bright green.

It's a fish only tank, no sand with a few live rocks. I have placed my powerhead near the surface to increase oxygen.

Currently my tank is not overstock as I only have a clownfish and a small hippo blue tang in my 3 feet aquarium.

Does algae bloom always come after diatoms? What can I do now? I was hoping the problem can go away if I do nothing.

Do you have a picture of your tank?

 

[Lavey29]

If you have no coral then you don't need lights on at all. Fish don't use light.

You do realize that your first year is going to be a variety of ugly phases in the tank right?

You have barely scratched the surface of algae phases. Also please research the minimum tank size for a hippo tang and I'll give you a hint it's not a small tank like yours.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Is there any flow at all in the tank? "soup" sounds like non-moving water.

Thats a lot going on in only one month, I normally don't even add my first fish for 3-4 weeks. You've got months of issue's going on in only one month, need to slow things down. A tank pic will really help.

How many gallons is the tank?

 

[Oliver199234]

Reducing the light would help. If you have no corals then its a good option. Depending on what light you have you could just lower down the white light and keep blue.

I think I know what's the issue. My white light is too strong.

I'm going to get a UV after work and post a pic for you guys to check. It looks pretty serious to me.

My fish are still eating and breathing normally

 

[Oliver199234]

Is there any flow at all in the tank? "soup" sounds like non-moving water.

Thats a lot going on in only one month, I normally don't even add my first fish for 3-4 weeks. You've got months of issue's going on in only one month, need to slow things down. A tank pic will really help.

How many gallons is the tank?

Yes, plenty of flow which is why I'm not concerned with oxygen at the moment.

Can always throw in a few airstones just in case

TBH, this is my second tank and I have never experienced such an algae bloom.

The only difference is I bought a stronger light because the guy from the fish store told me to get a stronger light due to my tank size.

Previously I have always been using cheap light because I don't have any corals.

 

[Shnetts]

Yes, plenty of flow which is why I'm not concerned with oxygen at the moment.

Can always throw in a few airstones just in case

TBH, this is my second tank and I have never experienced such an algae bloom.

The only difference is I bought a stronger light because the guy from the fish store told me to get a stronger light due to my tank size.

Previously I have always been using cheap light because I don't have any corals.

Lights can be a sob! I did the same thing when starting up my tank. Completely underestimated the power of a good light.

 

[Lavey29]

Lights can be a sob! I did the same thing when starting up my tank. Completely underestimated the power of a good light.

That's because tanks don't need light the first 4 .months. it allows your tanks biome to develop microfauna and biodiversity. That way when you start to add corals and turn the lights on your upcoming ugly phases are much more manageable and you don't end up with pea soup water or a never ending GHA jungle.

 

[Shnetts]

That's because tanks don't need light the first 4 .months. it allows your tanks biome to develop microfauna and biodiversity. That way when you start to add corals and turn the lights on your upcoming ugly phases are much more manageable and you don't end up with pea soup water or a never ending GHA jungle.

I know now lol. If only I did then

 

[Lavey29]

I know now lol. If only I did then

We all learn from our mistakes in this hobby.

 

[Oliver199234]

Is this tank by chance at or near a window?
What type of tank and filtration?
Are you using tap water or RODI water?

Please post pics under white light intensity of entire tank

Here's a pic of my water. My display tank is not near the window but my quarantine tank is.

I think I can conclude it's because of the light because previously I have never use such a strong light before!

I bought a UV online and I will only keep the lights on for about 3 minutes while feeding the fish since they can finish it under 1 min

My question is how do you know the correct ratio of blue light and white light?

This is my first time getting a good quality one but I don't know what's the right setting

 

[Outlaw Corals]

Don’t mess around get a algae scrubber asap

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here's a pic of my water. My display tank is not near the window but my quarantine tank is.

I think I can conclude it's because of the light because previously I have never use such a strong light before!

I bought a UV online and I will only keep the lights on for about 3 minutes while feeding the fish since they can finish it under 1 min

My question is how do you know the correct ratio of blue light and white light?

This is my first time getting a good quality one but I don't know what's the right setting

UV is good but will address what will pass through the unit. Algae scrubber will help but too will not eliminate. Assure Phosphate is not elevated and if using Tap water,,,, do not add any more. Light is the key and for ratio, start both blue and white at low percentage and build intensity.
What brand light is it?