Im having a hard time.

Discussion in 'Algae' started by starfish2217, May 8, 2011.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. starfish2217

    starfish2217 Horrid Stonefish

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2010
    Messages:
    2,089
    I have been having a hard time with my tank.. It has been up and running for a week and three days, I started getting diatoms in about a week, but they are taking over, Im not sure that they are diatoms, or something else, stuff is growing on the glass so fast every day. its looks like hair, its not fuzz and it comes off really easily, it just looks like little short hairs are growing everywhere. I have some snails and crabs in there now but it doesnt seem to be doing much. Should I run some carbon or GFO?
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. Hunt

    Hunt Flamingo Tongue

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2010
    Messages:
    117
    Location:
    Eaton, Indiana
    how long are you keeping your lights on? might try lowering them till its cycled.
     
  4. starfish2217

    starfish2217 Horrid Stonefish

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2010
    Messages:
    2,089
    I have I cut it down quite a bit.. I was told the tank was already cycled because everything tested zero.. The light thing does'nt seem to be doing too much.
     
  5. tattooedsoul87

    tattooedsoul87 Coral Banded Shrimp

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    383
    Location:
    Phx, AZ
    I had a bad problem with diatoms or cyano the first couple of months my tank was up. my tank looked terrible for a while, I just manually removed what I could everyday, and one day it just never came back. you could try to increce flow, that helped me
     
  6. starfish2217

    starfish2217 Horrid Stonefish

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2010
    Messages:
    2,089
    The flow is pretty good, but I think tomorrow I will try a water change and to manually remove what I can..
     
  7. SushiGirl

    SushiGirl Barracuda

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2010
    Messages:
    2,457
    Very common issue. Cut the light cycle and wait it out.
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. starfish2217

    starfish2217 Horrid Stonefish

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2010
    Messages:
    2,089
    alright I will do thanks :)
     
  10. haloist

    haloist Skunk Shrimp

    Joined:
    May 4, 2010
    Messages:
    273
    Location:
    OC
    Cut the light & get a UV sterilizer!

    Cut the light = gets to the source
    UV sterilizer = kills all the algae and spores running though it
     
  11. Hunt

    Hunt Flamingo Tongue

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2010
    Messages:
    117
    Location:
    Eaton, Indiana
    a week and a half, thats a pretty quick cycle. did you get live sand and live rock?
     
  12. starfish2217

    starfish2217 Horrid Stonefish

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2010
    Messages:
    2,089
    Yea it was a mini cycle, I didn't start new I bought the tank from a guy who had it already set up and I took all the LR and I added live sand. thanks haloist I will try to get a UV sterilizer :)