algae blooms?

I have been cycling with live rock for about 3 weeks now, and am noticing some significant algae blooms. Today I noticed that much of my rock (and some of my sand) is now covered with a new brown substance - I assume this is a diatom bloom. I am also noticing growth of hairy algae on my rocks.

Measurements as of today: Ammonia-0, nitrite-0, nitrate-5, pH-8.2, specific gravity-1.024. I am using RO/DI water, and have had the skimmer off, but lights on for a few hours each day. I have a 30 gallon sump with a refugium (small chaeto ball).

Do I need to do anything about the algae at this point? I have heard that the diatoms die off after a few days, but the hair algae does not. What do you recommend?

 

Hi JJK -
The diatoms will get worse, but then they go away - once all the silicates from the new tank are used up, they just dissapear - nothing required for diatoms

as you have no higher lifeforms in there at present , I would discontinue using the lights as that will impede the spread of the other algaes

once cycle is finished - the addition of a clean up crew, crabs, snails etc - will help you deal with the controlled amount of algae you will have by this time

IME

Steve

 

a phosphate reactor would help. and be a welcome addition to your equipment reservoir.
you pretty close to the end of your cycle so keeping you lights off tell the end wouldnt really make that much of a difference.
the diatom should dissappear with time. the hair algae you may need to take action against it. by pulling it out, raising you magnesium(thats what you do with bryopsis i assume it would work with hair too), and the phosphate reactor


edit: and of course you have a clean up crew at your disposal like steve said

 

Thanks for the replies. I'll keep the lights off for the time being. Do you think I should turn the skimmer on at this point to reduce the nutrients in the tank? Regarding the phosphate reactor - I didn't think I had many phosphates in the tank at this point, given the use of RO water. I hadn't planned on getting a phosphate reactor (finaces limited). Would running carbon work?