Tank Cycled Diatom Algae

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J

johnson5585

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 17, 2008
335
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California
So my tank is fully cycled. I have started to get the brown diatom algae everyone has told me will occur once my tank cycled. Should I be doing something to help this pass or will it just pass and how long? I know I need to build up on my cleaner crew. I do not have a RO unit yet but am using heavily filtered water. Have not tested Phosphate but other readings are as follows.

100 gallon tank w 55 gallon sump

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5 PPM (Have Refugium w/Chaeto)
SG 1.025

Stocked with
Turbo Snail
4x Margarita Snails
3x Emerald Crabs
2x Hermits
3x Blue Green Chromis
 
yes algae will pass on its own. It can take anywhere from 1 week to a month really. As long as you keep up with your water changes every week and switch to RO water eventually, you should be fine. Remember to stock slowly and dont keep your main lights on for longer then 7-8 hrs and algae should grow normally. I find that even running some cheaper TLF reactors with carbon and some type of phosban material is good for all systems, but deff not needed.
 
i always dropped 1-6 blue legs in about 3-4 days after the brown beauty emerges. along with a couple turbos. havent had any problems doing this as of yet, but i always hold off on livestock till i get past that stage. Phosphates shouldnt be much of a problem unless you have some very poor water you are using.
 
An r/o unit and tds meter are virtually a must for salt keepers. Using tap water will fuel the more annoying algea that fallow after diatoms. Run phosban or rowphos til you get the ro. An algea cycle is normal with startup as well, lowest form to most complex. After the r/o unit a refugium is the next most important item for your tank.
 
I plan on getting an RO when I can. Not super impressed with how much water they waste though. I already have a refugium so I am good there. Thanks for all of the input. It seems like the few hermits I have and the snails are taking care of the brown stuff slowly but surely. Will probably add some more hermits and some nassarious snails to sift the sand bed.

Thanks again
 
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