Need tank help!!!

[beamer]

Ok I started using bionic calcium 2 part system on my tank for about two and not much has changed... I keep getting a brown algea on my sand and don't know what to use to clean it up. The purpleness isn't really coming up. So I'm kidding lost. All tests were fine and tank still doesn't have fish but I want it looking clean. What can I do to take away the brown algea only sand? Fish? And I want my rocks to start growing that purple algea.

55 gallon tank
10k
420 actinic lights
Canister filter

Need help!!!

[alton]

Patience. It can up to a year for a tank to mature. What are your calcium levels? Only dose if something is using the calcium, if not just do water changes like 5 gallons a week. Also how long are you running your lights each day and what is in your tank besides live rock?

[BSJF]

Yeah, mostly just patience. I doubt you need to be adding 2 part, are you testing before you do? Are your light bulbs new? Consider replacing them if they are not, or reducing the photo period if they are. And what filter media are you using in your canister filter and how often is it getting cleaned/replaced. And, what cleanup crew do you have in there? I'm all about a major clean up crew right from the beginning. Nassarius snails are great for cleaning the sand, but your crew should be varied with a total of about 55 snails and 55 crabs (others prefer all snails and think crabs are evil, I don't).

As for seeding coraline, get scrapings from someone or introduce a rock that is covered with it and then scrape some of it off in the tank.

[Texreefer]

maybe I missed this but how long has this tank been set up? What do you have in your tank that you are having to dose 2 part already for? what are your Ca and Alk levels? it sounds from your post like your tank is very new and going through its normal cycle.. If you have not seeded your tank like Lorraine said, you wont see any appreciable coralline growth for at least 3-4 months. At this stage of the game a good clean up crew, water changes and patience are all you need

[Mr Cob]

x more of what's said above

I'd back off a little and just let the system do it's thing without adding anything. I have some heavily stocked tanks and with regular/weekly water changes I don't need to dose anything.

I also only run lights for about 4 hours a day on a new system with no corals in it....as I start adding corals and fish I slowly start increasing the light period in half hour increments up to 6-9hours, depends on the system. The extra light just isn't needed and can cause a lot of unwanted algae growth early on that can sometimes be annoying to remove.

Good luck. take it easy and have fun.

[cbianco]

How old is your tank?

Sounds to me that you're severely rushing things. You really need to be in it for the long haul in this hobby. It is the only way you'll see success.

Christopher :)

[beamer]

Ok... Water and sand is only about 3 weeks old. The live rock has been alive for about 2 yrs cause about 2 months ago I added water with a contaminated buck and my fish died so I tore the tank down and set it up again and the rocks always stayed in saltwater so just water and sand is new. The lighting is 10k and 420nm and are about two weeks old as well. I haven't done a water change and the media I have is carbon, bio rings, and nitrate remover. I'm going to replace those already. What should I do just wait. What can I buy to clean up the algea on the sand.?

[FireWater]

Your tank is going through a normal cycle due to the new sand. Give it a little while.

[BSJF]

IMO you don't need to replace your media, just rinse it in tank water that you are taking out as part of a regular water change. Carbon is good for 4-6 weeks and the nitrate remover is good until you see nitrates increasing on your tests. Never replace the media all at once, and your bio rings don't need and shouldn't be replaced for a long time.

I would add a hefty cleanup crew and shorten the light cycle as recommended above to address the algae in the sand. If stuff is settling on your rocks, use a turkey baster to keep them cleaned off so they don't get algae growing on them.

[rrasco]

Invest in a quick crew from reef cleaners and then give it a week. You get a lot more than they list. I supplemented my crew with a lawnmower blenny and emerald crab to take care of the big stuff. I couldn't be happier with the job they did.

[ErikH]

Dude, you just need a clean up crew. Diatoms are a common in a newly cycling tank. Where did you get your sand? Is it aragonite based? You can tell if you take a pinch of it and stick it in a cap of vinegar. If it's arag based, it'll fizz. The best rule of thumb in my opinion is to go to the fish store, look at the fish, and buy as many hermits and snails as you can afford instead. Do this several times! Blue legs are the only real recommended hermits, but I don't mind the reds either. Nassarius snails are awesome, ceriths, turbos, astreas, and nerites are also great for diversity. Even though they're cannibalistic, bumble be snails are cool too. I have had all of these in every tank I have owned, and they're not as bad as alot of people make them out to be. Snails don't eat live fish, but it one is dead or right at the point of death, count on them to clean it up!

[beamer]

I just bought some snails and peppermint shrimps. I have to wait till the shipment gets here in the stores here in Laredo on thursday to buy more... Thanks for all the help guys. Now, why can't I change ally media at once?

[Kristy]

You don't want to change out your media all at once because it is building up some nice beneficial bacteria that will play an important role in nitrate reduction and allow you to eventually begin to slowly increase your bioload. Occasionally we can do too good of a job changing it all out at once, deplete all that lovely beneficial bacteria, and then find it causes a diatom bloom or algae outbreak of some kind (at best) or can cause a mini-cycle of ammonia/nitrites (at worst).

Really good advice above. I think you are on the right track by asking questions here and just read, read, read and proceed slowly. :)

[beamer]

Thank u very much :)