Several questions: bubble algae, diatom, etc

[Joyfulheart]

Hi friends,

Well the tank has been up for almost two weeks and I am so excited. There are so many things happening in it! Whohoo!!!

I have some questions that I cannot find the answers to by doing a search. I am really hoping you can help.

1. Bubble algae - I have it. I also have an emerald crab. He is doing a good job at taking care of it but there is still quite a bit (6-10 bubbles ) on one of the rocks. Is this okay?

2. Diatom outbreak - I think I have read that this is normal while tank cycling and will subside as the silicates are depleted - am I correct? The only "clean up crew" I have is the emeral crab. I will have a chance to go to the LFS this weekend to get more "crew". Any recommendations on what to add?

3. White cottony tuffs - On one of the rocks is these tuffs. There are 3 of them and they are small about 2mm in diameter and resemble the tip of a cotton swab. Any ideas?

4. Red Hair Algae? Is there such thing? On one of the rocks there is patches of hair like, stringy stuff. The crab eats it and it isn't spreading.

5. On one of the other rocks is a patch of creamy colored squishy stuff. Kinda weird. About 5mm X 3mm irregular in size.

Water Perameters:
Nitrates - 20 ppm
Nitrites - 0 ppm
Ph - 8.0
Ammonia - 0
Alkalinity - 120 ppm

I sure wish I had a camara! I will work on that - but for now - any 's ?

Thanks a bunch!!
Blessings,
Renee

[WilyGuy]

Welcome to TRT. Sounds like a bit early on the stocking. You might be alright.

The Bubble algae is there more or less than when you put the crab in? If it is increasing, that could spell trouble, if it is being reduced, he will eventually eat it all. (Mine Did).

Diatom outbreak, yeah cycling norm. It will pass. Some Mexican Red Leg Hermits might speed it along and they would be decent for future detritus.

White Cottony Tufts....hmm tough without a picture....Sponge maybe.

Red Hair Algae....I can envision it. Probably Cyano, great that the crab eats it. Again a cycling norm.

Hope it helps.
WG
Creamy Colored Squishy stuff....all lovely technical terms, but without a picture...difficult to be certain...again Sponge?

[LISound]

get some snails and hermits if you can.
my tank is just over 2 moths now and just finishing the diatom bloom.
starting to get a lot of bright green algae and very little green hair.
when i first got the crabs and snails, i had the diatoms carpeting everything.
the next morning...WOW, almost all of it was gone.
very cool and really hard to believe they ate all of it.
just don't over do it with the snails-as they reproduce very quickly-i still can't believe how many egg casings they leave on the glass each day.

[VWD]

I am going with WilyGuy on this , I think the tank is very young and needs some more time to cycle ,a lot depends on the live rock You have, Take it slow and good luck , I know it's hard to wait for thing's to happen, Vince

[wanareef]

You can take the rock out with the bubble and carefully remove them, but not in the tank. Still too early as mentioned - and on the snails a nice variety is good.

[Joyfulheart]

well, I stopped by the LFS on my way home today. I picked up 3 turbo snails and a hermit crab. (Hadn't read y'all's responses yet) You should see them go.


Willy, Thanks for the help...I know I need to get a camara. But if I mention another big purchase to my hubby right now I think he would go nuts.

I am pretty sure the red hairy stuff isn't cyano. Done alot of reading on it and it doesn't look like any of the pictures I have found. It is attached to the rock and has to be pulled off.

A question about the red legged hermit crab. Do I need to provide larger shells for him, just like I would a regular hermit crab?

Y'all are great!

Blessings,
Renee

[Joyfulheart]

hey, I just thought of something. The white tuffs look like spider egg sacs. If this is any help.


TY
R

[drsyme]

Believe it or not the recommended stocking rates for a tank your size, for a cleaner crew, is a lot higher than you think. I would probably add a few more now.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...fm?pCatId=1944

Of course they are trying to sell you something, but the numbers they propose are not that far off. I would suggest getting a bigger crew than you have, but maybe start at a lower rate than they suggest.

Personally, I dont like the red legged hermits. I prefer the little blue legged ones.

If you want to use the biowheels, (you probably dont need them with the amount of live rock that you have) I would suggest removing the cartridge mechanical filter, it will just become a nutrient source for the tank.

But my main advice is to relax, let your tank cycle. It is very young. Other than snails and hermits, dont add anymore livestock for a few weeks.

[drsyme]

What I meant by relax was not intended to be condescending. I mean that there will be all kinds of cool, ugly, interesting, good, bad, puzzling, interesting things that will grow in the tank while it is maturing. There is a normal algae succession, and if something is growing now, it most likely wont be in a week or two.

I was just trying to say, dont be too alarmed by anything, and dont do any extraordinary remedies, just do water changes, check you numbers and essentially leave the tank alone.

[mwanttie]

White cottony tuffs - I had something that sounded like that on a couple of my pieces of new LR. I think it was a dead sponge. I used a soft bristled brush and gently rubbed it off. It was really gross underneath.

[Joyfulheart]

drsyme, thank you for being so sweet! I didn't take offense to your words at all. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.

I'm not worried about the tank at all. As long as the water perimeters are good, I am comfortable letting it cycle. I am, however, curious and eager to learn - there is so much.

I looked at the Reef Cleaner Packs and WOW! I had no idea that they suggested so much. I thought, tho, that once the bulk of the algae was gone and under control that things like snails would begin to starve. I put three in there this afternoon abou 12:30 and already there is a huge difference with regards to the diatom bloom. Amazing!

mwanttie - I was thinking about taking them off but I am afraid of releasing something in the water. Guess there is only one way to figure it out.

Thanks for all of your help!

R

[drsyme]

yep diatoms come and go, cyano bacteria comes and goes, it is fun to try to ID it all.

The amazing thing about these tanks with LR is the diversity of living things that will appear from the rock, even weeks or longer, after you have set up the tank.

A camera helps with ID immensely.

And, as far as diatoms and algae, the best thing you can do now to help is to switch to RO/DI water, if you have not already.

[Joyfulheart]

I think I have identified the creamy white squishy stuff as "dinoflagellates" . I'm not sure but I found a picture and the description resembles it.

If so, can anyone tell me what I need to do about it?

TY
R

[drsyme]

Originally Posted by Joyfulheart

I think I have identified the creamy white squishy stuff as "dinoflagellates" . I'm not sure but I found a picture and the description resembles it.

If so, can anyone tell me what I need to do about it?

TY
R

Probably nothing, normal part of tank cycling. If it was me, I wouldnt do anything, except for routine water changes. But they are inhibited by high pH, so using kalkwasser as top off water might help.