When to add a cleanup crew

ryeguy20 · 01-10-2012, 01:54 PM

Just to give you a quick background, I had a 50 gal reef tank about 10 years ago and had to sell it all do to a move. I have just setup a 50 gal bowfront that has been running now for 2 weeks, I have a 4"deep sand bed and 60lbs of live rock, I am using T5 lights and I have protein skimmer running 24/7 which is rated for 150gal. I have ordered a CPR HOB refugium which will have live rock and some algae, it will also have my heater and a pouch of Chemipure. My question is this, I have yet to do a full water test but I am now starting to get hair algae growth over alot of the glass and rock especially near the top of the tank. I have the glass cover on which I am taking off tonight for good as it is getting cloudy and from what I have read should be removed. When can I or when should I add a cleanup crew and what is the best thing or things to add early. I was under the impression that I shouldnt add anything in the tank for 4-8 weeks after the tank has fully cycled but my tank may be a hairy mess by then. Any thoughts would be appreciated

smilin · 01-10-2012, 02:21 PM

what are the time cycles you have programmed for lights? i am also cycling a new tank (250g) . .and i cut back on lighting to get my initial wave of algae growth under control, which seems to have worked.

ryeguy20 · 01-10-2012, 02:34 PM

I have the Actinics come on at 8:30am then the other bulbs come on at 9:00am and run until 9:00pm and the Actinics stay on until 9:30. Ive heard that its not a good idea to run the lights on a shorter timeline then you would normally run them on even if you have an algae outbreak, its not the lights its a problem with the chemistry in the water.

smilin · 01-10-2012, 02:42 PM

i am cycling my tank as well . .and i have 0 for all levels. . . (ammonia, nitrate, nitrite) . and had a pretty good outbreak of algae which i got under control by cutting back on lighting. i would suggest cutting back on your lights. . . by at least a few hours. do you run lunars at night . .or have some dark time as well. that might help too. my $.02

ryeguy20 · 01-10-2012, 02:47 PM

Thanks I may have to cut back the lights then and see what happens. I do have some LED lunar lights that run from 9:30 until midnight.