jon_703 February 17, 2016 February 17, 2016 So my tank has been cycling for about a week week and a half. I used RO/DI water, I have two powerheads going, fluval filter etc. There's this brown algae growing on the sand and rock. Is this normal for cycling?
Origami February 17, 2016 February 17, 2016 Sounds like diatoms. Perfectly normal as a new tank settles in.
jon_703 February 17, 2016 Author February 17, 2016 Ok good to know. When should I start getting worried?
Anemone February 18, 2016 February 18, 2016 Ok good to know. When should I start getting worried? Opinions may differ on algae but I'd suggest that algae alone is nothing to worry about. There is a natural progression and my own personal belief is that people cause more problems trying to "fix" algae etc. than if they just let things develop. (Other than major bacterial outbreaks that can deplete oxygen, of course, but that is not really algae.) And obviously any nitrite or ammonia needs to be addressed ASAP. Just my own $.02. Or whatever that is in bitcoin.
jon_703 February 18, 2016 Author February 18, 2016 Haha thanks ANEMONE. It's this brown algae for now. I guess I'll watch it and go from there.
Anemone February 18, 2016 February 18, 2016 You don't have any animal life in the tank, do you? In that case no need to worry much about anything, just keep track of what happens and record your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrite levels so you know where you're at in the cycling.
YHSublime February 18, 2016 February 18, 2016 You don't have any animal life in the tank, do you? In that case no need to worry much about anything, just keep track of what happens and record your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrite levels so you know where you're at in the cycling. This. Just be patient. It's diatomes. You might even get them when your tank is established, or still young by reefing qualifications. The longer you can let your tank cycle, even when your cycle is complete by "traditional" standards, you'll probably have a better chance at sucess. When you do start adding things, do it slowly, and build up your bioload. Essentially once you don't see any more ammonia, or nitrites, and only are reading nitrates (Please note the difference in the nitrites and nitrates) then your cycle is done. This will be the easiest and hardest thing you probably do to your tank. Easy because you just have to sit back, hardest, because you just have to sit back!
jon_703 February 18, 2016 Author February 18, 2016 Yeah the waiting part sucks. I'll test periodically. And post on here if I have anything else. This was a huge help! Anther thing, my fluval will stop pretty often and not pump and make noise. OR just stop completely. Could it be the motor? Fluval is about a year or more older.
Origami February 18, 2016 February 18, 2016 Jon, try taking the impeller and shaft out of the Fluval and check to see that the impeller is rotating freely on the shaft. If it binds, try separating the two and soaking them in vinegar for a few hours. You may have calcium carbonate building up on the shaft that is causing the impeller to slow and bind up.
jon_703 February 18, 2016 Author February 18, 2016 I've opened it before and the "white stick" that goes into the impeller comes down. Is that normal?
Origami February 18, 2016 February 18, 2016 I can't be sure as I don't know the model that well. The "white stick" sounds like the shaft around which the impeller rotates, though. Does the impeller turn freely? Does the magnet for the impeller look clean and smooth?
jon_703 February 19, 2016 Author February 19, 2016 The "white stick" is broken. The magnet looks new and the impeller looks a bit worn. So I just ordered new parts. Hopefully that fixes it.
Origami February 19, 2016 February 19, 2016 The "white stick" is broken. The magnet looks new and the impeller looks a bit worn. So I just ordered new parts. Hopefully that fixes it. Most likely that'll take care of it.
zygote2k February 21, 2016 February 21, 2016 a good tank cycle done properly will take 60-90 days. if you have the patience to wait it out this long, you'll have a nicer tank in the long run.
jon_703 February 21, 2016 Author February 21, 2016 It was the white stick. The filter is running smooth. And I don't mind waiting. Any advice on how I should setup and angle my powerheads?
Origami February 21, 2016 February 21, 2016 It was the white stick. The filter is running smooth. And I don't mind waiting. Any advice on how I should setup and angle my powerheads? When cycling, it shouldn't make much difference which way the powerheads are pointing as long as the flow reaches all areas of the tank and you're not causing a whole lot of sand to blow around. You're really just evening out the temperature and oxygen levels at this point.
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