Lighting / Red Algae

[_range_]

Just set up a new 20 gallon (long) reef tank with two 65watt compact flourescent bulbs, one white and one blue - how does this amount of lighting sound for my tank? It has been cycling for about a little over a week now but there is a ton of red algae growing on the rock and even some on the sand. Air bubbles form on the algae, and even when I brush them away they return in a couple hours. Is this anything to be worried about?

 

[paats]

Look up Cyanobacteria.It sounds like that`s what the red stuff is.

 

[fishstick]

had some of that one time and i increased the water flow and it went away

 

[Anonymous]

Your lighting for that tank, at this point, is fine. If you want more demanding corals in the future you may need to upgrade.

The red stuff with bubbles is cyanobacteria and is normal during cycling, especially if you used tap water instead of RO/DI. Being that you say there is soo much cyano I am inclined to think you used tap water.

At this point water flow will not correct the condition. I suggest you do a large water change and use RO/DI water. Remember to syphon off as much of the cyano as possible. Remember that the cyano may return, but with high quality water used it should later disappear after the cycling process.

 

[_range_]

Yeah I did use tap water to start off, I've used it before with no problems but I had just moved so the tap water here must not be too great. The cyanobacteria isn't growing any more now, so I'll just let it continue to cycle and make sure to use RO/DI water for my weekly 20% water changes. Thanks for the info-

 

[_range_]

Instead of the red algae theres now lots of stringy green algae, just want to check to see if thats ok in the cycling process...

 

[Anonymous]

They too feed off stuff in the water. Continue the RO/DI water changes and syphoning.