One Month In

[CluelessInNY]

20 gallon tank / Nitrite 0.2 / Nitrate 10 (low end) / Ammonia .25 / Alkalinity normal / Spec Gravity 1.023 / 80 degrees. 30 days into my cycling...

I have a brown stuff and now what looks like bright green algae on the sand. It's growing in patches all over the sand...ICK! It doesn't move with a swipe, you have to actually shift the snad for it to move. The Damselfish seems quite normal. Also, the glass is starting to get brown stuff on it.

1) is this growing mess normal?
2) should I change the water?...move the sand around?
3) I still haven't seen a nitrite spike, but the nitrate is up from 2.5 to 10.
4) I am getting collections of uneaten food at the bottom of the tank (despite my removal of as much of the food as the fish leaves uneaten when he's done feeding) Should I vacuum hat out or does it help cycle the tank?

Sorry for the dumb questions. Total newbie and happy to listen to your advice

[cccapt]

1- yes, for a new cycling tank
2- I would do a small water change. Try not to disturb the sand bed too much.
3- still cycling
4- cut way back on feeding so there is none that goes uneaten

Did your lfs recommend cycling with the damsel? That really isn't a good idea as there are ways to cycle a tank and not worry about possibly killing a fish in the process. Do you have any live rock in there?

Also, did you use tap water or RO to fill and start your tank?

No such thing as a dumb question

[melosu58]

Cycle your salt tank

[roka64]

I agree, you may want to see where your nitrAtes are coming from.
What kind of test kit are you using?

[CluelessInNY]

Originally Posted by roka64

I agree, you may want to see where your nitrAtes are coming from.
What kind of test kit are you using?

I bought an expensive "Marine Lab" kit with all the necessary tests to track the cycle. So far, I haven't notice much of anything remarkable going on. The jump in nitrAtes is especially odd to me, considering that the ammonia and nitrItes have remained pretty level from day one. I am DYING to clean all that filth up! Especially the goo on the glass.

[roka64]

You should see a spike in ammonia (then a decline), then nitrItes (then a decline) and finally nitrAtes (PWC will reduce this).
Did you use cured LR or sand from an established tank?

[CluelessInNY]

I bought a bag of live sand from the dealer. And, yes, I am torturing a poor damsel to cycle my tank.
The algae continues to spread...ick!

[roka64]

I don't put much trust in live sand, but you may have gotten a fresh batch that is actually live. This may be the reason for such low numbers.
Have you checked your source water?

[Jimbo7]

There really is no need for the damsel in there, its a pretty outdated method of cycling a tank. I have used raw, uncooked and unseasoned jumbo shrimp suspended to cycle all my tanks. Works really well and costs about 10 cents.

[Ziggy953]

As cccapt asked are you using RO/DI water or just tap water? If you are using tap are you using a dechlorinator? What ever the water source you are using test it for nitrAtes. With ammonia and NitrItes still showing in the tank the nitrates are more then likely coming from your source water.

If you only have one fish in the tank, feeding should be kept at a minimum. A pinch will work. Too much food and you will be battling other issues, like your algae...

How much live rock do you have in the tank and what kind of filtration are you using?