Hello everyone,
I have been cycling my 55g with 45 lbs live rock for just over two weeks now and have noticed that the rock is becoming covered with dark red algae, which I believe is due to cyanobacteria since it is also starting to get on the walls and part of the sandbed. Below are a few pictures. I don't think this is coralline since the coralline that came on the rock was not as dark in color as this growth. My parameters are SG 1.025, Alk 4.0, pH 8.2, Ammonia 0, but Nitrites and Nitrates are still through the roof. I have good water flow in the tank, but have been topping off with tap water. I have my actinic and compact flourescent lights on about 10 hrs per day and have been changing about 20% of the water weekly. If this is cyano (I'll try to add pics), is it normal to have during the cycling phase and does it usually go after after the tank normalizes? What can I do to prevent further growth? Should I stop the tap water top offs and turn the lights off for the duration of the cycle? Thanks in advance, this site has been a tremendous help to my first saltwater tank.
I have been cycling my 55g with 45 lbs live rock for just over two weeks now and have noticed that the rock is becoming covered with dark red algae, which I believe is due to cyanobacteria since it is also starting to get on the walls and part of the sandbed. Below are a few pictures. I don't think this is coralline since the coralline that came on the rock was not as dark in color as this growth. My parameters are SG 1.025, Alk 4.0, pH 8.2, Ammonia 0, but Nitrites and Nitrates are still through the roof. I have good water flow in the tank, but have been topping off with tap water. I have my actinic and compact flourescent lights on about 10 hrs per day and have been changing about 20% of the water weekly. If this is cyano (I'll try to add pics), is it normal to have during the cycling phase and does it usually go after after the tank normalizes? What can I do to prevent further growth? Should I stop the tap water top offs and turn the lights off for the duration of the cycle? Thanks in advance, this site has been a tremendous help to my first saltwater tank.