yet another need for algae reassurance

[krullulon]

alrighty... my new 90g finished cycling about 2 weeks ago, and that's when i started my regular photoperiod and got a few polyps, some mushrooms and and some snails.

about 4 days ago some algae started appearing, and now it's all over the place -- mostly brown but an increasing amount of green hair as well on the sides.

my water is reading 0 in everything, and i'm using buffered RO/DI water for topoffs that also has a 0 reading, so i should be fairly cool on the nutrients entering the system -- i also don't have anything freaky like a cannister filter or biowheel or bio balls that should be holding nitrates or phosphates... and i'm skimmin' up a storm.

question is, assuming i'm not pumping new nutrients into the system, how long *might* it take for the algae bloom to run its course? i know that every situation is unique, but i was wondering if there's any kind of "oh yeah, that happens a lot and usually only lasts for a couple of weeks" words of encouragement out there.

 

[mountainbiker619]

just keep doing water changes..the bigger the better..and as frequently as you can.

 

[tangir1]

You need to pull the algae out by hand as much as you can, and if the water parameter get a bit out of level, you will need to do some water change.

and oh yeah, that happens a lot and usually only lasts for a couple of weeks

 

[krullulon]

heheh thanks! 8)

 

[shawnz28]

Do you have any kind of clean up crew al la snails, emerald crabs etc... ?

 

[elpescado]

As long as you keep your pH up above 8.0 and good water circulation, and don't add to much nutrient to the tank the algae bloom shouldn't last more than a month or two. Every tank is different.
If the algae persists then there is a problem that needs identified and delt with.

 

[krullulon]

thanks folks!

i started-out with 6 astrea snails... and yesterday i grabbed the IPSF tank tuneup kit with 12 strombus, 1 turbo, 6 trocus, 12 nerites and 12 micro hermits. overnight the trocus and turbo made quite a dent on one of the large rocks, so i'm hoping the goodness continues.

i'll post an update in about a week or so with progress shots documenting either my suffering or my path to algae redemption.