Algae overgrowth, what’s wrong?

[Melia]

Over a month ago, I started cycling the 55 gallon tank I have. I have about 20 pounds of live rock (I plan on getting 20 pounds more soon), love sand, about 10 hermit crabs, and one velvet damsel (which I bought to see if the tank was ready, which it survived and proved it was.) I’m having really bad algae growth, I think it’s the brown sludge algae. My tank has been clear and great, but in one day it had gotten pretty bad. I included a photo of what it looked like before as well.
I thought it must’ve been from low magnesium, so I got some magnesium supplement and a test kit for it. If the test kit is right, it says my magnesium is at 1400 ppm (a little high), I did the test 3 times and got around the same level.
My pH is normals, same with ammonia and nitrates.
I have a newer test kit arriving in the mail soon for phosphates, but I did put phosphate guard in a media bag for precaution.
I’m really unsure what’s causing this, I’ve never had brown sludge algae or algae issues this bad.

It’s all over the live rocks, should I try scrubbing it off? I don’t think that’s wise.
Side note: I also have some CCA in a bottle being shipped rn, snow is delaying the arrival date but would that help at all?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

What did you use to cycle it ?

Are you using rodi water?

 

[Melia]

What did you use to cycle it ?

Are you using rodi water?

I’m just using my filter. I’m using regular tap water with added elements I bought to reduce the bad trace chemicals in the water. Could that be it?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I’m just using my filter. I’m using regular tap water with added elements I bought to reduce the bad trace chemicals in the water. Could that be it?

Yep. Tap can contain nitrates and phosphates. Plant food. Plus sometimes chlorine and stuff that kills bacteria and that can be bad.


What added elements are you adding.

 

[Melia]

Yep. Tap can contain nitrates and phosphates. Plant food. Plus sometimes chlorine and stuff that kills bacteria and that can be bad.


What added elements are you adding.

Just things to condition the water, as well as trace elements, phytoplankton, zooplankton, purple guard, etc

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Just things to condition the water, as well as trace elements, phytoplankton, zooplankton, purple guard, etc

Yea. Slow down on all that stuff. It’s all nutrients.

What specific conditioner?
Some do funny things.

 

[Melia]

Yea. Slow down on all that stuff. It’s all nutrients.

What specific conditioner?
Some do funny things.

I’m using XTreme “microbe lift”

 

[Nokiaec11]

There is no set time for a tank to complete it's cycle...could take a 3 weeks with a lot of natural bacteria being added from start, not chemicals, but ocean aquacultured rock, rock from another matured tank, great amount of water from a matured tank...cycle could 1 month, 2 months, or even 3...what you see is the last natural phase. Turbo snails, Chocolate Chip starfish will take care of that...After you will be ready to add fish...Damsel is used in many cases to help cycle, but they are not an indicator that the tank is cycled; they can survive subpar conditions better than most fish.

 

[ShaunRobinson]

I can never understand the practice of just putting a fish in the tank to see if it survives or not. The only reliable way to make sure your tank has finished its initial cycling is by testing your tank parameters in particular Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates. Stop throwing stuff in the tank and let it cycle naturally with a little patience.