Diatom problem I believe

[Kgrizzle]

Will the algae die off after the cycle?

[NU-2reef]

If your tank is still cycling then water changes will only prolong the cycle. The diatoms will get worse before it gets better. So just sit back and let the bacteria do it's job. Cleaning the rock will also prolong this because you will likely kill the beneficial bacteria while doing this.

[phi delt reefer]

you can turkey baster it off and let it flow our overflow (use a filter sock to catch the bastards.)

my tank is going through its THIRD diatom bloom since starting up 6 months ago. Its inevitable and i have 0 nitrates/phosphates/ammonia, etc. Dont bother with water changes, i find it just feeds them and they grow way faster. Must be trace silicates or something in the water change water.

what i also do is vacuum them out but put the output of the vacuum into my filter sock in my sump so the water is just recycled. then i swap out the filter socks. Unfortunately they are usually back the next day, lol.