Algae On Substrate

[Sausage]

Hi,

Rather oddly, today i seem to have had a mass bloom of algae on my white stone substrate. Can anyone give me any clues how this has occured and the best way to remove it and prevent in the future? Im thinking maybe i have overfed altho i am quite tight with my food portions that i give the fish.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Check this site out to try to identify what type of algae you had, that way we can further help you out.

Algae needs two(2) things to grow, ammonia and light.\

Possibilities:

-Your tank is near natural sunlight, which can produce algae really fast.

-You had a minor ammonia spike, like you said you added too much food, which could of resulted in uneaten food, therefore an ammonia spike and then algae.

-FHM

 

[Sausage]

Check this site out to try to identify what type of algae you had, that way we can further help you out.

Algae needs two(2) things to grow, ammonia and light.\

Possibilities:

-Your tank is near natural sunlight, which can produce algae really fast.

-You had a minor ammonia spike, like you said you added too much food, which could of resulted in uneaten food, therefore an ammonia spike and then algae.

-FHM

Been testing my ammonia every other day for the last 2 weeks and all readings have been 0. Altho i do have high nitrite at the moment. I am currently cycling a new 48 litre tank (upgrading from a 25L) and am in my 4th week now. Could the high nitrite be the problem?

Nitrite is being very stubborn at the moment, i have been getting 0 ammonia readings for about 2 weeks now, how long usually does it take for the stage 2 part of the cycling to complete (eg nitrite into nitrates) ?

 

[fatheadminnow]

I dont think Nitrite is a problem for algae.

Is the tank Brand New?

IT could take up to 4 weeks before you see you nitrite go down. It seems that nitrite always loves to hang a round for the longest time, then all of a sudden one day itis at zero!

-FHM

 

[drobbyb]

IIRC algae will feed on ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

 

[aaronnorth]

test kits read 0 although there will always be NH3 present, otherwise the nitrogen cycle wouldnt work!!
It is th undetetcted ammonia spike that gives you problems.

NO2 isnt usually a problem - why? Because an ammonia spike is always first