Brown Algae While Cycling

[paulkat]

HELP please...

I'm mid fishless cycle (about 12 days in), ammonia already drops within 12 hours and nitrites are off the scale, so just sitting it out now waiting for those to drop while topping up the ammonia daily.

The problem I have now is that the tank is being totally overtaken by brown algea, it's an absolute mess, and a hair like algae is also attached to wood and rocks.

The temp is 29c, and I have a few rocks, a piece of wood bought from LFS and soaked, and a few small to medium plants.

The leaves are covered in brown algae, i removed all of the plants on monday and cleaned them, they are now covered again (Thursday).

Any tips on how to stop this, or will it sort itself out when the tank is cycled.

What causes it, high temps, hi nitrites etc??

I was considering adding ottos as soon as the tank has cycled, however have read that they are better off in very mature tanks??

Any help would be very much appreciated, the mess is really annoying me and i want to know if i can do anything to manage it.

Thanks guys....

 

[lym]

What sort of lights do you have and how long do you keep them on for each day?

 

[karmagl]

I would agree it sounds like your lighting. Are you adding fish food to the tank

 

[paulkat]

What sort of lights do you have and how long do you keep them on for each day?

Hi Lym,

The tank is a Fluval 180L with 2 x 24w T5 strip lights.

They are timed - 5 hours on - 2 hours off - 5 hours on.

Thanks,

Paul.

I would agree it sounds like your lighting. Are you adding fish food to the tank

Hi, no fish food is being added.

I have added a few root tabs to help the plants, and one dose of plant gro.

Thanks

Paul.

 

[honneebee]

Has everything, that you have put in your tank, been prepared properly or has been approved for aquarium use. Sometimes, rocks and such that do not come from your LFS have stuff on them and can cause unwanted things to happen in your tank. I have read that as far as algae is concerned, I have heard that blacking out your tank and PWC's to should help. Check out this link, you may find it helpful
http/www.aquariumfish.net/information/green_water.htm#top2

 

[Yazan]

Have long have you soacked the wood for?

Did you boil the rocks.

 

[paulkat]

Has everything, that you have put in your tank, been prepared properly or has been approved for aquarium use. Sometimes, rocks and such that do not come from your LFS have stuff on them and can cause unwanted things to happen in your tank. I have read that as far as algae is concerned, I have heard that blacking out your tank and PWC's to should help. Check out this link, you may find it helpful
http/www.aquariumfish.net/information/green_water.htm#top2

Thanks I will have a read, everything came from the LFS and was soaked and prepared as instructed.

I would agree it sounds like your lighting. Are you adding fish food to the tank

I have read that increasing light could help get rid of brown algea? Does anyone know if this is the case?

Has everything, that you have put in your tank, been prepared properly or has been approved for aquarium use. Sometimes, rocks and such that do not come from your LFS have stuff on them and can cause unwanted things to happen in your tank. I have read that as far as algae is concerned, I have heard that blacking out your tank and PWC's to should help. Check out this link, you may find it helpful
http/www.aquariumfish.net/information/green_water.htm#top2

The tank is not in direct sunlight and is in fact in quite a dark room. Any more ideas?

Thanks.

 

[Underwurlde]

@honneebee, the blackout technique is only relevant for BGA.

In time I think that it will just go away. It is quite common to experience this in a cycling tank due to the excessive amount of ammonia being added. Increasing light will effect it I think.

Anyway, have a read:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=106371
http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

Andy

 

[paulkat]

@honneebee, the blackout technique is only relevant for BGA.

In time I think that it will just go away. It is quite common to experience this in a cycling tank due to the excessive amount of ammonia being added. Increasing light will effect it I think.

Anyway, have a read:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=106371
http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

Andy

Thanks Andy, good links.




Does any one think a low percentage (say 10-20%) water change may help reduce the algae, or should this be avoided as i'm cycling the tank?

 

[Frost]

Whats strange, i've been cycling for nearly 3 weeks and just coming to the end of my cycle. I've not seen any algae at all, not even a slight tinge on green anywhere.

Should i be seeing algae? Got me worried i'm doing my cycle wrong now. (sorry for hi-jacking your post Paulkat)

 

[Yazan]

@honneebee, the blackout technique is only relevant for BGA.

In time I think that it will just go away. It is quite common to experience this in a cycling tank due to the excessive amount of ammonia being added. Increasing light will effect it I think.

Anyway, have a read:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=106371
http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

Andy

Thanks Andy, good links.




Does any one think a low percentage (say 10-20%) water change may help reduce the algae, or should this be avoided as i'm cycling the tank?

This is a link about cycling tanks. not sure if it well help with the water change.

 

[paulkat]

Whats strange, i've been cycling for nearly 3 weeks and just coming to the end of my cycle. I've not seen any algae at all, not even a slight tinge on green anywhere.

Should i be seeing algae? Got me worried i'm doing my cycle wrong now. (sorry for hi-jacking your post Paulkat)

No problems Frost, mine isn't green it's brown algae, and a lot of hair algea as well.

@honneebee, the blackout technique is only relevant for BGA.

In time I think that it will just go away. It is quite common to experience this in a cycling tank due to the excessive amount of ammonia being added. Increasing light will effect it I think.

Anyway, have a read:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=106371
http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/algae.htm

Andy

Thanks Andy, good links.




Does any one think a low percentage (say 10-20%) water change may help reduce the algae, or should this be avoided as i'm cycling the tank?

This is a link about cycling tanks. not sure if it well help with the water change.

thanks for the link, I've done a lot of reading on cycling, just want to find out if doing a small water change may help manage the algea growth if i combine it with a good tank clean out.

 

[Underwurlde]

@Frost:

Should i be seeing algae?

The presence or not of algae is NOT an indication of the progression of the cycling process. So don't worry.

@paulkat:

just want to find out if doing a small water change may help manage the algea growth if i combine it with a good tank clean out.

Leave things alone for now - getting the cycling process to complete is paramont.

OK, in a nutshell then:
Algae is primarily caused by excessive lighting.
You do not need lights when cycling, however what you DO have is plants and they need lighting which is why, I guess you have lights and which is why, I guess you now have algae. However plants do not need as much lighting as the algae wants, so if I were you I'd think of wither turning your lights off to hinder growth of the algae, or as many people believe, investigate increasing the lighting (I would be wary of this as it may induce other more troublesome types of algae).

Now, when your tank completes its cycle and you add fish etc. it is my belief that by then or soon afterwards you should see the brown algae die off & go away. If not fire up a new thread....

Andy

 

[paulkat]

@Frost:

Should i be seeing algae?

The presence or not of algae is NOT an indication of the progression of the cycling process. So don't worry.

@paulkat:

just want to find out if doing a small water change may help manage the algea growth if i combine it with a good tank clean out.

Leave things alone for now - getting the cycling process to complete is paramont.

OK, in a nutshell then:
Algae is primarily caused by excessive lighting.
You do not need lights when cycling, however what you DO have is plants and they need lighting which is why, I guess you have lights and which is why, I guess you now have algae. However plants do not need as much lighting as the algae wants, so if I were you I'd think of wither turning your lights off to hinder growth of the algae, or as many people believe, investigate increasing the lighting (I would be wary of this as it may induce other more troublesome types of algae).

Now, when your tank completes its cycle and you add fish etc. it is my belief that by then or soon afterwards you should see the brown algae die off & go away. If not fire up a new thread....

Andy

Cheers Andy, thanks for the advice.

 

[gsta13]

Just a side thought mate, maybe you have overdone the ferts? And what types of plants you have currently? Some fast growers and those marimo (sp) balls might be a good idea. I have read all the posts but not the links sorry if this has already been coverd.
Greg