Cycling - Horrible Brown Algae

[gforce17]

Hi. My fish less cycling of my new 260l tank is going well. Added ammonia is being processed very quickly now and nitrites are off the planet. As the instructions on this forum say the tank is covered in brown algae so not surprised but will it disperse as the cycling completes or will I have to clean everything off. I did my first small tank with fish which I'm not pleased about (I didn't know the other option then) and I didn't experience the same level of brown algae, but I think it cleared itself. Will that happen again?

 

[OldMan47]

There is no reason not to clean off the brown colored algae if it bothers you. I always do an algae clean when it bothers me with no real impact.
I hope you are using some of the media from your existing tank's filter to speed the development of your new filter. I always finish in about a week when I do that.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Are your lights on?

 

[gforce17]

Yes my lights have been on for 10 hours and Richard at AquaEsentials has told me that's too long - he says 8 hours when cycled, 6 hours while cycling. Another admission is that I've had to set the tank up in a very highly naturally lighted area - no choice. So are these the true reasons for my algae?

 

[Noahs ark6]

Yes my lights have been on for 10 hours and Richard at AquaEsentials has told me that's too long - he says 8 hours when cycled, 6 hours while cycling. Another admission is that I've had to set the tank up in a very highly naturally lighted area - no choice. So are these the true reasons for my algae?

That's likely to be the reason

 

[gforce17]

Thanks NA. I think its a bit of a mixture of the two since the cycling process described on this forum says that there will be nasty levels of brown algae, but I think I've made it worse. Should I turn the lights off completely for a few days?

 

[ian]

Richard is pretty good. I think you have you're answer there. Light and ammonia cause diatoms, it will go eventually, but is unsightly. There is things you can do to speed up the riddance of the stuff. Amano shrimp love the stuff, and there is Purigen filter media which helps clear it.

 

[Noahs ark6]

Thanks NA. I think its a bit of a mixture of the two since the cycling process described on this forum says that there will be nasty levels of brown algae, but I think I've made it worse. Should I turn the lights off completely for a few days?

FOr the time being, the algae isn't causing any harm, apart from asthetical. If you turn your light of for 3 days the algae will die, then you can wipe it off with a sponge or algae pad

 

[gforce17]

Thanks I. That is really useful info which I didn't know. But isn't this hobby full of conflicting stuff. Everything has suggested to me that 10 hours of 'lights on' is ok, and now Richard says only 8. However, my conversations with him suggest that he knows his stuff, and mine will be set for 8 from now on!!

Thanks Na6. My lights are going off!

There is no reason not to clean off the brown colored algae if it bothers you. I always do an algae clean when it bothers me with no real impact.
I hope you are using some of the media from your existing tank's filter to speed the development of your new filter. I always finish in about a week when I do that.

As you said, I did transfer some stuff from my other Fluval filter and it has obviously speeded up the process considerably.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Light + ammonia will equal algae, so for the time being, whilst cycling, lights off would be best. Once cycled I would say 8hrs planted, 6-8hrs not planted, you will know yourself what is best by then anyway, its all part of gettin to k ow your tank - you'll find a good medium

 

[gforce17]

Very helpful k.

 

[snazy]

To be honest I regularly leave the lights on for 10 hours a day because of my work schedule. But the only tank that got brown diatoms during cycling was the one closer to the window although the window is constantly with a curtain because of the fish tanks and there is minimal light going through it.
So with 10 hours a day and bright natural light it will cause trouble. The brown algae will eventually stop to develop once the tank is cycled and is easy to clean, but another type of algae may take over.

So probably decrease the light time and make sure lights are on at the same time as the natural light. If you turn the lights on for example from 12 at noon till 10 at night in a bright room your tanks will be getting probably at least 14 hours a day light instead.

 

[gforce17]

Good advice. Thanks.

I can't keep curtains drawn all the time so should I avoid using any artificial lighting to prevent algae growth? I've got a co2 system. WIll that help as well?

 

[snazy]

Are there plants in this tank at the moment?
If not, turn the lights off completely.
If yes, and the room is getting lots of natural light then you may even need to decrease the time of the artificial light a day even lower but I presume you have to experiment to find a balance that works for you.
If you are planning on installing a CO2 system, I suppose it will help the plants grow faster and prevent any future algae growth at least.

 

[Tizer]

A lot of my stem plants started to close up after 6/7 hours of light which to me said they had had enough so i don't think i ever went over the 7 hour photo period myself. I've never had algae in any of my tanks.