Virtually No Algae Growth...

[BIGbadJOHN]

I finished my fishless cycle in about 3 weeks and had 1 week of proofing. I have now had fish for a week. It's a 10 gallon tank with 4 male platys and 4 Julii Corys. I have had virtually NO algae growth to my knowledge. No green algae, no brown....And I wouldn't know what a diatom is if I saw it. Should I be worried about this? I actually had the amazon swords and the java fern in there during the cycle and kept the lights off except for a handful of times when I wanted to see in the tank quickly. Is it possible that I just kept the algae at bay by having a few plants in there during the cycle and keeping the lights off? I'd like to get a couple of shrimp, but don't want to with no algae present. How long should I wait before, or if adding any shrimp at all? I know I'm overstocked a bit, but I thought a couple of shrimp might help keep the water cleaner. My ammo and nitrite readings are remaining at 0 since introducing the fish and my nitrates are either at 10 or between 20-40. The API nitrate test is so hard to read. As is the nitrite!

 

[Rynofasho]

You should be thrilled you have no algae haha. Don't worry about a lack of algae, no. It typically points to fluctuating CO2 levels, nutrient problems, or poor circulation, so you are in good shape. I can't comment on the shrimp, however, not sure. Nitrates even up to 40ppm are ok and is good for your plants to be able to absorb nutrients from the water column.

Feeding ammo and stuff with no light won't promote algae - it is running the light constantly plus the ammo that will get you algae.

 

[Fishy friend2]

i think it is good if there is no algae because they even make thing to kill all algae and also i had no algae for a while and it was not bad all algae does is dirty your tank

 

[Mowbz]

Agreed, its certainly notr a bad thing. My 16gal has been cycling for about 3 weeks now, and also has not a spot of algae, which i attribute to having the tank covered with an old dark bedsheet for the cycle.

 

[fluttermoth]

You don't need to wait for any algae to grow before you get shrimps; there are plenty of other things they can eat; normal fish food or special shrimp food, for example

 

[micko]

I have no algae in a small tank I recently set up. It has no electric light but sitting on a kitchen work top so half of the tank is in full day light all day every day. It was just supposed to be for growing plants a wee bit. I have red cherries and malaysian trumpets in there.
Don't worry about no algae growth with shrimp, shrimp will eat all sorts of food.

Good luck.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

I have 6 amano shrimp with no algae in my tank, they get the scraps lol