Cycling Question!

[jdnumis]

Can anyone tell me if its common to see little green hair algae on rock, glass, and sand in the beginning of the cycle process?

Thanks guys,

~James

 

[motortrendz]

Get some mexican turbo snails...they will take care of it... how llong are u into ur cycle?

 

[jrobbins]

you dont need to run your lights during the cycle.

 

[jdnumis]

Motortrndz I have been running for 9days now. and jrobbins I don't have to run lights during cycle? How come?

Thanks guys for advice

James

 

[greenycrew]

The bacteria that you are trying to grow in cycling the tank are not photosynthetic and thus do not need light. Turn off the light if the algae really bothers you. Do not get any snails yet, your tank is way too new. Your soon to come ammonia spike will surely kill them!

 

[basiab]

1. Yes it is usual.
2. Running with lights is debateable. Some say no to reduce algae growth. Others say yes to encourage whatever life is on the rocks to grow.
3. At this point adding snails to cleanup may not work. Depends on how toxic water is. You can always scrape the glass clean and brush the rocks with a stiff brush even a tooth brush.

 

[motortrendz]

U really don't need to run them bc there's no photosynthetic organisms, the bacteria will grow with or with out lights..but bc u are running the lights like I do during. The cycle, you will get algea growth.. what are ur readings? Amonia, nitate, trites? Ph, salinity? Did u use anything to kick off the cycle? After itsd running I use a pich of flake food once a day to give the bacteria something to use as energy.. also if your amonia isn't high, you can add a few snails to take care of the hair algea before it gets out of control, also if it isn't ready for any livestock(high levels still) use ur hands and pull it off and out of the tank b4 it spreads..make sure u have no sunlight from a window hitting the tank that will cause unwanted algea blooms... when the tank starts getting covered in brown film its ok and normal and will go away on its own twards the end of the cycle...

 

[jaa1456]

I always put snails in during the cycle, after 2 days I add them. I also always leave the lights on because the rock does have some algae on it that you will lose and never get back. If you get rock with the nice green coralines and orange colors that stuff will never come back without the lights on.

 

[jdnumis]

If I turn lights off should I keep fuge light on for 6+ hours?

 

[motortrendz]

Do u have anything in the fuge?

 

[bigcapct]

What can u use to kick off the cycle?I doing the same with a 150 and thru 5 chromis in

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[jdnumis]

I have caulerpa in there now which is dying gonna take it out n replace with cheato

 

[SevTT]

Can anyone tell me if its common to see little green hair algae on rock, glass, and sand in the beginning of the cycle process?

Thanks guys,

~James

Absolutely.

And run your lights during your cycle. It'll encourage the growth of algae, yes, but this is a good thing, since it'll also encourage the growth of coralline algae and diatoms (the latter are annoying in large numbers but a great food source for many things.) Just add enough snails to mow it down.

 

[prattreef]

Just to clarify a few things. The cycle could care less if you have the lights on or not it will do its thing either way. Keeping the lights on has its merits---some desirable photosynthetic things will more likely survive and thrive--and some negatives-- unwanted photosynthetic things --like micro algae can take hold. So you can choose to go either route, but you will have to compensate your system appropriately going forward. Personally, I tend to run the lights on a very reduced photo-period say a couple of hours a day and try to hedge my bets in both directions---preserve some life and prevent unwanted outbreaks.

 

[Wes]

Just to clarify a few things. The cycle could care less if you have the lights on or not it will do its thing either way.

Just to clarify something Randy. The phrase is "could NOT care less".

Could care less implies that the cycle actually does care about having the lights on or not.


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[prattreef]

:redface:You are of course correct. Oh the shame....

 

[motortrendz]

randy, now that youve been put in your place.....lol

ive dont the add fish to jump start the cycle, but you could be costing them their lives.. use a raw shrim for a day or 2, then pull it out, and there u go its kicked off, use some flake food everyday for the bacteria to break down..