Brown Algea and green algea, Done Cycling?

[theshadowwrx]

Hey guys,
My tank just got a ton of brown algea yesterday, a few patches of green algea and also some purple bubble type things on the brown algea.
Is my tank done cycling?
Is it time to get a clean up crew?
Thanks,
Mike

 

[tlk]

Hard to tell. Have you been testing the water and watching for an amonia spike? You are testing your water regularly aren't you!?

 

[timsedwards]

Hi TheShadowWRX,
You cant judge whether it has finished cycling by algae! How did you start the cycle? Have you tested for Ammonia/Nitrite/Nitrate/pH/salinity/temp?
Let us know so I can help you further,
Tim.

 

[timsedwards]

Hmmm im pretty sure (maybe wrong) that Phosphates can stay consistant throughout the cycle, meaning that algae is no help at all.
If you started the cycle correctly and Ammonia/Nitrite is 0 and Nitrate is <10 then yes, you have probably finished cycling.
Tim.

 

[theshadowwrx]

well the cycle started with nitrate at 50ppm because i didn't know our tap water was that high.
Our amonnia is at .25.
Nitrite is at 0
Nitrate is still around 30
Thanks,
Mike

 

[timsedwards]

ok you havent finished cycling yet im afraid!
Ammonia has to be zero, nitrite has to be zero, nitrates are a little different, they will come down with time. Still i think 30 is a little high. 20 is ok because that will drop.
Are you just using plain tap water? now ro or ro/di?
What is your pH? Salinity?
All the best,
Tim.