brown algea is driving me nuts!!!
- Thread starter calvindo
- Start date
oregonbud
Member
My opinion - 25% water change, and patience 
As terrible as that is to say, the algea is a normal part of the initial cycle, it will go away eventually. When I experienced the inital algea bloom after my cycle, performing a water change, adding a small clean up crew and waiting about two weeks (oh I also cut my light cycle down by a couple hours) the brown/green algea was gone, and hasn't returned.
As terrible as that is to say, the algea is a normal part of the initial cycle, it will go away eventually. When I experienced the inital algea bloom after my cycle, performing a water change, adding a small clean up crew and waiting about two weeks (oh I also cut my light cycle down by a couple hours) the brown/green algea was gone, and hasn't returned.
oregonbud
Member
I wish I could help with the different colors - I am red/green color blind (so brown and green look pretty much identical to me) so I couldn't tell you what colors appeared when and at what point. I know that it did change color (remember the wife asking me about it) but don't know if it went from green to brown or brown to gree. I want to say that the brown is diatoms, and should go away pretty quickly, the green can be a few different things, and more investigation as to why it is there is needed - sorry can't help more on this one. Maybe one of the others will chime in with something.
E
elan
Guest
two things!
1) having algae growth is a GOOD sign. Shows your tank environment can sustain living things.
2) I am sure you want to rid your tank of all algae, but remember, you need some amount of the algae for the life cycle. You will end up having organisms that feed off the algae, and the algae will actually help filter out things from your tank.
If you are having a very bad algae problem (after 3 or so months) test for Phosphates. (especially if you did not use RODI water from the start) that can usually be a problem.
You can also check on your lighting. Using old lighting can be a problem sometimes.
1) having algae growth is a GOOD sign. Shows your tank environment can sustain living things.
2) I am sure you want to rid your tank of all algae, but remember, you need some amount of the algae for the life cycle. You will end up having organisms that feed off the algae, and the algae will actually help filter out things from your tank.
If you are having a very bad algae problem (after 3 or so months) test for Phosphates. (especially if you did not use RODI water from the start) that can usually be a problem.
You can also check on your lighting. Using old lighting can be a problem sometimes.
calvindo
Member
i'd used tap water to fill up my tank. recently purchased an ro/di unit, will be using it from this point on. My lights are on about 6 hours a day, which i dont think is too much. this is a brand new tank, so lighting and everything else is new.
thinking about doing a 20% water change this weekend. Do you think its too early for a water change? This is my second week of cycling.... my lr is cured and never had a spike in water levels. ammonia, nitrate and nitrite dropped a bit, since adding water to the tank.
ammonia = 0
nitrate = 0
nitrite = .5
ph = 8.4
thinking about doing a 20% water change this weekend. Do you think its too early for a water change? This is my second week of cycling.... my lr is cured and never had a spike in water levels. ammonia, nitrate and nitrite dropped a bit, since adding water to the tank.
ammonia = 0
nitrate = 0
nitrite = .5
ph = 8.4
