Algae while cycling
- Thread starter Brandon42
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briancarterkc
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Through the cycle, you really don't. Best thing to do is physically remove the algae during water changes. This exports the nitrates and phosphates that feed it out of your tank. After the cycle is complete, ideally you control nutrients (appropriate feeding, good water source, good protein skimmer) and the algae just doesn't have anything to live on. If that doesn't work, you can research carbon dosing (my approach) or products like GFO to control the nutrients that feed algae. Algae is a normal part of a cycle. So is Cyanobacteria and diatoms (respectively, red slimy stuff and brown slimy stuff)
cnseekatz
Well-Known Member
+1 on Brian's comments.
You don't really want/need to control the algae during your cycle. It'll get fairly ugly at some point, but the algae that grows in there is a good indicator of where you are in your cycle.
First you'll see reddish or brownish goop. As mentioned before, it's diatoms. This stuff pops up when ammonia is being converted to nitrite. When this phase passes, the diatoms will fade, and give way to green algae. Green algae comes in as the nitrites are converted to nitrates. The nitrates feed the green algae. If you do not add more "food" to the cycle, eventually all the nutrients will be converted to nitrates and used up by the green algae. Once the nutrients have been used up, the algae will die off, and your cycle will be done.
From there it's all a balancing act between keeping enough nutrients in the tank to feed your fish and corals, but not enough to cause inappropriate amounts of bad algae. In addition to proper feeding routines, and mechanical/chemical filtration, you can build a refugium in your sump to help absorb excess nutrients. Most people use macro-algae like Chaetomorpha to out-compete the bad algae in your tank. There are dozens of different types of macros you can use, as well as certain filter feeders like sponges, feather dusters, xenia, etc.
You don't really want/need to control the algae during your cycle. It'll get fairly ugly at some point, but the algae that grows in there is a good indicator of where you are in your cycle.
First you'll see reddish or brownish goop. As mentioned before, it's diatoms. This stuff pops up when ammonia is being converted to nitrite. When this phase passes, the diatoms will fade, and give way to green algae. Green algae comes in as the nitrites are converted to nitrates. The nitrates feed the green algae. If you do not add more "food" to the cycle, eventually all the nutrients will be converted to nitrates and used up by the green algae. Once the nutrients have been used up, the algae will die off, and your cycle will be done.
From there it's all a balancing act between keeping enough nutrients in the tank to feed your fish and corals, but not enough to cause inappropriate amounts of bad algae. In addition to proper feeding routines, and mechanical/chemical filtration, you can build a refugium in your sump to help absorb excess nutrients. Most people use macro-algae like Chaetomorpha to out-compete the bad algae in your tank. There are dozens of different types of macros you can use, as well as certain filter feeders like sponges, feather dusters, xenia, etc.
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Brandon42
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I'm in week 2 of my cycle. Ammonia was off the charts until yesterday now I'm reading zero. Nitrites are through the roof right now and nitrates are rising. Yes I have a 30 gallon sump with a coralife 220 skimmer and running 6 t5HO 3 blue 3 white and 10 blue led's. 2 power heads in the tank.
Brandon based on your pics that's a common early invader. You would simply lift out the rock and rinse it off outside the tank. When diatoms or any cyano hits your sandbed you would remove it via siphon, or you may choose to leave it in. No five people will ever agree on how to handle algae 
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cnseekatz
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I would not remove anything or add anything to your tank until the green algae stage of your cycle. Let the diatoms die out on their own. Once the green algae has started to pop up, test your nitrites again. When the nitrites hit zero, you should be okay to add some clean-up crew. I'd start with snails first, all kinds. They'll feed off the green algae. It may take some time, and you might get frustrated, but trust me.... it'll pass. Adding fish and corals at this point probably won't kill them, but it'll draw out the amount of time it'll take for the algae to clear up.
During this stage, you might also notice that your water gets super cloudy. It'll likely have a yellowish, or greenish tint. This is normal. It's an algal bloom, meaning that microscopic algae (phytoplankton) are suspended in the water. This is a GOOD thing. They're feeding off of excess nutrients (usually nitrates or silicates from your rock and sand) in your tank. Before you know it, you'll start seeing little tiny critters crawling around on the glass. Those are zooplankton feeding off the phytoplankton. The more of these guys (larva, pods, etc.) the better for your tank in the long run, as they eat detritus, and fish/corals eat them.
Most people rush their cycles, and try to clean up the tank and add livestock as quickly as possible. You can do it that way, but a full, natural tank cycle gives you the best chance for long term success. Adding livestock before your cycle is done risks drawing out the timeline, or interrupting it completely.
During this stage, you might also notice that your water gets super cloudy. It'll likely have a yellowish, or greenish tint. This is normal. It's an algal bloom, meaning that microscopic algae (phytoplankton) are suspended in the water. This is a GOOD thing. They're feeding off of excess nutrients (usually nitrates or silicates from your rock and sand) in your tank. Before you know it, you'll start seeing little tiny critters crawling around on the glass. Those are zooplankton feeding off the phytoplankton. The more of these guys (larva, pods, etc.) the better for your tank in the long run, as they eat detritus, and fish/corals eat them.
Most people rush their cycles, and try to clean up the tank and add livestock as quickly as possible. You can do it that way, but a full, natural tank cycle gives you the best chance for long term success. Adding livestock before your cycle is done risks drawing out the timeline, or interrupting it completely.
MikeyAl
Well-Known Member
IMO one your tanks is established- if you want to control algae you should can use either gfo, other media like dr Tims NP Active pearls in a tumbler, or get an algae turf scrubber. I've used all three with success.
Clairemonski
New Member
This is such a useful, simple description of the cycling process. Thank you.
tmarie10166
New Member
Hi! Could this be the same thing as you’re describing?
