Algal origins...?

OrthoVet05 · Nov 27, 2017

So if you use dry rock to cycle a tank, where does the algae originate from when you have algal blooms during cycling? I have a biology degree and can’t seem to piece this together.

Does anyone have a legit answer for this ?

saltyfilmfolks · Nov 28, 2017

You don't always have them. It's always introduced. And not all tanks have the blooms.

OrthoVet05 · Nov 28, 2017

saltyfilmfolks said:
You don't always have them. It's always introduced. And not all tanks have the blooms.

I know that not all tanks have them, just more of a philosophical thought I suppose... Where would they be introduced from, the outside environment?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Nov 28, 2017

From the air as spores, from the initial and top off water, from salt mixes which may use some ingredients from dried seawater, from any foods added to the tank, from any piece of equipment ever used in another setup, etc.

It only takes one.

OrthoVet05 · Nov 28, 2017

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
From the air as spores, from the initial and top off water, from salt mixes which may use some ingredients from dried seawater, from any foods added to the tank, from any piece of equipment ever used in another setup, etc.

It only takes one.

Thanks Randy! It is amazing how marine algae is resilient (I am in Tennessee), and through processing materials (salt).

sde1500 · Nov 28, 2017

Also comes in on anything wet you add to the tank. ONE STUPID SNAIL had ONE STUPID mermaids cup algae on it. Now it is all over my tank lol.

flsalty · Nov 28, 2017

sde1500 said:
Also comes in on anything wet you add to the tank. ONE STUPID SNAIL had ONE STUPID mermaids cup algae on it. Now it is all over my tank lol.

One man's trash is another man's treasure lol

scchase · Nov 28, 2017

Second on the air spores, there is a paper out there I cant find anymore about them finding diatoms and cyano in the jet stream at the center of continents. Basically they will get in one way or another.