Cycle complete without algae?

[FITZ7]

Now before I get started I realize I may be putting the cart before the horse with this one. My tank has been up and running for 22 days, Ammonia has been at 0 for about 2 weeks, nitrites have been at 0 for 4 days and reading very low a week before that, and nitrates are at roughly 22. I have absolutely no algae other than coralline which has started to grow slowly on the few pounds of dry rock I added in with the live. Not sure if it pertains to this at all but phos is testing at about .68. I have only done a gallon water change on the tanks 2nd week and was going to do maybe 1.5-2 gallons this week. I'm going on vacation near the end of next month and I don't plan on adding anything before other than maybe a snail or two if the algae does start up. Any opinions or ideas on what I may come to next? wondering if its possible to never really have algae growth at least in the early stages with very low nutrients coming into the system. Thanks for reading!
EDIT: 14 gal tank

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Yeah, you could go through the cycle without any algae, but at some point, you will have algae. It is just part of the process. What are your nitrates at? Also, have you continued to add an ammonia source to your tank and if so, what are you using. I would be concerned about that phosphate reading. That is pretty high and you should bring that down before you add any corals. You don't want to bring it down to 0, but between .04 and .1 would be a good start until the tank has time to mature and stabilize.

 

[Lasse]

I always cycle my tanks without any algae coming upp. That you need a ugly phase is one of the largest myths of saltwater aquariums - IMO.

The secret is to ad a enough large clean up crew as soon as possible. Hermits, snails, crabs, shrimps and urchins. They should be added before you see any algae at all. Tank should be illuminated for full day but if possible with a lower intensity. If you see any algae before adding a clean up crew - its many times a little bit to late and demand a larger crew! Its micro algae we talking about - you will see them in a late stage and if they have build up a large biomass - the cleaners see them directly - and eat them - and you will not see them in form of algae - you will see them in form of a well fed Clean Up Crew.

Sincerely Lasse

 

[FITZ7]

@IslandLifeReef Nitrates are at 22 ppm or at least around there, it's between colors on the Red Sea test. I plan on dosing some Ammonia tomorrow when I can get some. Like I said I have about a month before I'll be putting anything other than possibly a small Cuc in the tank so I'm not worried about corals now just want to keep maturing the tank to reach that goal. Not seeing any algae had me questioning what point I'm at currently. Think the high phos is due to the very small amount of water changes I've done? Haven't added anything that would raise that level my self. There are a lot of little critters that came from the rock and I've had a couple stars that came on the rock and had survived through the roughest parts of the cycle at least. Thanks for the help.

@Lasse Thanks for the assurance, I've actually started up my photo period for a couple days now on low intensity between 8-10 hours depending on what I have going on. ( I will be picking up a controller in the next week or two.) Only have a 14 gal so I may add something like 2-3 snails and a hermit and just supplement feeding as necessary. Very excited to continue maturing this tank!

 

[IslandLifeReef]

If you have live rock in there, I don't think that you need to dose any ammonia, especially since you are planning on waiting another month before stocking the tank. A clean up crew will be sufficient. The phosphates are probably leaching from the rock you put in. I would try to reduce that now, because if the phosphates are coming from the rock, it could take a while. You could add phosguard in the filter, just follow the instructions.

 

[sundog101]

Yes you can easily cycle a tank with no algae. Keep your lights off. No reason to have them on during a cycle.

 

[Lasse]

The phosphorus of the rocks help to grow the algae your clean up crew will eat. I never try to reduce any nutrients levels the first months. Today - there is a lot of methods to adjust them later on when the biological life has establish itself. 14 gallon - i would use 5 - 10 snails (different species - different algae preferences) and at least the same amount of hermits. Hermits is wonderful algae eaters - try to get as many species as you can. Diversity is the second key to success. You can measure NO3 - that´s good. If I start from scratch - I ad a little NO3 day 3 or 4 just in order to avoid Cyano in the start up phase

Good luck with the start

Sincerely Lasse

 

[Lasse]

Yes you can easily cycle a tank with no algae. Keep your lights off. No reason to have them on during a cycle.

I´m of the opposite stand point. You should have the light on - you should farm algae but also have grazers that eat them. In this way - you transfer the "problem" (excess nutrient) to clean up crew flesh - see post 3

Sincerely Lasse

 

[FITZ7]

I think if I did a small water change those levels would drop, but the parameters don’t seem too odd at this point. I started with 8lbs of dry rock for a week then added 6lbs of some nice live rock from my lfs. I’ve really been considering adding some cuc even without the algae, just didn’t want to do any harm to them.

 

[sundog101]

I´m of the opposite stand point. You should have the light on - you should farm algae but also have grazers that eat them. In this way - you transfer the "problem" (excess nutrient) to clean up crew flesh - see post 3

Sincerely Lasse

I’m meaning to just keep the light off during the cycle. Once the tank is stabilized, turn the lights on. In BRS’s low maintenance series they turned off the display lights, while leaving the refugium light during the cycle.

 

[JordanM]

I’m meaning to just keep the light off during the cycle. Once the tank is stabilized, turn the lights on. In BRS’s low maintenance series they turned off the display lights, while leaving the refugium light during the cycle.

Thats the way I am cycling mine right now.

 

[Susan Edwards]

My first tank went through a very ugly stage with tons of algae. Second tank, with a sump with live rock has not to date. There is algae in the sump--lots of it--and none in the display not counting a bit on the glass that I either scrape off or let the snails get. Aside from diatoms, very little algae and right now, none, except coraline. I'm pleased so far not to have the uglies.