I'm cycling my tank. At first, I had thought that leaving the tank light on would assist maybe, the bacteria growth. After a few days, I decided to test that theory, and I arrived here. Where the cycling article says NOT to leave the tank light on because new tanks typically get algae growth. (Too little competition I guess.) I had thought I had seen some white stuff appearing by the tubes. So I read the recommendation for black outs and blocking the source of light.
So I turn off the light, and I post signs saying to leave all lights off and keep the door closed.
I do turn the bathroom light on when I'm in there for a few minutes of each day, testing parameters. But I assumed that keeping the light off most of the time, a few minutes each day couldn't hurt. But I still noticed today, day 3 of mostly dark, that there's still white stuff, in fact now it's coming up like little pieces of tissue paper. (Is this normal?)
And then I JUST read that some algae LIKE it dark?! I thought I would keep it from growing. Exactly what should the lighting parameters be here, during a tank cycle?
Or is growing this algae a good thing, and mean that I may be able to support 2 Otos after it's cycled?
Thanks for any help.
So I turn off the light, and I post signs saying to leave all lights off and keep the door closed.
I do turn the bathroom light on when I'm in there for a few minutes of each day, testing parameters. But I assumed that keeping the light off most of the time, a few minutes each day couldn't hurt. But I still noticed today, day 3 of mostly dark, that there's still white stuff, in fact now it's coming up like little pieces of tissue paper. (Is this normal?)
And then I JUST read that some algae LIKE it dark?! I thought I would keep it from growing. Exactly what should the lighting parameters be here, during a tank cycle?
Or is growing this algae a good thing, and mean that I may be able to support 2 Otos after it's cycled?
Thanks for any help.
