OK, I don't recall seeing this topic addressed so I was wondering how everyone who has done a fishless cycle has controlled algae.
I assume the easiest way is no plants - and thus no lights during the cycle.
However, for those of us who made the mistake of putting plants in before starting a fishless cycle, what have you done - or what would you recommend (yea, I know I could take the plants out and deal with no light - but I would rather see what other options exist)
For background purposes, I have a bunch of low light plants in my 72 gallon (4 Java Ferns, 1 Bolbitis Fern, Some Java Moss, 2 large Anubias Nana, 1 large Anubias COffeeolia and about 10 smaller water sprites). No CO2 and until recently, just a 40 watt light.
Knowing that light was inadequate, I upgraded it a day and a half ago to a 110 Watt power compact (using an AH Supply conversion kit).
I didn't really have any real algae problems the first several weeks. About a week ago, when the first signs of Nitrite appeared, a few strands of hair or beard algae (can't decide what it is - its bright green, about 1 to 2 inches long, sways/ripples in my water current) appeared . I removed it manually - and continued to do so each day or every other day it showed up. Two days ago, (my Nitrates were reading about 40ppm -or was it .40 - I can't recall - but it was just creepeing into the warning area) when I just started testing out the new light, I noticed lots of this hair / beard algae on my front glass. Cleaned that up and ran my new light for about 10 hours yesterday - when I got home (Nitrates up to 80ppm), I noticed lots of this algae on my built in overflow wall and back glass. So cleaned it up again.
Now, I am assuming the main reason is the increase in Nitrate's and not enough plants to absorb all the nutrients (rather than solely the new light since I just started it up). Under that theory, I also went out and added 3 large bunches of Anachris to the tank last evening. I would add more quick growing things like Hornwort or more WaterSprite - but my LFS usually lack in a big variety of plants to begin with, and during the winter, it worse - so Anachris is probably my best choice for a cheap temp. plant until the tank is fully cycled and I can add some algae eating fish to it.
Am I right or wrong about the rise in Nitrates and not enough plants to consume them being the main cause of this? And if so, is adding more fast growing plants the right solution - or do you have other suggestions?
I also though about doing a partial water change - say 50% - to remove some of the Nitrates - but I wasn't sure how that would affect my cycling the tank (I am at the point where Ammonia is fully consumed in less than 24 hours - and Nitrites have peaked and started to drop (back to about 10ppm versus being off the chart) - with Nitrates rising to about 80ppm. ANy thoughts on partial water changes to control the algae without upsetting the rest of the fishless cycle?
Thanks
I assume the easiest way is no plants - and thus no lights during the cycle.
However, for those of us who made the mistake of putting plants in before starting a fishless cycle, what have you done - or what would you recommend (yea, I know I could take the plants out and deal with no light - but I would rather see what other options exist)
For background purposes, I have a bunch of low light plants in my 72 gallon (4 Java Ferns, 1 Bolbitis Fern, Some Java Moss, 2 large Anubias Nana, 1 large Anubias COffeeolia and about 10 smaller water sprites). No CO2 and until recently, just a 40 watt light.
Knowing that light was inadequate, I upgraded it a day and a half ago to a 110 Watt power compact (using an AH Supply conversion kit).
I didn't really have any real algae problems the first several weeks. About a week ago, when the first signs of Nitrite appeared, a few strands of hair or beard algae (can't decide what it is - its bright green, about 1 to 2 inches long, sways/ripples in my water current) appeared . I removed it manually - and continued to do so each day or every other day it showed up. Two days ago, (my Nitrates were reading about 40ppm -or was it .40 - I can't recall - but it was just creepeing into the warning area) when I just started testing out the new light, I noticed lots of this hair / beard algae on my front glass. Cleaned that up and ran my new light for about 10 hours yesterday - when I got home (Nitrates up to 80ppm), I noticed lots of this algae on my built in overflow wall and back glass. So cleaned it up again.
Now, I am assuming the main reason is the increase in Nitrate's and not enough plants to absorb all the nutrients (rather than solely the new light since I just started it up). Under that theory, I also went out and added 3 large bunches of Anachris to the tank last evening. I would add more quick growing things like Hornwort or more WaterSprite - but my LFS usually lack in a big variety of plants to begin with, and during the winter, it worse - so Anachris is probably my best choice for a cheap temp. plant until the tank is fully cycled and I can add some algae eating fish to it.
Am I right or wrong about the rise in Nitrates and not enough plants to consume them being the main cause of this? And if so, is adding more fast growing plants the right solution - or do you have other suggestions?
I also though about doing a partial water change - say 50% - to remove some of the Nitrates - but I wasn't sure how that would affect my cycling the tank (I am at the point where Ammonia is fully consumed in less than 24 hours - and Nitrites have peaked and started to drop (back to about 10ppm versus being off the chart) - with Nitrates rising to about 80ppm. ANy thoughts on partial water changes to control the algae without upsetting the rest of the fishless cycle?
Thanks