Brown Algae New Tank Cycling (no fish)

[g-fish]

I recently set up a 15 gal tank with nothing it except 3 plants that I left floating in the water. After 4 weeks brown algae appeared on the front glass and on the gravel, the plants started to turn brown and didn't look very good.

I removed the plants and wiped the algae off the glass but it's still on the gravel. I haven't added any goldfish yet and I haven't done a single water change. I did add water to replace the water that evaporated.

I tested the water every two weeks using the Tetratest Total Ammonia Kit and the tetra test Nitrite Kit and both times the results were zero.

I'm using a Tetra Whisper Advanced power Filter and also put a sponge in front of the filter cartridge.

Questions:

• Do I have to start from scratch and re-cycle the tank?
• Can I get the brown algae off the gravel without haveing to remove it? Which would mean I would have to start from scratch anyway, since removing the gravel without removing the water would be madness.
• Is it the filter? I’ve been using this filter and tank for a year now and this is the 2nd time brown algae have appeared - the 1st time I had gold fish in the tank.

 

[plah831]

don't fret. The brown algae is diatoms and is very common in newer tanks. It thrives on the silica from the glass and new gravel. After the tank has aged and the silica has been used up by the diatoms, or removed through water changes, it will subside.

It's very easy to remove by wiping with a soft cloth or aquarium sponge. For the gravel, just use a gravel vacuum/siphon and it comes right off.

By the way, many folks will tell you 15 gal is probably a bit small for goldies. They produce the most ammonia of any fish I know, so need lots of water to dilute their own wastes.

Do you know how to cycle your tank?

 

[g-fish]

Response to plah831

don't fret. The brown algae is diatoms and is very common in newer tanks. It thrives on the silica from the glass and new gravel. After the tank has aged and the silica has been used up by the diatoms, or removed through water changes, it will subside.

It's very easy to remove by wiping with a soft cloth or aquarium sponge. For the gravel, just use a gravel vacuum/siphon and it comes right off.

By the way, many folks will tell you 15 gal is probably a bit small for goldies. They produce the most ammonia of any fish I know, so need lots of water to dilute their own wastes.

Do you know how to cycle your tank?

Dear plah831,

Thanks for taking time out to respond to my post. I just did a 50% water change...it just seemed like a good idea.

As far as tank cyclying well, I only know what I've read and it seemed that a "fishless" cycle would be best but a "fishless" cycle isn't really fishless, right? That is that one or two "hardy" fish are required to get the cycle started. I never put anyting in the tank except 3 free floating plants (I don't the name off the top of my head but it's one of the two most common plants associated with goldfish tanks....not the pine tree looking. The one that looks like a fern.

Anyway, I didn't want to use to any fish if I didn't intend on keeping them. My fishless tank has been up and running for 5 weeks as of today.

The thing about the goldfish per gallon I understand but just Friday I saw two 6 or 7 inch Ryukin in a 3 gallon tank at a small butcher shop! I've also seen similar situations in other stores - not goldfish stores.

I've got a four inch Oranda in a 3 gallon tank and it seems happy. I want to move him over the the 15 gallon tank because I feel bad for him but I don't want to put him in if the tank is bad. It's been five weeks since I re-setup my tank and was hoping I could put him in this weekend...

I used the same cycling technique I'm using now but I never got any brown algae before or after adding the Oranda. The filter in that tank was part of a kit. It's been 2 months and I've never changed the water of the filter sponge...I tested the water this morning and got zero ammonia. Still, he's kind of moping around today - mostly hanging out in the corner not moving much...

 

[fantail]

You need a source of ammonia to cycle a tank so just a tank with water in it wont cycle. You can add a bit of flaked food to the filter each day to get your ammonia source but you shouldnt add any fish until you get the ammonia and then the nitrite spikes. 15 gallons is barely big enough for the size of fish you have on his own, unless you intend on upgrading again within 6 months

 

[g-fish]

You need a source of ammonia to cycle a tank so just a tank with water in it wont cycle. You can add a bit of flaked food to the filter each day to get your ammonia source but you shouldnt add any fish until you get the ammonia and then the nitrite spikes. 15 gallons is barely big enough for the size of fish you have on his own, unless you intend on upgrading again within 6 months

Dear fantail,

Thanks for the reply. I'm sure you're correct about the size of the tank...still my eyes look at the 57 liter tank and want to think, "Hey, it can't that bad." Still, what do I know? Last night before going to bed I put the Oranda in the 57 liter tank and he/she seems fine this morning.

What about debris from the plants? Would it be just as good? The plants fell apart and I left them untouched until a few days ago when I finally took them out.

By the way do you keep goldfish? I have many questions I want to ask...

Take care.

 

[fantail]

I keep my goldfish and fantails outside in a pond. The only fish inside are my tropicals.

Plants dont give off ammonia if thats what you are asking and dead and dying ones pollute the water, so take out anything that is rotting.
Now that you have your fish in the tank, check daily for ammonia to see when it peaks and do water changes to keep it below .5 if possible. Dont clean out your filter at all while the tank cycles and wait for the nitrites to peak and again try to keep those under 1.
This process from a new tank and filter with ammonia present takes around 6 weeks to complete but also depends on the temperature of the tank.
Do you have the old filter still running? as you could use that in the new tank to help the new one cycle, and use the old water and gravel.
How big is the fish in body length only?

Please feel free to ask as many questions as you want as we are all here to help.

 

[g-fish]

I keep my goldfish and fantails outside in a pond. The only fish inside are my tropicals.

Plants dont give off ammonia if thats what you are asking and dead and dying ones pollute the water, so take out anything that is rotting.
Now that you have your fish in the tank, check daily for ammonia to see when it peaks and do water changes to keep it below .5 if possible. Dont clean out your filter at all while the tank cycles and wait for the nitrites to peak and again try to keep those under 1.
This process from a new tank and filter with ammonia present takes around 6 weeks to complete but also depends on the temperature of the tank.
Do you have the old filter still running? as you could use that in the new tank to help the new one cycle, and use the old water and gravel.
How big is the fish in body length only?

Please feel free to ask as many questions as you want as we are all here to help.

Hello fantail,

Thanks again.

Do plants help at all?

I don't have a filter or water I can use. So, I'll try the ammonia and nitrite checks. The last time I checked (Saturday) the 13 liter tank they were zero but the water smelled bad and the Oranda was acting strange. I did a 50% water change and changed the filter. The filter that's in there is small, box square and has a filter with has a hole in the middle like a donut, below the filter are small stones and the air comes up through the middle. The smell went away but like I said I moved the Oranda over to the 57 liter tank.

I have a question that's been bothering me for over a year. To make a long story short, two of my orandas have had these cloudy white type of spots or smudges on there tails. It's not ich. Have you ever seen what I'm taking about? I don't know if it's normal or a sickness. If it is a sickness I have no idea how to cure it. I've tried aqurium salt but no change. I tried that for months without change and finally decided that salting for a prolonged time probably wasn't the best thing so I stopped. They're active and don't show any signs of being sick...

Thanks.

 

[fantail]

The splodges arent ich and are a form of virus the most likely being pox and fish can live with it quite happily.
The filter you have on the small tank sounds like a box filter that isnt any use to goldfish. What kind of filtration do you have on the new bigger tank? Is it air pump driven or a proper internal or hang on back filter? Does it contain media, such as sponge.
I have no idea what type of filters you have where you are but try to get a mechanical one that has sponges and or ceramic noodles for bacteria to colonise.

 

[g-fish]

The splodges arent ich and are a form of virus the most likely being pox and fish can live with it quite happily.
The filter you have on the small tank sounds like a box filter that isnt any use to goldfish. What kind of filtration do you have on the new bigger tank? Is it air pump driven or a proper internal or hang on back filter? Does it contain media, such as sponge.
I have no idea what type of filters you have where you are but try to get a mechanical one that has sponges and or ceramic noodles for bacteria to colonise.

Hey again fantail,

I got one of those tetra whisper filters that hangs on the outside on the 57 liter. Are those any good? before I put the oranda in there brown algae started to form on the glass and gravel. I have no idea why? I wiped it off the glass, did a 50% water change and rinsed the filter but didn't touch the sponge.

plah831 says, "The brown algae is diatoms and is very common in newer tanks. It thrives on the silica from the glass and new gravel. After the tank has aged and the silica has been used up by the diatoms, or removed through water changes, it will subside.

It's very easy to remove by wiping with a soft cloth or aquarium sponge. For the gravel, just use a gravel vacuum/siphon and it comes right off."

Am I on the right track?

 

[fantail]

Yes it all sounds like you are on the right track. Do you have ammonia and nitrite test kits? If so what do they read?
Its also a good idea to test from a clean glass your ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph your tap water to see what your tank should be.

Could you google the filter you have so we can see if its good enough