fishless cycle/algea

[acocacolagirl]

I am on day 10 of my fist fishless cycle and I have noticed algea growing on the thermometer. Is this normal? I expect my cycle to last a long time as I have nothing to seed the tank with. But I do not look forward to spending the next 4 to 6 weeks scrubbing algea when I don't even get the reward of enjoying fish. Is there anything I can do about this? I have had the tank light on during the cycle...is that why I have algea? am I not supposed to have the light on? Does bacteria grow better in the dark? Sigh...I know I need to be patiant, but I am ready for fish and it has only been 10 days!!!

 

[Kasakato]

What kind of alage is it?

 

[acocacolagirl]

Brown?

 

[Kasakato]

Ya its common. You can clean it up, but it will come back. If you leave it, and let the tank grow it, it will go away on its own by the 3rd month after the cycle.

 

[RTR]

You do not need the lights on for fishless cycling. Light + ammonia -> algae.

 

[Holly9937]

Also depending on what kind of fish you get, they might like it !! I had the same algae, I guess its pretty common in new tanks, and I got a bristlenose pleco who had the tank looking brand new in about 3 days :clap:

 

[acocacolagirl]

I put otos in my other tank, and they were quite happy with it. Eventually I will be getting a snail, but I dont think my snail took care of it in the other tank, so I may have to get otos for this tank too..but hey, if it goes away on its own, that works for me too.

 

[ashdavid]

Algae grows in stages in the cycling period, different algaes will come and go( or should I say become more prevelant) and since you are still in the early stages of you cycle diatoms will tend to grow. There is not much you can do about it but wait for the cycle to complete and take it off by hand.