Where does algea start?

[Drekkyk]

I'm noticing a bit of build up/discoloration on my filter intakes. My tank is about 3 weeks into fishy cycling. Is this build up normal, or am at the brink of an algea bloom? The water is still cloudy, but it sure looks to be white, not green. I leave the lights on for at most 3 hours a day, and the tank is not in direct sunlight. Light is a 4400K florecent. I keep the temp at 79-80 degF. When I had to adjust the filter nozzle, the entire assemly felt slimy.. Could this be a result of my dechlorinater with aloe? Or am I ready for some algea eaters? (I think I should wait for the cycling to finish) So far < .25 Ammonia and 0 nitrite 0 nitrate. I might not have a large enough load to have a reading on the nitrite. Should I up the load slightly?

Sorry for so many questions in one post!

Thanks!

 

[hurricanejedi]

My filter intakes/tubes have sort of changed color too. I'm not sure why and I'm 4 weeks into a fishless cycle with no light and no algae. I'm not to worried about it though. I hear that every once in a while you want to clean the tubes but I don't see it as a problem yet.

Put some water in a test tube and hold it against a white background. If its green then you know its algae.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

It's normal. If it's brownish in color and mainly on the 'inside' of the tube, it's a bacterial biofilm(same stuff that colonizes the filter). Don't get over alarmed by a little to moderate algae growth in your tank...it's normal and harmless. If your water turns green or everything in the tank becomes covered with slime or black brush algae, then you have a problem with your water quality and will need to reduce excess nutrients and/or light.

 

[Drekkyk]

OK thanks. Its actually forming on the outside of the filter tube, but only at the intake strainer.

 

[joephys]

If your nitrates are zero you won't have algae. Things sound normal to me. You could keep the lights on longer and be fine. The Nitrites will come, don't up the load. I personally avoid conditioners that have extra things that "reduce stress and create slime coat" like aloe. Fish naturally have slime coat, and all that stuff just adds to osmotic pressure. But thats not really a big deal.