Fishless Cycling - The Algae Is Taking Over!

[razorkai]

So I'm 6 weeks into a fishless cycle that has stalled twice so far but looking good at the moment. The tank looks awful! Practically have every type of algae under the sun and it is getting worse by the day! Cloudy water too! I know the pinned article said to expect this, but can someone please reassure me that it happened to them too and that it sorted itself out at the end of the cycle? It really is looking that bad. I'll try and post a few pics tomorrow.

 

[doresy]

Ok so do you have real plants in there?

Is sunlight falling on the tank?

How long are your lights on?

But most importantly when posting asking for advice/help....Details!

Ok, Fishless Cycle...that's good
6 weeks in....detailed history of what's been happening, stats. etc.?
Tank size?
Substrate type, cleaning process before use?
Filtration method?

And that photo if you can

Then we can get into helping you my friend

 

[razorkai]

Ok so do you have real plants in there?

Yes I have a few

Is sunlight falling on the tank?

No, I have been deliberately keeping the curtains closed whilst the cycle is going on.

How long are your lights on?

5 hours on, 2 off, 5 hours on

But most importantly when posting asking for advice/help....Details!

Yeah I know

Juwel Rio 180 with internal filter removed
Tetratec EX700 external filter
Hydor external heater running at about 28 degrees C
Currently have about 50 Co2 bubbles per minute being diffused into the inlet of the filter for the time being
Dosing Seachem Flourish and Excel once per week as per bottle instructions
Substrate is plain old Argos playsand washed several times
PH 6.8
I changed the standard Juwel Tubes to two 30w Arcadia Classica Daylight (apparently these are the same as the Freshwater ones)
Both the tubes have arcadia reflectors on them.

The reason I have had so much trouble with this cycle is I was using test kits at the start that were several years out of date, although I obviously didn't know that at the time. I did quite well for a while with the ammonia being consumed pretty rapidly and a fairly constant level of nitrites that never dropped. Then all of a sudden the ammonia just stopped dropping for over a week. So I did a large water change and the whole thing started moving again. But the "stall" happened again and I was forced to do another water change. It was at this point that I read an article about how to tell if api test kits are expired and ended up buying a whole new set. Since then things have been running smoothly, other than the algae. For a while now I've had the ammonia dropping to zero about once a day and the nitrite stuck at 1. Today I just tested and was overjoyed to see nitrite has dropped to 0.25! This is the first nitrite drop I have had so I'm hoping I'm nearly there. I've topped up the ammonia, and we'll see what the readings are tomorrow. Nitrates are reading somewhere between 80 and 160, its hard to tell. They were at 5 when I started the whole thing off.

And that photo if you can

I'll post a photo in a while as I'm just on my way out.

Then we can get into helping you my friend

I hope you can, as the new tank is an eyesore right now!

 

[doresy]

Wow, that's better!

Shame about the out of date kit but glad to hear all is well in that department now.

Nice tank (now that the filter is removed ) and a good external.

Ammonia seems to be processing well. Your nitrite is processing too which is good. I don't suppose you know if the nitrite hit a spike while using the duff testing kit?

It is common for a cycle to stall (my last one did, twice! too 8 weeks in all )

I have to ask (don't be offended), you've not forgotten the dechlorinator.....ever?

This algae problem then......

You could easily shave off an hour a session......8 hours total is plenty (or you could even blank the tank off completely for a few days)

Can't comment on the CO2 side of things as I don't use it myself although heavily planted.

Obviously, if you plant heavily this will give the algae plenty of competition for norishment.

In the absence of a photo can you describe the algae condition. Colours, where is it mainly ie. sides of tank, dec's, plants or floating in the water (green water)

That's all for now from me until that photo.
With what we have both included now in this thread another member who is more experienced in these matters than me may join in

 

[razorkai]

Ammonia seems to be processing well. Your nitrite is processing too which is good. I don't suppose you know if the nitrite hit a spike while using the duff testing kit?

No, I'm not sure. The readings were higher but it is hard to say how accurate they were. I read a few comments from people that a planted tank will not show a true nitrite spike when cycling, and that seems to have been the case.

It is common for a cycle to stall (my last one did, twice! too 8 weeks in all )
Good to know I'm not alone. It is so annoying though!

I have to ask (don't be offended), you've not forgotten the dechlorinator.....ever?
Nope.

You could easily shave off an hour a session......8 hours total is plenty (or you could even blank the tank off completely for a few days)
I may well go for a blackout, but the lighting timings were taken from a George Farmer article, so I'm assuming they're pretty good.

Ok, brace yourself for some poor quality photos...

 

[MarkByrom]

Doesn't look like anything to worry about there to be honest bro. Give it a good clean and change a bit of the water say 20%.

I have two 9" sucker loaches if one would like to borrow them lol! They can clean a full tank in under two days between em.

 

[razorkai]

Hmm... well I added the photos and its all gone quiet

 

[nogsnellin]

Hmm... well I added the photos and its all gone quiet

Hi haven't posted on here for nearly 2 years but am now (hopefully) at the end of cycling my Aqua one 220 litre tank.

If its any consolation my tank looks awful too!! I recognise that brown stringy algae, its everywhere in mine.

When i do my big water change hopefully this Saturday i will wash all the bogwood and plants and hope my 6 inch suckermouth is hungry when i transfer him from my 60 litre tank.

I want to put some more plants in but i think he will just destroy them.

 

[tenohfive]

I've had similar issues (though my tank has cycled) with the algae, and have just added a tiny otto yesterday to deal with it. I don't think you've got anything to worry about there mate.

 

[razorkai]

My cycle is finally complete and my fish are transferred over from their old home. They seem happy enough, but I am still fighting with this algae issue. Can someone please confirm that the algae in the second picture is brown algae? Assuming it is I have two types of algae to fight as the Green Water is also in strong command of the tank right now. I tried using Interpet Green Away and it worked very well for a short while. Added it on Friday, and the green water was pretty clear by Saturday morning. Now (Monday) it is back and nearly as bad as before. I've done a 30% water change today and pulled some of the brown algae out. Research seems to suggest a blackout might help with the green water but I read that this will have no effect on the brown algae. I'm also a little worried about not being able to keep an eye on the fish as they get used to their new home. I'm currently keeping the lights off in the tank, but don't know if this is good or bad?
Any ideas how I can tackle this problem guys?

FYI, fish stocks at the moment are

2 genuine Siamese Algae Eaters (don't seem to be doing much algae eating!)
2 bristlenose plecos
4 Bosemani Rainbows
5 gold tetra
6 zebra loach

P.S. Thanks to the guys who responded to my pics

 

[nogsnellin]

I did my big water change on Saturday about 90% because the brown stuff was on everything. Cleaned the sides,plants and bogwood as i drained down. Put all my fish in from my 24 inch and so far its looking good

So Razorkai try a big water change sucking upas much algae as you go. Don't worry too much about your good bacteria most will be in the filter.

 

[razorkai]

I did my big water change on Saturday about 90% because the brown stuff was on everything. Cleaned the sides,plants and bogwood as i drained down. Put all my fish in from my 24 inch and so far its looking good

So Razorkai try a big water change sucking upas much algae as you go. Don't worry too much about your good bacteria most will be in the filter.

Sadly I already did that, soon after my cycle had finished and before adding any fish.