Do you think algae scraping affects the cycle?

[Anonymous]

I'm cycling a tank right now, and since there is nothing in it right now, I'm having a hard time motivating myself to clean the algae off of the glass. In my feeble attempt to rationalize my actions, I was thinking, "Algae is used to export waste out of the aquarium. If you take the algae out and cause it to regrow, how does that affect the waste levels in the tank?" Would a non scraped tank cycle faster than a scraped one?

Glenn

 

[davelin315]

Don't think it matters. After all, if the nutrients are there, the algae will grow back right away. That's why so many of us keep tons of snails and other algae eaters in our tanks. Before I stockpiled turbos and astreas, I had to scrape my glass every day. Now, I scrape it about once every month or two, and I can always see clearly through it.

 

[SPC]

Glen, IMO the algae is indeed taking in the nutrients that would go towards building the bacteria population, how much this matters, I couldn't say.
Steve

 

[fishfarmer]

Since algae is growing it is utilizing the wastes in the tank. By exporting the algae you are lowering the available nutrients for some critters(copepods, etc.). If you aren't importing more food(future wastes), then the algae wouldn't grow as fast and neither would the other critters using this food source.

I think that your "cycle" would be faster if you exported algae/wastes, meaning you would see zeros on your nitrogen tests. BUT I believe you want as much available food/algae/wastes in your tank at this time to fully establish the bacterial colonies, worms, pods, snails, etc. so when you start adding fish/corals/feed your tank will be able to handle the load of new wastes.