Algea Cycle

[Anonymous]

Hi,

There is tons of information all arround about the nitrogen cycle, but I have only fond a couple of alusions to the Algea cycle. Can someone point me to some information on this. My tank has started heading that way, with a recent bloom of micro algea, and I am curious about what I should be seeing in some sort of rough timeline

Thanks in advance

 

[ChrisRD]

I think the reason you won't find a timeline anywhere is because it's impossible to say. There are just too many factors and every system is different.

In general you'll likely see a few different types of algae come and go in the first six months or so. After that you're generally out of the woods unless something happens to cause an imbalance (and therefore another nuisance algae outbreak).

I know that's not a real definitive answer, but in short, there isn't one...

 

[Anonymous]

Believe it or not, I have read everything online suggested in those links (I of course have not bought all the books). It has just been a little difficult to find information on what to expect. That kind of puts newbies in a situation where they are wondering "Do I leave it alone, or is everything about to crash?". I was just hoping for a few more concrete scraps of information (My green micros have started developing dusty brown areas in them, but I am not ready to panic yet)

 

[ChrisRD]

How old is the tank? Can you describe your setup?

It's common to see a diatom bloom first (dusty brown) and it's really not necessary that you do anything special if you keep your water quality up. It will subside on it's own in time.

 

[Anonymous]

this may blow your mind, but it works

Tank Established - 5/12/04

Tank Specs
10 gallon Marineland Acrylic tank
20 lbs Live Sand
Penguin min power filter
profile 600 powerhead
airstone

Water Chemestry
Amonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - .05
PH - 8.2
Specific Gravity - 1.023
Last Reading 6/16/04 5:45 pm

Tank inhabitants
Chrysiptera parasema: Yellow-tailed Blue Damselfish
Stegastes Variabilis: Cocoa Damselfish
5 hermit crabs to sweep up after the fish
2 mini NO flourescent lites

No coral No live rock no skimmer (savin up for a 55 gallon Oceanic) I keep the water healty by 25%-30% weekly water changes. It has been strongly recommended that I add live rock and a skimmer to the system, but I am a bit of a meiser, and actually enjoy the extra maintenance (the reef tank will be set up on a Berlin system including the the rock skimmer etc.)

I use activated Carbon in the power filter. I do intend to put a protine skimmer on the tank, but good lord they are really expensive for what they are mechanically! I think I might be able to build one from a coke bottle or something. I am sure someone already has.

 

[Anonymous]

Correction, the cocoa has a new home, I now have a 4-striped damselfish (much more peacable)

 

[ChrisRD]

The tank is only a month old and it's common to see diatoms at this stage. Your setup and maintenance routine should work fine, just be sure to keep the power filter clean.

If a lot of crud is allowed to accumulate in it for too long it will start to decompose and negatively effect your water quality.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks,

ok, I did a little research and found a couple of sites on phycology (study of algae) I may be able to piece together information regarding an "Algae" cycle from there. Maybe if I get enough info, I can post something halfway explaining it. The algae cycle seems to have been observed alot, but not documented well.

Anyway, thanks for the info you were able to provide, and for the advice

 

[krullulon]

Thanks,

ok, I did a little research and found a couple of sites on phycology (study of algae) I may be able to piece together information regarding an "Algae" cycle from there. Maybe if I get enough info, I can post something halfway explaining it. The algae cycle seems to have been observed alot, but not documented well.

Anyway, thanks for the info you were able to provide, and for the advice

the main problem with something like this is that the algae cycle isn't consistent from tank to tank due to variables like lighting type, nutrient level, water flow, presence of spores, etc.

that said, i think it's a good exercise -- the more you learn about algae, the better prepared you'll be to deal with it... just don't go into it with the expectation that you'll be able to document a consistently reproducible "cycle"...