I can't grow algae

Mr.Shrimps · 08/12/2017, 07:35 PM

My tank is about two months old and I have 5 fish. I feed frozen mysis everyday. No skimmer, no reactors, etc.

Why do I not get algae? Where are all the nutrients going?

Thanks.

BigT75 · 08/12/2017, 07:36 PM

Wow want mine I can't calm mine down

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Valentini89 · 08/12/2017, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigT75

Wow want mine I can't calm mine down

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Lol I hear that I get cyano about once a month.. but I am guessing that is because i use conditioned tap water.

ichthyogeek · 08/12/2017, 08:45 PM

How often do you do water changes? Is the sand new? How big is the tank? What could be happening is that the tank's currently acting as a phosphate sink (the sand and rock are binding phosphates), and once it gets filled to capacity...boom, the algae's coming in with a vengeance.

Mr.Shrimps · 08/12/2017, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ichthyogeek

How often do you do water changes? Is the sand new? How big is the tank? What could be happening is that the tank's currently acting as a phosphate sink (the sand and rock are binding phosphates), and once it gets filled to capacity...boom, the algae's coming in with a vengeance.

I haven't done a water change since I started the tank two months ago. The sand was brand new. It is a 40 gallon. The only bit of algae I have seen is some diatoms.

ahuaia · 08/12/2017, 11:22 PM

There could be so many reasons that you don't have algae yet that's a hard question to answer. My tank didn't have algae for about 6 months and then I add one frag to my system and boom algae everywhere.

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Mr.Shrimps · 08/12/2017, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahuaia

There could be so many reasons that you don't have algae yet that's a hard question to answer. My tank didn't have algae for about 6 months and then I add one frag to my system and boom algae everywhere.

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What could be some reasons?

djbon · 08/12/2017, 11:37 PM

Just be careful with what you wish for hehehhe. Hopefully we won't see another thread from you looking for help getting rid algae. It will pop once your tank is ready for it, don't worry too much for now.

vhuang168 · 08/13/2017, 12:28 AM

Give it time. It will come.

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Reeferparty · 08/13/2017, 02:38 AM

Since you haven't done a water change since you started, I highly recommend doing so after the cycle

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Jon0807 · 08/13/2017, 07:51 PM

I didn't get any algae at all for a few months. My phosphates and nitrates were super high too. Then I decided to use this phosphate removing pad and GHA exploded all over my tank. I can't explain why, maybe it's just coincidence. But as others have said, be careful what you wish for.

djbon · 08/13/2017, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon0807

I didn't get any algae at all for a few months. My phosphates and nitrates were super high too. Then I decided to use this phosphate removing pad and GHA exploded all over my tank. I can't explain why, maybe it's just coincidence. But as others have said, be careful what you wish for.

It is all about nutrient balancing which we don't truly understand. A matured tank knows how to deal with it naturally, a lot of "old" tank have tons of nutrients and not a single algae is visible.

08/12/2017, 07:35 PM	#1
Mr.Shrimps Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Springfield Va Posts: 116	I can't grow algae My tank is about two months old and I have 5 fish. I feed frozen mysis everyday. No skimmer, no reactors, etc. Why do I not get algae? Where are all the nutrients going? Thanks.

08/12/2017, 08:45 PM	#4
ichthyogeek Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Arkansas Posts: 742	How often do you do water changes? Is the sand new? How big is the tank? What could be happening is that the tank's currently acting as a phosphate sink (the sand and rock are binding phosphates), and once it gets filled to capacity...boom, the algae's coming in with a vengeance. __________________ So many fish/corals/inverts to keep/breed, not enough aquaria Back after a 5 year hiatus.

08/12/2017, 11:37 PM	#8
djbon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, MY Posts: 813	Just be careful with what you wish for hehehhe. Hopefully we won't see another thread from you looking for help getting rid algae. It will pop once your tank is ready for it, don't worry too much for now. __________________ 75 gallon DT, 5 gallon sump, DIY LED bar with moonlight, DIY Arduino controller Current Tank Info: 75 gallon/Arduino Controller

08/13/2017, 12:28 AM	#9
vhuang168 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,136	Give it time. It will come. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Vincent 40g custom AIO --> DSA190Pro

08/13/2017, 07:51 PM	#11
Jon0807 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 293	I didn't get any algae at all for a few months. My phosphates and nitrates were super high too. Then I decided to use this phosphate removing pad and GHA exploded all over my tank. I can't explain why, maybe it's just coincidence. But as others have said, be careful what you wish for. __________________ 40g breeder DT, 40g breeder sump

08/12/2017, 07:36 PM	#2
BigT75 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 235	Wow want mine I can't calm mine down Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

08/12/2017, 11:22 PM	#6
ahuaia Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 228	There could be so many reasons that you don't have algae yet that's a hard question to answer. My tank didn't have algae for about 6 months and then I add one frag to my system and boom algae everywhere. Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

08/13/2017, 02:38 AM	#10
Reeferparty Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 386	Since you haven't done a water change since you started, I highly recommend doing so after the cycle Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk