Is glass algae a sign of a tank cycled?

RioReefr · 07/24/2020, 02:43 PM

I setup a new 125G tank back on July 1st and used live rock/sand from an older 40G tank. I had added 3 different bottles of "bacteria in a bottle". The 25G sump has lots of live rock, some Seachem Matrix and a block of Marine Pure (also from another tank).

Ammonia: 0 (using Seachem and Sera)
Nitrite: 8 ppm (using Hanna's Nitrite ULR Checker), Seachem shows nothing.
Nitrate: not really sure, but Seachem test shows little or nothing
Phosphates: O.43 ppm(using Hanna's Phosphate ULR Checker).

All my critters are alive like trochus snails, hermit crabs, peppermint shrimp, copepods and amphipods.

Everyday,I add one cap (5mL) of Seachem Prime to the tank.

There are 2 clownfish I feed 2x a day with Seaweed Extreme.

I am seeing signs of fine film of glass algae with lots of copepods. Would it be safe to say the tank is cycled?

xtremeyolks · 07/24/2020, 04:15 PM

Sounds like diatoms to me. Easy to wipe of the glass like dust?

RioReefr · 07/25/2020, 05:42 AM

In my opinion, the glass algae is a very slight biofilm that I see tons of copepods moving about on. I don't want to remove it as it seems like the copepods are feeding off it.

Also, I see some slight browning on my CaribSea Live Sand. It is very slight and just in a few areas.

With these 2 things happening is safe to say that my tank is cycled?

Other than phosphates, the Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates are non-existent according to several test kits.

Sk8r · 07/25/2020, 07:47 AM

COpepods do go after film.

For a test, do this: drop in a few flakes of fishfood. Do it every day. If you get no ammonia spike, you're cycled.

07/24/2020, 02:43 PM	#1
RioReefr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 394	Is glass algae a sign of a tank cycled? I setup a new 125G tank back on July 1st and used live rock/sand from an older 40G tank. I had added 3 different bottles of "bacteria in a bottle". The 25G sump has lots of live rock, some Seachem Matrix and a block of Marine Pure (also from another tank). Ammonia: 0 (using Seachem and Sera) Nitrite: 8 ppm (using Hanna's Nitrite ULR Checker), Seachem shows nothing. Nitrate: not really sure, but Seachem test shows little or nothing Phosphates: O.43 ppm(using Hanna's Phosphate ULR Checker). All my critters are alive like trochus snails, hermit crabs, peppermint shrimp, copepods and amphipods. Everyday,I add one cap (5mL) of Seachem Prime to the tank. There are 2 clownfish I feed 2x a day with Seaweed Extreme. I am seeing signs of fine film of glass algae with lots of copepods. Would it be safe to say the tank is cycled?

07/25/2020, 07:47 AM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	COpepods do go after film. For a test, do this: drop in a few flakes of fishfood. Do it every day. If you get no ammonia spike, you're cycled. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/24/2020, 04:15 PM	#2
xtremeyolks Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 12	Sounds like diatoms to me. Easy to wipe of the glass like dust?

07/25/2020, 05:42 AM	#3
RioReefr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 394	In my opinion, the glass algae is a very slight biofilm that I see tons of copepods moving about on. I don't want to remove it as it seems like the copepods are feeding off it. Also, I see some slight browning on my CaribSea Live Sand. It is very slight and just in a few areas. With these 2 things happening is safe to say that my tank is cycled? Other than phosphates, the Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates are non-existent according to several test kits.