Foo floating around cycling tank

chrisstankevitz · 08/05/2006, 05:42 AM

My tank was cycling for three weeks. I haphazardly turned the lights on. Eventually got some brown algae growing. I left for a two week trip during which time the light was off. When I returned, there is foo floating around the tank. Little flakes - like flakes of skin. All of the algae disappeared.

Is the foo just the dead algae floating around? Is this the sort of stuff a skimmer takes care of? (FYI I have a 24 gallon nanocube)

Should I try to eliminate the foo with water changes?

Could this be responsible for a cycle? My nitrites are zero (after peaking a few weaks ago), but my ammonia is 0.25 (ppm?) which was a bit of a surprise to me.

Thanks for your help and the great site!

Chris

bertoni · 08/05/2006, 10:14 PM

I would guess you're seeing the remains of dead algae. It'll go away on its own, most likely. I would ignore it. You could try to siphon it out if you want.

I don't think there would be enough algal mass to cause much ammonia, but it's hard to say. Maybe something in the live rock died.

tunatogo · 08/06/2006, 01:09 AM

You shouldnt have amonia at that stage. Add some live sand from an established tank. Friend or pet store. Dont use the bagged stuff. Get as much as you can fresh from a local tank. See if that doesnt get your cycle kicked.

tunatogo · 08/06/2006, 01:10 AM

Try some reef rubble too. Your cycle days should be cut short.

chrisstankevitz · 08/06/2006, 01:04 PM

Thanks for the help. Maybe I'm not performing dip test correctly. Perhaps I'll bring a water sample to my LFS.

Thanks,

Chris

08/05/2006, 05:42 AM	#1
chrisstankevitz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Santa Barbara, CA, USA Posts: 118	Foo floating around cycling tank My tank was cycling for three weeks. I haphazardly turned the lights on. Eventually got some brown algae growing. I left for a two week trip during which time the light was off. When I returned, there is foo floating around the tank. Little flakes - like flakes of skin. All of the algae disappeared. Is the foo just the dead algae floating around? Is this the sort of stuff a skimmer takes care of? (FYI I have a 24 gallon nanocube) Should I try to eliminate the foo with water changes? Could this be responsible for a cycle? My nitrites are zero (after peaking a few weaks ago), but my ammonia is 0.25 (ppm?) which was a bit of a surprise to me. Thanks for your help and the great site! Chris

08/05/2006, 10:14 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I would guess you're seeing the remains of dead algae. It'll go away on its own, most likely. I would ignore it. You could try to siphon it out if you want. I don't think there would be enough algal mass to cause much ammonia, but it's hard to say. Maybe something in the live rock died. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

08/06/2006, 01:09 AM	#3
tunatogo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: AL Posts: 15	You shouldnt have amonia at that stage. Add some live sand from an established tank. Friend or pet store. Dont use the bagged stuff. Get as much as you can fresh from a local tank. See if that doesnt get your cycle kicked.

08/06/2006, 01:10 AM	#4
tunatogo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: AL Posts: 15	Try some reef rubble too. Your cycle days should be cut short.

08/06/2006, 01:04 PM	#5
chrisstankevitz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Santa Barbara, CA, USA Posts: 118	Thanks for the help. Maybe I'm not performing dip test correctly. Perhaps I'll bring a water sample to my LFS. Thanks, Chris