Cycling and algae issues

[jobney]

Edit: Algae is gone. (acceptably minimized)

I wanted to get some feedback on this. I'm currently cycling my system. It's about 265 US Gallons (1003L) total. I have about 13 goldfish that eat regularly. My ammonia has been locked at .5 for a long time and might have gone down. There has never been any sign of nitrite or nitrate. The system water is now starting to get green with algae and the walls of the fish tank have some red algae film on it. I know I should cover my fish tank to keep the light out but have not done so yet. Is it possible that the algae is sucking up the ammonia directly? Do I just need twice as many fish to overload the algae and get the biofilter going?

Fish tank: 150 US gallon Rubbermaid Stock Tank
Mechanical filter: Swirl filter tank & Brush filter tote.
Biofilter: MBBR
AES Proline- Dry Ammonia Remover (Amquel clone) to remove chloramines.

[GaryD]

What is your pH? That's what will determine whether your ammonia levels are an issue.

With ammonia at that level, the system will eventually cycle. What do your ambient temperatures look like?

Gary

[jobney]

Yeah I just checked. The ammonia looks to have lowered a little.
Ammonia: .25 (The lowest positive reading)
Nitrite: 0
pH 7.5 (Is blue with no green on the API pH test = 7.6 or >) (Is gold on the High Range pH test = 7.4 or <)

This pH range is hard to read as it's at the top of the Standard pH test and the bottom of the High Range pH test. I tested my sink RO water that is very acidic with the High Range pH test just to make sure it was gold. They matched.

What is your pH? That's what will determine whether your ammonia levels are an issue.

With ammonia at that level, the system will eventually cycle. What do your ambient temperatures look like?

Gary

[Ravnis]

Is it possible that the algae is sucking up the ammonia directly? Do I just need twice as many fish to overload the algae and get the biofilter going?
.

I believe that is exactly what is happening. You can simply feed your fish more instead of getting more fish if you liked. The other possible culprit could be the AES proline if it is like amquel. When I first looked at amquel, I decided against it as it altered ammonia readings.


How long has it been cycling, it can take up to a week before the bacteria that turn the fish waste to ammonia to grow and start processing.

[jobney]

It's been 3 weeks though I started with fewer fish and added more slowly. The ammonia on first testing was already at .5 when I had added the first 3 fish only the day or two before (3 weeks ago now). I assumed it was the ammonia released when the chloramines were destroyed.
I also have a Salicylate based test kit that should read the amquel or proline version of it accurately.

I believe that is exactly what is happening. You can simply feed your fish more instead of getting more fish if you liked. The other possible culprit could be the AES proline if it is like amquel. When I first looked at amquel, I decided against it as it altered ammonia readings.


How long has it been cycling, it can take up to a week before the bacteria that turn the fish waste to ammonia to grow and start processing.

[Ravnis]

I suspect the algae is consuming it, but you may be gassing off the ammonia too. Your fish mass is low and gold fish don't have that big of an output as compared to other food fish like tilapia. You could try to cover your main fishtank with a tarp and see if your ammonia levels rise. Also if it's the algae you should see a slight increase early in the morning before the sun rises as they need the sunlight to process ammonia efficiently.

[jobney]

I was thinking it could be that all my ammonia has been from the initial water purification and top offs and that the fish are only contributing a small amount. ...along with the algae thing.

[Toga]

Hi Jobney,

I noticed through your pics and video's that that all your filter compartments appear to have lids. Are the lids in place all the time ? Nitrifying bacteria hate light of any sort and thrive in a completely dark black environment. If there are any major light issues in the filter side this will dramatically decrease their efficiency, potentially leaving ammonia untreated, hence continued ammonia readings. That same light will encourage algae that will feed off this ammonia.

Different coloured algae are different strains of algae that feed from different sectors of the nitrifying process. Also to the same point, different levels of micro & macro nutrients will encourage different algae to grow.

Red algae, actually is not an algae, it is a cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria mainly feed on phosphates and nitrates. In fresh water low iron levels also appear to contribute to its proliferation.

It is not uncommon for some systems to take up to 8, 10 & 12 weeks to cycle, depending on the variables of micro & macro elements present in the system. Add to those variables the composition of your 'raw' tap water & the resultant element effect of treating tap water, just adds to the initial imbalance of the system. Hence the term 'new tank syndrome'.

You could also consider the addition of freeze dried nitrifying bacteria to enhance the colonization of your filters.

I wouldnt be too concerned at this stage. Keep your filters (and tanks) in the dark, perhaps check your iron levels, keep an eyes on the basics, grab a beer and let mother nature continue to do its job 'ney'


Cheers
Toga

[jobney]

Hi Jobney,
I noticed through your pics and video's that that all your filter compartments appear to have lids. Are the lids in place all the time?

Yes, normally all the lids are on. The fish tank does not have a lid yet though. My fish tank is nearly always in the shade so all sun is indirect. Just think how bad it might be in the sun.

[jobney]

Yay, some movement on the cycling front. I have not tested the water levels in a while and I added a few more fish earlier in the week. The ammonia is 0, nitrite is between 0 and .25, and the nitrate is between 0 and 5. (ppm)

The wife is going to make me a cover for the fish tank out of blackout fabric to kill off this algae.