Green hair algae during cycle

[nark54321]

I’ve been cycling for around 2 weeks now. On day 7 I added the larger rock in the middle and it caused an ammonia spike and now it is settling down, currently it is around 0.25ppm and now I’m just waiting for the nitrates to finish climbing, they are currently around 35-40ppm. I’m wondering if I should do a water change because I do not want this stuff to get out of hand. My phosphates are at 0.05ppm. Not sure if I should do a water change or just let it go.

 

[Brew12]

A water change likely won't help much. Its time to add a CuC!

Also, with that much algae I seriously doubt you have any ammonia. My guess is you are seeing 0.25 on an API test kit. You can accept that as a 0ppm reading. API often reads 0.25 even when ammonia is 0ppm.

 

[nark54321]

A water change likely won't help much. Its time to add a CuC!

Also, with that much algae I seriously doubt you have any ammonia. My guess is you are seeing 0.25 on an API test kit. You can accept that as a 0ppm reading. API often reads 0.25 even when ammonia is 0ppm.

You sir are correct. But.... I assume I should do a water change to remove some of the nitrates before I add the CUC. Correct?

 

[Animal Chin]

Since its brand new, I'd pull those rocks out during your water change and scrub them really well to get as much of that algae off as possible. Pull the circulation pump and clean that too. If you start adding livestock and food to that tank that algae will go nuts. With no livestock its the perfect time to give it a good clean with a stiff plastic bristle brush...

 

[Animal Chin]

Oh and you don't need light to cycle. I know its fun to see the tank but turn your lights off for a week and really let that algae dye off.

 

[nickenayat]

What tank do you have?

 

[Brew12]

You sir are correct. But.... I assume I should do a water change to remove some of the nitrates before I add the CUC. Correct?

A water change wouldn't hurt but your parameters are find unless you want to add starfish or urchins. Snails and hermits would handle those nitrates with no problem. Even most starfish would do fine but some can be sensitive.