Brown algae spots. Tank not fully cycled. Can I...?

deadfrog · 01-19-2013, 01:26 AM

Hi All,

I have a 10gal. that is cycling with Danios. my cycle is almost complete, numbers are registering really low, since last time I checked. Last night, I threw in a small potted anubia gold and a java fern and now I am seeing brown spots in my tank glass on rocks the leaves themselves.

Can I thrown in some algae eaters, maybe an oto?

Here are my numbers from 1 week ago...

pH = 7.4
Ammonia = .5
Nitrite = .2
Nitrate = 5.0

Sajacobs · 01-19-2013, 01:59 AM

I would think it depends on the Otto. Some fish are very sensitive to ammonia and nitrites. When you put a fish into a tank that's not cycled, you will need to do WC changes to lower ammonia and nitrites so it won't get sick. WC can slow down the tank cycling.

I've cycled my tank with goldfish. Doing WC everyday gets to be a drag.

I'm sure the Otto will clean the algae in a day or two. So I recommend to wait for the tank to cycle and then add the Otto. Then your tank will get cleaned in no time at all and the fish won't get sick.

**l8nite** · 01-19-2013, 03:05 AM

That brown diatom algae will clean off very easily. If it really bothers you, grab an old credit card and scrape it off

Aquaticz · 01-19-2013, 03:27 AM

+1 to waiting a week. Ottos have a high mortality rate initially due to shipping practices. I always by 2-3 times what I want permanently. Those that make it do very well with their little flat bellies. I really like algae eaters but they hardly touch it and only when young from personal observations. I once had a 75 gal set up with 30-40 of them.i still have about five adults

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01-19-2013, 01:26 AM	#1
deadfrog Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: California Posts: 22	Brown algae spots. Tank not fully cycled. Can I...? Hi All, I have a 10gal. that is cycling with Danios. my cycle is almost complete, numbers are registering really low, since last time I checked. Last night, I threw in a small potted anubia gold and a java fern and now I am seeing brown spots in my tank glass on rocks the leaves themselves. Can I thrown in some algae eaters, maybe an oto? Here are my numbers from 1 week ago... pH = 7.4 Ammonia = .5 Nitrite = .2 Nitrate = 5.0

01-19-2013, 03:05 AM	#3
l8nite Zombie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Fremont, CA Posts: 682	That brown diatom algae will clean off very easily. If it really bothers you, grab an old credit card and scrape it off __________________ HANdS: 110G Community, 10G Fry Containment Unit, 7.5G ADA Bettascape, 2.3G Moss Recovery Unit, 2G Fluval Spec

01-19-2013, 03:27 AM	#4
Aquaticz Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 417	+1 to waiting a week. Ottos have a high mortality rate initially due to shipping practices. I always by 2-3 times what I want permanently. Those that make it do very well with their little flat bellies. I really like algae eaters but they hardly touch it and only when young from personal observations. I once had a 75 gal set up with 30-40 of them.i still have about five adults Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD __________________ Regards, Aquaticz

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01-19-2013, 01:59 AM	#2
Sajacobs Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Brewster, ny Posts: 213	I would think it depends on the Otto. Some fish are very sensitive to ammonia and nitrites. When you put a fish into a tank that's not cycled, you will need to do WC changes to lower ammonia and nitrites so it won't get sick. WC can slow down the tank cycling. I've cycled my tank with goldfish. Doing WC everyday gets to be a drag. I'm sure the Otto will clean the algae in a day or two. So I recommend to wait for the tank to cycle and then add the Otto. Then your tank will get cleaned in no time at all and the fish won't get sick.