furryfrog02

I recently set up a 55gallon tank and started cycling with fish food since no pure ammonia is available around me. well after about a week and a half the water started smelling bad and the algae started growing. I emptied the water and rinsed the rocks and silk plants off and refilled the tank. everything was hunky-dory until lastnite when the water started turning green again. I added some Tetra algae control this morning and haven't noticed any change what so ever. I was wondering if perhaps some of the algae could have been on the stuff when I added it back to the water and if thats the case if I take everything out and bleach it and refill would that effectively kill off the algae?

The tank is in an area that doesn't get any direct sunlight so I'm sure that isn't the problem. I think it has to do with the rotting fish food from trying to cycle fishless. thanks for the help!

mathas

I've read several sources that say green water tends to occur when ammonia is elevated, which would certainly be the case during a cycle.

It might be worth reading this thread for suggested fixes: Green Water

aquarist48

Can anyone ID this algae?
Above is a link to another thread about green algae. Hope it helps you.

furryfrog02

thanks everyone. I read the other links but nothing was really a viable solution for me. The tank just got worse and worse as the day went on. Amazing how fast that stuff can grow. I emptied the tank(2nd time this week....thats A LOT of water in a 55gal) bleached EVERYTHING...rocks, plants, filter...took the tank outside and wiped it down with water and bleach and rinsed it out. This morning everything is dry and smelling like it did when I bought it....clean....I'm going to fill'er up again and hope that it doesn't come back.
I don't think the fishless fish food cycle is going to work for me unfortunately. Thanks for everyone's help!