cajunstitcher

My fresh water tank has been cycling for a little over a week, and I thought it was doing good, then yesterday I noticed the decor starting to turn brown. Today it is a little worse. Are these diatoms? I have not yet done a water change. Should I be doing so now? If so, how much. Should I rinse the brown off decor and plastic plants, and rinse filters? Or should I just leave as it is and let it go away? Do you think it is now cycled enough to put fish in? I will be putting African cichlids. I know I have a lot of questions, but I know also that this is the best place to ask them. Also, how much should I be leaving aquarium lights on? I have been leaving on 24/7, as I was told this would help with cycling.

catfishlover123

You should leave them on 12 hours a day. I think the brown stuff might be algae. Pics would help. Maybe a moderater can help you. Good luck with your cycle!

Shawnie

diatoms is normal for a new tank..it actually lasts for a few months sometimes...dont rinse anything....leave it be...do you have a test kit? thats the only way you know when the cycle is done..with 0 ammonia and nitrites, and under 20 nitrates.do NOT add fish until then..the diatoms appearing so soon is probably from too much light on..just leave it on 8-10 hours a day and then off...turning up the heater to 86 or so will help more than the lights....what are you using to cycle with ?

cajunstitcher

I put filters, rocks and fake plants from my other tank. Also, I have an algae eater and catfish in there. I will try turning off lights. I was told at the beginning to leave them on 24/7. SO confusing!! Thanks.

agabr123

what kind of algae eater and what kind of catfish? if you're in the middle of the cycle i would return them, and especially if you're going to have africans in that tank. africans ONLY do well with other africans, they'll likely kill anything else in there.

don't worry about trying to get rid of the diatoms, they'll just go away on their own in 4-6 months or so

cajunstitcher

What kind of algae eater can I put in there? I don't know what I have. I had them with my tropicals, and they are the only thing I had left. I can bring them to the pet store. Thanks.

jdhef

I don't want to start a cat fight between you and Lucy but...I thought Lucy had posted something recently stating that Diatoms actually thrive in less light rather than more.

I hate when two of the most knowledgable member aren't in sync, because I believe both of you!

Jonah

I am sure Lucy's post was that they grew more in the lighted part and less in the unlit part hang on let me find the post

h it wasn't Lucy it was Capekate and here is the post Diatom growth in new tanks... theory.

Suggestion lights off reduces diatom growth

Angela_96

Diatoms are just part of the new tank , they will go away in a while.

As for the catfish, if its suitible for the tank size, I would take caution with it and the malawis. I have had one pleco they killed in a week, then I have had plecos in their for a l ong long time (and gave the plecos away due to their size) Right now i have bushynose plecos in my tank with polits and afras and theya re small and fast enough to hide in the rocks that I haven't had any injuries to them.

That is a touch and go thing though, they malawis are very mean fish. Syonosis (sp) catfish are great with mbuna.

Shawnie

we love cat fights LOL especially between lucy and I ..but I was referring like jonah said to capekates new experiment although I do agree diatoms are almost always in all new tanks irregardless of lighting.. just been watching kates thread to see if lighting makes a difference in the speed of them appearing and disappearing

jdhef

I must have missed CapeKate's thread. I've been having a hard time keeping up recently.

Shawnie

age does that to US john

cajunstitcher

Well, I'm glad someone posted about that. I was getting mixed messages on the lighting. One post says 24/7, another, you need to limit light. Thanks!