[Phayes]

Just got off the phone with my LFS. I had told them that i was 3.5 weeks into my cycle, and have had diatom algae for the past 1.5 weeks. I tested my water last night and had undetectable amounts of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. pH, alkalinity, and salinity are all normal. They told me that at 3.5 weeks, its a likelyhood that ammonia hasn't even spiked yet. My question is, is that I was under the assumption that once you saw diatom algea during your cycle, it was an indicator that you were into the "nitrate" cycle of the nitrogen cycle. So my LFS is telling me that I probably haven't even developed my ammonia spike yet? I'm very confused, and would appreciate some light on this issue

Any answers or advice, always appreciated

Phayes

[Taras1]

What's in your tank so far? Diatoms are one of the first algae you see during the cycling process. You then should see green algae and then coralline algae. I've been taught that coralline algae is what's desired and shows that you have started to stablize your tank. At 3 1/2 weeks you are ready to have some scavengers in your tank (the "clean up crews of snails, crabs, etc.).

[NATIVEVAMAN]

There is a well kept secret about tank cycles.They never end.....you get one big one that goes on until the nitrogen cycle is done.Then another one starts that includes diatoms.Then there is the greean algea cycle.After 6 weeks or so all these cycles end.Then every time you add something that poops in the tank it causes mini cycles.That old bs about inverts dont count in the nitrogen cycle is exactly that.....bs.Every living thing you add to or remove from the tank causes a bacterial adjustment or a cycle.You may not ever notice one after 6 weeks but believe me they are there.