Macro Algea during cycle

[Luke Schnabel]

My tank is 2 weeks old and going thru a cycle. Is it ok to put some macro Algea in my sump?

 

[Thomeski]

From what i read wait till the cycle is complete and then some more. Macro will need a nutrients to grow, so its better to stock a tank before it.

 

[whosurcaddie]

There really is no problem in adding it. It wont slow down your cycle as it doesn't process ammonia or nitrite only phosphate and nitrate.

 

[Ebone]

won't hurt during cycle, won't help much either benefit will be once you have nutrients in the system needing removal (or using the nutrients so algae can't)

 

[Quiet_Ivy]

There really is no problem in adding it. It wont slow down your cycle as it doesn't process ammonia or nitrite only phosphate and nitrate.

Oh no, algae *loves* ammonia. I'd be surprised if it couldn't uptake nitrite as well (zoox in anemones can) Will it affect the cycle? I've no proof but I doubt it. People get live rock with micro and macro algae all the time and don't seem to have issues.

Found the article from reefkeeping magazine, this is credit to Randy Holmes-Farley:

Algae, both micro and macro, for example, readily use ammonia from the water. In cases where they are exposed to both nitrate and ammonia as nitrogen sources, many preferentially take up ammonia.6 When using nitrate, many of the pertinent biochemical pathways require the organism to reduce nitrate to ammonia before using it, so taking up ammonia makes sense.6

hth
ivy (algae's a real problem in ebb/flow and hydroponic greenhouses)

 

[Saltliquid]

Algae beneficial to importing-exporting can survive if not thrive in any conditions we through at them except-temps above 24c may adversely affect some, temps below 16c may affect some, incorrect flow and if attachments are placed deeper then 8 inches below the surface this will slow growth, any and all metals will adversely affect them and if no with slight dosing of iron, cal, mag, tiny amounts of iodine, then eventually they may collapse and die!
Basic blue and cool white didoes are fine for them.
Watch the species of algae you use, they will chem fight and cause issues with adverse amounts of Caulerpenyne
.
And of course if your live rock accidentally introduces predators to it, there it goes!