kurtyboh
Aquarium Advice Addict
Because the high ammonia/nitrite/nitrate conditions will feed algae and can cause it to bloom very rapidly, removing chemicals that you need to get your tank cycled with. With enough algae in there, it is prfectly safe to add fish, done all the time with fw planted tanks, but most people dont enjoy the look of algae. While most tanks do get an algal bloom, it is certainly not necessary to have one on your way to a healthy tank nor is it guaranteed. By keeping lights off and removing one of the necessary parts for algae you limit the growth of it. Plus it saves money, both in elec cost as well as bulb life, we only get 6-8 months out of em, by not running them for the first month while cycling youve extended your first set of lights by 1/5