latewood: The algae appeared on the top layer of perlite within the first couple of days after germination. How does that happen so quickly. I don't really expect an answer to that. I'm just amazed at how fast it showed up. Algae normally lives in the top layer of topsoil so I'm not to worried. The roots will be in complete darkness soon and there are tons of beneficials on these plants (endo/ecto myco and bacteria.) The algae won't be a problem if it doesn't get any light, right? Oh, and since my fertilizers arrived (AN Iguana series, mother earth, and organic-b) about a week and a half ago, the algae has faded away. I think this might have something to do with the beneficials in the ME which are being sprayed onto the surface of the perlite (the beneficals that were on there before were root and seed dips and they would have clogged the spray nozzle.) Wow, that is some longwinded crap. I'm going to go scrape a bowl since I'm all out of green