Brown Algea?!?!?!?

[Shrapnel]

Hi guys,
Quick question. I have brown looking Algee!?
I have had the tank for over a week or so now, I am taking this slowly. I have started from scratch, I have introduced Live Rock, this has been in for a week. It was added when the temps, levels etc was right.
I have read lots and it says just leave it, its normal for when cycling is this right?
I wont be introducing any fisheys just yet as advised to!!!
Thanks guys :)

[mousehunter22]

Yeah its perfectly normal to get a bloom of diatom algae!!! It should burn itself out in a week or two if all your parameters are ok :-)

[Johnboyminster]

Hi Shrapnel

You say you added the Rock when the levels were correct, what levels do you mean? As it's the live rock that should start the cycle and it should then take 4 weeks or so to complete a full cycle, you'll see spikes in the parameters and then see everything drop to zero.

Which test kits are you using?

The brown algae sounds to me like Diatoms, they grow on mainly silicate, how long are you keeping your lights on for each day?

My tank has been going for 5 weeks now and i have brown algae growth on the sand bed, live rock and glass, nothing to worry about.

[Shrapnel]

Hi guys

Thanks for the replies! At least I know alls fine!

johnyboy, sorry thats me not being accurate when i wrote when all levels were ok. We popped it in there to start the cycles. My tanks being going for about 2 weeks, Im not sure of the testing kits name, but will hav a look in a while when home as Im on my phone.
How are you getting on with your tank? Have you started to introduce any live stock?

Thanks again, its scarey seeing things going on in the tank but i feel re-assured by you all thank you! :)

[Shrapnel]

Thank you my partner has tested the parameters and say they are all within range! :) Thanks

[Johnboyminster]

No Worries glad to help, my rock was in for 3 weeks before i started to see anything happening and then everything started to happen at once!

My tank is coming along nicely thanks, i added six hermits and 4 snails about 10 days ago. The hermits munched the snails within 3 days and i've lost 2 hermits, unfortunatley i made the mistake of adding these critters a tad too early and have paid the price.

Everything is looking good now though and i added some frags yesterday, i'm going to update my thread in the nano section soon.

Remember the main parameters you should be testing to begin with are Ammonia, Nitite and PH.

It's hard to play the waiting game at first but if you do, it pays!

[reefergeek]

Above is spot on, Also you will start to see allsorts coming out of the rock its very interesting if its your first tank keep an eye out especially at night

[Shrapnel]

oooooowwww...... im gonna be sat there all night now looking for things to come out and happen! lol

The rock looks different most days. I have read so many story's about things popping out the rock! I just cant wait for things to start happening.

Its going to be nice as we have started this from the beginning ourselves, its all our hard work and I cant wait for it to pay off! Thank you! :)