Brown Algae

F

fishtender

I am in the process of my initial cycle and yesterday I started noticing a light dusting of brown algae on the rock and SB. I am sure this is a normal part of the cycle, but am wondering at what stage this normally shows up. Am I to add a CUC at this time? I don't want to do too much, or the wrong thing to disturb the cycle. I have been through this before, but it was many years ago and, well, jsut can't recall...

I have been reading on-line, and have learned one thing, everyone seems to have their own opinion and I am just a bit confused...

Thanks all!!

Howard
 
Its probably diatoms. Perfectly normal. If your nitrates are very close to zero and there is no trace of amonia you could add some snails and hermits.
 
Hi,

Do not add anything during the cycle. You should wait until ammonia and nitrates are zero and nitrates have stopped decreasing then waterchange to knock out the remaining nitrates, then add a small cleanup crew. At least that's how I would do it. What you are seeing now is just part of the process, let it do it's thing. You will also go through different phases of algae blooms, cyano etc after the tank is cycles as all of the organism's are coming into balance and your little eco-system is evolving. Continue watching the tank and you will be amazed at the lil' life forms that "pop out of nowhere" and start scampering around. :D

Cheers,
 
Almost all new tanks get brown algae, then it will often turn a shade of green, and will dissapate as the tank gets a little more mature. Just leave it be. The best lesson we can tell you, is just have patience.
 
Yes, those phases are perfectly normal and it's a good thing you have them.

The brown color are the skeletons of the diatoms. I still have some on the back panel of glass in my tank. It's just the phase. I have left it alone and tried not to stir up the sand to much as it would cause a shift in parameters most likely!

Anyways -- enjoy the patience!
 
i just finished that phase and it is normal. After you do that first water change and add that clean up crew.. it will be under control. I cycled mine with the lights on and the diatoms were not really that bad. Also make sure you have good water movement... it helps alot!!
 
Well, I am past the diatom part and it really was not that bad. Only lasted a couple days. I now have no amonia, nitrites are falling to almost 0 now, but my nitrates are not climbing as I expected and I am getting some Cyano now. Not real bad, patches mostly on the DSB. Some getting bubbles... CUC should be in the tank by tomorrow. Got to go pick it up from Frank.

I have LOTS of Copapods! They breed like rabbits!!
 
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