help

[marybeth1975]

Help. Im new to the hobby and am in the process of cycling my tank. Im getting a growth of "brown" stuff on my substrate and fake coral (I have my live rock ordered) I did a 25% water change on Saturday and it seemed to get better for a day or so. Then now it is spreading all over the substrate, the glass, and the fake coral. Does anyone know what this is and how to treat it?

 

[BlueCorn]

[moved]

 

[mg426]

Sounds like diatoms. Not at all uncommon in a new tank. Usually lets up on its own. Just keep doing good tank maintenance. Keep an eye on Nitrates/ phospates/ silicates as one or all of them are most likely the cause.

 

[marybeth1975]

Is there anything I can buy at the LFS for this? I've been keeping an eye on the nitrates but don't have testing supplies for the phospates or silicates yet. I guess I just don't understand how this is happening. Guess I'll "hit the books"...lol

 

[sage1970]

New tanks tend to go thru different spells of algae, growths, etc....what you have is a normal occurance...just be patient and usually it goes away on its own.

 

[Aquabucket]

Are you using pure water such as RO/DI or distilled? How much flow do you have in your tank?