Let the brown begin!!

[Home_Depot]

I just started to notice today that the brown algea has started so my cycle must be on it way. So I am thinking it will be a couple of more weeks till everything levels out.....right??

 

[benihana]

I think everyone is different, as I do not recall getting ANY brown in my tank...just make sure your skimmer is working double time, that should at least help

 

[Home_Depot]

Ya my skimmer is working is butt off in the last 4 days I have filled up a 5 gallon bucket and working on the 2nd. I was weird on Sunday there was nothing and when I woke up this morning there was brown all over and when I got home from work there was more!!

 

[Mr James]

How are you cycling your tank?? How much live rock do you have in there and do you plan to put more in later?? Fishless cycle or ?? Personally I would run my halides during the cycle, maybe just the actinics.

Brown is diatoms aren't they?? I always forget the specific names of each. What are your test levels showing for Ammonia, Phosphate, Nitrite and Nitrates (was there another, I forget)?? This will be the true test for whether your tank has cycled. You did fill with DI water correct?? What is your TDS of your DI??

 

[GoingPostal]

When I set up the tank at the pet store the diatom phase lasted about a week and it completely gone, that's tap water and pc lighting though, I've never really gone through it with any of my tanks. Brown is better than green though!

 

[Home_Depot]

I am just letting it do its own thing as far as LR I have one little piece I got from Randy and I did feed my tank with mysis shrimp a few times. I am doing it fishless, I am running my halides they come on at 11am and shut off at 8pm

Yes they are diatoms as far as testing goes I saw the spike in ammonia but that is droped off alot and almost at 0 but now the nitrites are spiking which is rasinig my nitrates. I have not tested phosphates. Should I??

Yes it used all new filters and DI beads and my TDS was 0

Garrett

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11550281#post11550281 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr James
How are you cycling your tank?? How much live rock do you have in there and do you plan to put more in later?? Fishless cycle or ?? Personally I would run my halides during the cycle, maybe just the actinics.

Brown is diatoms aren't they?? I always forget the specific names of each. What are your test levels showing for Ammonia, Phosphate, Nitrite and Nitrates (was there another, I forget)?? This will be the true test for whether your tank has cycled. You did fill with DI water correct?? What is your TDS of your DI??

 

[KADLETZ]

brown,green,to purple your doin it right.

 

[Mr James]

Great answers Garrett!! You understand the cycling process obviously. I wouldn't run the halides that long. I wonder if it complicates things!??

So how much live rock do you have?? Any pics??

 

[Home_Depot]

I only have 1 rock the size of a softball in there the rest are all dead including my sand.OK I will turn the halides on later in the day

 

[dedex]

How's the cycling going?

 

[Home_Depot]

It is going well I think I want to add some snails soon as the algea has started!!!!AAAHHHHH

 

[Mr James]

If you add snails when your nitrates are too high, you'll more than likely kill them. Are you doing water changes??

 

[Home_Depot]

No I have not but was thinking about it today.

 

[MN. Reef crzy]

i am so glad i cycled my stuff out of the tank. Everyone that cycles sand and live rock in the tank seems to just have a huge struggle. i did mine in big rubermaid cans with drains i put in the bottom so i could change water as much as i needed to.