sand turning black

[Lost_Punk]

My sand and some of my rock as started to turn a blackish color. my tank has been idle for about 2 weeks now. the filter, heater, and lights are all still on but i have no fish. i have been waiting for the cycle to stop running after it killed my last fish. any ideas? my levels are all near perfect. i know my pH is a hair low (7.9-8.1) and i don't know what my iodine level is. suggestions or is this normal?

 

[Blown 346]

If the tank is still cycling or just got finished cycling the algae is very normal as well as other algae probems you will possibly face as well.

 

[Lost_Punk]

so it turning black and my live rock in a few spots white is normal? i also have that red hair(i think) algae all over the inside of my tank.. i'm gonna get a few snails this weekend and see what they can do with it all.

 

[Blown 346]

Yeah the whit spots on the rock are areas of where corraline algae used to be but has now died. But dont worry it will grow back.
Hair algae and cycano are the other ageas you can have some problems with. Just make sure you dont over feed, dont have the lights on for a long period of time, and do normal water changes and you will help reduce the nutrients in the tank that the algae's feed off of.

 

[Lost_Punk]

well how long should i keep my light on for? its a FOLWR with crappy lighting. i currently have no fish inside it. i know it needs to be on for some part of the day but about how long. its only 15w floresent

 

[Blown 346]

Your lighting really wont have a affect on the algae. it is the othertypes of stronger lighting that can really help algae outbreaks take off.