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

Originally posted 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