Brown algae in new tank

[Thomas Weber]

Just filled up my first tank with water and after a week most rocks and parts of sand are covered in a brownish tan algae. I am still cycling the tank so ammonia is at .5 ppm and nitrate is at .2 ppm. Is this algae temporary or do I need to take action?

 

[Doctorgori]

 

[Thomas Weber]

Great song! thanks for the advice

 

[Jekyl]

Once the cycle is complete add a fish or 2. WIt a few days and add a CuC to help combat the algae. Can also grow some macro algae like chaeto or dragons breath

 

[dansreef]

Your tank is going to go through the uglies stages.... You are going to get browns, greens.... redish... all sorts of stuff growing all over stuff in your tank. BE patient. All tanks go through this. First thing first.... get through the cycle. BE Patient... it too takes time to get Ammonia and Nitrites to zero... and then test your Nitrates... and lower them via water changes. When you have zero on Ammonia and Nitrites.... add a fish or two... and watch the Ammonia and Nitrite to make sure they dont rise... Next... go get some snails and crabs to manage the diatoms (brown) and algae (green, red,... brownish... etc)... These ugly stages are all good. They are indicators that your tank is maturing.

These ugly stages can last for months. Manage your water parameters properly. Don't rush to add too many fish, corals and inverts too quickly. BE Patient. It takes time in this hobby to establish a healthy ecosystem in a glass box. Your tank is just getting started!

Welcome to R2R! Good Luck with your new tank!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Yes just needs a little time! No worries!

 

[Thomas Weber]

Once the cycle is complete add a fish or 2. WIt a few days and add a CuC to help combat the algae. Can also grow some macro algae like chaeto or dragons breath

Thanks for the advice! What is a CuC?

 

[leroy_jenkinz]

Thanks for the advice! What is a CuC?

clean up crew ie snails hermits etc

 

[dansreef]

Clean Up Crew..... Snails and crabs mostly. Check out Reefcleaners.com as a place to get a pack sized for your tank.

 

[Jekyl]

Get a variety or snails and crabs to take care of the dirty work. 1 for every few gallons or so

 

[Jekyl]

Black urchins are also good for algae

 

[Doctorgori]

Just a lil additive advise on cuc:
Turbos need more food than you may think... not a hard and fast rule but I would not go over 1 large turbo per 20 -30gals (just to lower possibility of starvation) nerite snails are good also and live a while but need a zone above the water line...as for algae I prefer tangs with different mouth shapes over hermits...I can’t swear to actually seeing a measurable reduction in algae using hermits but tangs can clean a tank in days