Please help ID

[warpdrvr]

So, tank has cycled and first fish added a week ago. Also added a very small starting CUC. Last couple days this brown stuff on rocks has exploded in growth. Was also covering sand quickly but I vacuumed it up while doing water change and weekly maintenance. Please help ID this,I know someone here must have an idea. Thanks all

 

[Duffer]

Part of the cycle

 

[warpdrvr]

Really? According to the microbiology of the cycle thread found on this site, it should be fully cycled. Fish, inverts, and softies all doing well

 

[Crabs McJones]

Likely diatoms. Very common in new tanks. It's part of the maturing process, not cycling process. You'll see lots of interesting colors on your rocks as the tank grows and matures

 

[warpdrvr]

Likely diatoms. Very common in new tanks. It's part of the maturing process, not cycling process. You'll see lots of interesting colors on your rocks as the tank grows and matures

I had thought diatom bloom but someone else said just some algae. So it will go thru it’s lifecycle then be gone, correct?

 

[Crabs McJones]

I had thought diatom bloom but someone else said just some algae. So it will go thru it’s lifecycle then be gone, correct?

Yup just keep up on water changes and nutrient export

 

[Salty Lemon]

Count on having it over the next few months. This is normal for a new tank and lasts longer for some and shorter for others. Just keep up the tank maintenance that is needed and soon enough it all starts to disappear. Mine shows back up again if I neglect my regular water changes and maintenance. As long as I care for the tank, I'm clear of it.

 

[BeejReef]

People refer to "cycle" in a couple of ways. You are done with the nitrogen cycle. It's just that the terms is also used to describe common occurrences in the first months of the tank going live. The "ugly phase" is seen as part of this cycle. Not much to be done about it as it almost always happens even with "perfect" parameters. Neglecting them, however, can allow whatever uglies you happen to get to spiral out of control.