Weird new tank dry rock issue

[Housegroove76]

As you can see from the above images I'm getting weird dark line on the ridges of my dry rock. It only shows up on ridge lines and elevated parts, like if you dusted it with graphite for finger prints. and idea on what it could be? If it was algae wouldn't it be over all the surface, not just the higher points?

This is from a new tank, I'm doing a fishless cycle with Dr. Tim's and it's been 8 days into the cycle and my water (from a BRS RODI 4 stage) parameters are:

pH 8.2
Ammonia, Beyond the highest color on a red sea test kit so I'm not sure what it is, at least over 2
Nitrite 1
Nitrate 15

Thanks for any help

 

[fishguy242]

hi welcome to the reef ...
believe just part of the uglies during cycle, just catching edges and ridges ,because of way flow is hitting.

 

[kloverguy]

I'm fairly new to reefing myself, but I believe those are diatoms. At least that's what I was told when my tank looked like that. If so, it's normal and part of the cycling process.

 

[schuby]

Nothing unusual. Just wait until you turn your lights on! That's when things really started happening in my tank. I put fish in (already QT'd for 3-4 weeks in another, smaller tank) shortly after my cycle finished. Looks like we started our tanks the same way.

 

[N3mo]

Normal and part of ugly stage. Don't stress.