Brown algae, Diatoms?

C

cowpoke

Guest
Newbie question
I am getting what looks to be the diatoms building up on substrate and PH's, alittle on the glass, etc
My question is, I have looked through numerous threads and they main theme seems to be that you get those after your cycle is done or almost finished?
I started my cycle approx 3 weeks ago and still have a high NH4
concentration.
Thanks for any help
 
sailfin

sailfin

Member
What are you cycling with, fish, raw shrimp, live rock, etc? Please post some other parameters of your water.
:)
 
aaron childs

aaron childs

Member
I posted a question about the same thing yesterday ...
It is normal for cycling tanks, and also normal for "young tanks" .. or so I understand. My tank has been up and running for two months and I have a little brown on my sand bed, but the snails and crabs sift through it and clean it up a little, but not a ton. I need to get a skimmer, and you should run one if you dont have one yet ... But anyhoo ... Your tank is not yet cycled so these will build up, but they die off and deteriorate as snails and crabs eat it, and water changes will help it die off as well.
HTH :yes:
 
C

cowpoke

Guest
Thanks Aaron and Sail
I know I am just starting my cycle and with what I had read, just wanted to make sure what was going on.
I am cycling with the shrimp method, no livestock or clean up crew, my understanding is that during the initial cycle no livestock, not even clean up crew.
Hmmmmmm maybe I should have left the cocktail sauce off the shrimp?
Thanks again
 
jayrascoe

jayrascoe

Member
ok...
i know i'll be reprimanded for this... i didn't do any research on anemones before i bought some..
I got two pink-tipped anemones for a steal, they were on sale.
also bought a clarkii and a cleaner shrimp.
this is my first livestock in this tank, which has recently finished cycling.
the lfs told me that my water sample tested perfect in all aspects. From what i've been reading since, i hear that anemones require an established tank.
I've read some posts on diatoms since i noticed my tank was afflicted with it, but i think my case might be more severe, and it is getting worse quickly.
My big dumb questions:
what kind of cleanup crew do i need?
this is a 45 gal by the way, with high-grade sand (not live sand)
and maybe 35 lbs of live rock.
 
jayrascoe

jayrascoe

Member
Thanks- I picked up a small cleanup crew today.
I'm enjoying the turbo snail- one website advised that it would be ok to pick up the snail and place him in the areas where you want instant cleanup. Fun!
btw, the lfs i went to told me that a fighting conch was useless.Probably because they didnt have any in stock
:)
 
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