Brown Algae

[nicva]

Hello
I have just started my first tank. I have had some bumpy starts and have been very frustrated lately. But today I noticed some new brown stuff in the tank, which I have associated with Brown Algae. Some of it is covering my live sand and I have heard that this is a step in the right direction. I was wondering when I should purchase my clean up crew. My tank specs are 25 gal glass tanks with an eclipse 2. I have some LR/LS in it a Rio 90 with some aeration. I purchased my liquid test kit today and took some readings. Here are my specs: ph= 8.2, Nitrate = 10, Nitrite = 0.25, NH3/4 = 0.25+/- Water temp = 78.5. Obviously these numbers are not exact but in the general area. I have pictures available to look at on a directory of mine (http://www.calpoly.edu/~nvaloff/nval...s/Fish%20Pics/). Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am aiming toward a peaceful tank. The tank was started on 11/8/03.
Thanks
Nic
Oh forgot to mention I am looking for a light system setup for that tank. Does any one know what would look clean and fit right in. I would like to keep coral later on

 

[niger12]

IMO, I would stop the air from the Rio pump. It will create a problem with salt creap. The biowheel in the eclipse filter will oxygenate the water and the extra water movement from the rio will do the same thing without the bubbles. The gas exchange will actually take place on the waters surface and in the biowheel.

 

[wablondie98664]

as soon as your ammonia and nitrites are down to 0 then you can add a clean up crew.