Help...lfs are contradicting each other!!

[hawkeye]

I have had my 54 gallon for about a month with 2 damsels. A brown alge/mossy substance is growing daily at the bottom of my tank and the walls of my tank. I did not use tap water. My lfs #1 said this is normal and not to worry about it. They said it is part of the process and will eventually go away. They also said to turn the temp down to 70-helping with alge. I also asked about cleaning my filter(fluval 304) and they said to wait until the cycle is done.
Lfs #2 said not to wait, and to replace/clean the filter every month including the first month, they also said to get bacter plus to help with the cycle. They also said that the brown stuff wasn't normal.
My fish appear to be very healthy, but the tank is getting worse and worse looking everyday. It is super frustrating because it looked so great the first 2 weeks. It seems like everyone has different advice and I am beggining to wonder if either know what they are doing.
Sorry, for the length

 

[hawkeye]

anybody...

 

[marine qa]

LFS#1 is correct. The brown stuff are harmless diatoms and will eventually go away. Rinsing your filters during you cycle will prolong the cycle. However, I would not lower the temp to 70. I have never heard of anyone suggesting to lower a temp that far, and the diatoms are fine anyway.
LFS #2 sounds like they just like selling products.

 

[lettheirberock]

as for your temp & fluval i dont know what to tell you , but in my experience i have found that browning during the first cycle is normal.one more bit of advice,don't put full faith in anybodys info,until you've done alot of reaserch on the subject yourself. stick around this site and you will learn alot , i know i have. good luck!!!!

 

[ironreef]

1-2 mo of brown diatoms then if your lighting is fair you may go with a month or two of green diatoms. Then if you take it slow and stock slowly it all may go away. if not you may battle hair alga /cyano for the first year. I've hd tanks go good right off the start and some that took over a year to get looking nice.

 

[hawkeye]

Thanks for all your advice - I am slowly realizing how patience is key to my success.
One other question, do any of you know about this "bacter plus" or other drops which help the cycle. Or is it better to just let the fish do their thing

 

[beth]

The brown stuff you describe is perfectly normal in a new setup. This is diatoms. New tanks typically have a good amt of silica in them due to the substrate [what substrate did you use, BTW? CC?], which is food for diatoms. Once the food sorce depletes, so will the diatoms. Additionally, diatoms feed on phosphates, so check your water to see what the phosphate level is.
Diatoms will not adversely effect your tank; they just don't look very good. Eventually, they will diminish and green algae will replace the brown. In the meantime clean up your tank glass and lightly stir up the substrate surface to turn over the diatoms on the surface.
What type of filtration are you using anyhow? Unless you are continueously cleaning out your fluval, it will eventually become a source of nitrates...a bigger problem then what you're experiencing with diatoms now.

 

[goofieones]

Don't worry..... and no need to lower the temp, keep it in the normal range. Most strive for 78, but in the summer that may be hard, so strive for under 82. Heck I'm lucky if I get below 83 right now.