I've got rust in my tank

[ozarkfish]

I went on vacation for 3 days and my 6 weeks old reef tank has a substance that looks like rust on the sand and some of the live rock. My LFS told me to take my phospate filter out now that my tank was cycled. So i did before I went on vacations and wholla- rust
Any body have any idea what it is and should i have kept the phospate filter

 

[boadyboom]

sounds like algae and or diatoms--- any clean up crews? I have a magnet it cleans all that up real quick on the glass.

 

[steel]

just go and get something to clean it up i really like Mex. turbos they are very very good cleaners. also you might try some hermits if it is all over your sand get something like a dragon gobie or something like that. but if your tank is not set up and your dont have the pods then i would just try for the turbos.
Travis