My LR is Rusting...

[jimc58]

We are cycling our new 75 gal tank with 90# of LR. It has gone past the amonia spike, though the nitrites are still very high and do not seem to be coming down. A few days ago a rust colored algae (I persume) started to grow in the tank, and it is growing and spreading quite well. It appears that it will cover everything in the tank soon. Is this anything to be concerned about? I am worried that it will smother everything growing on the rocks. If I should do something about it, what should I do?
Also, for the nitrites, is that just a waiting game at this point? The amonia level has been undetectable for about a week now with no decrease in the nitrite levels.
Thanks!

 

[beth]

Is the "algae" brownish or even a dirty gold color? Looks like a film not a mat of growth? If it is, it is diatoms which is perfectly normal for a cycling tank. You can remove it off the glass by wiping it down with a glass cleaner [glass magnets work well here].
The nitrites will spike then suddenly go down one day. At that point, you can add detrivores that will start taking care of the diatom problem.

 

[jimc58]

Thanks! It started out as a fairly rusty red color, which I guess could be described as a dirty gold. As it has gotten thicker it is a darker reddish brown. It does not appear to be a matted growth like algae I'm use to seeing, but a thin covering over the rocks and bottom where it gets the most light. So far it has not spread to the glass.
Any particular detrivores you can recommend?