Rust colored algae explosion overnight, why?

[saltymist]

I setup the second JBJ nano tank last week, maybe on saturday, can't really be certain.
But it seems almost overnight I've got an explosion of rust colored algea, mostly on the liverock, almost all the liverock is now covered in this rust colored algae, and it's spreading to the livesand too.
What is this, and is this considered part of the cycle of the tank, or is something way off wack here?
Is there something specific I need to test for to see if something is way off or what?
I tested for amonia, since I put in 2 jumbo raw shrimp 2 days ago, and removed them after 20 hours and the amonia was up to about 4.0, but this rust colored algae started before I put in the shrimp, so Im pretty sure thats not it.
What could it be from?
Thanks,

 

[plhsurfer]

Brown Diatom Algae.. Totally normal for a new tank.

 

[saltymist]

Yeah, after I wrote this I searched, but what stumps me is that when most people experience this, they are well along in their cycle, like 3 weeks, here it is only 4 or 5 days, so I didnt think it was going to attack this quickly.
It must have something to do with the liverock, as I took a piece of it before the algae started and put it in another tank that was cycling and now it's covered in the algae as well, only not as severe as the other tank, but the otehr tank has more of this liverock in it which seems to be where it is originiating.
Should I keep the lights off on these tanks for a while, like a week or two to cut it down. None of my other tanks have ever experienced this during a cycle, so it seems really strange to me.
Thanks,

 

[new_noob]

Put the rock back in the tank, it will go away on its own, Diatom is a good sign, it shows your tank is comming along.

 

[saltymist]

Heres a photo of one of the rocks that I put in the other new tank with the rust algae, are we certain this is brown diatom algae after looking at this photo? Just want to be certain.
In the other tank it's far worse and has spread to the livesand as well.

 

[new_noob]

yes that is diatom, put it in the tank with all the other diatom, or it will spread to your other tank, it doesn't harm anything, just looks ugly.

 

[smoothounds]

How do you get rid of that nasty stuff. I used to have it on one of my tanks back in the day and couldnt get rid of it.

 

[brownleaf]

Diatom come in my tank just 5 days after setup, and turn to green in next two days. I'd put some snail in after that, they clean it up good! But make sure you water is in good condition before sent in the snails.
.2