Brown Patches Already???

[IcantTHINKofONE]

Ok the 4-5" of southdown has been in my tank with saltwater for a couple weeks now. The project got backed up due to a leak/flood which I posted about a couple weeks ago. So I put 2 powerheads temporarily in the show tank so I could keep the water moving so it wouldn't go bad. I haven't had any lights on over the tank yet. Today I noticed a light brown patch about the size of a quarter on my sand bed. It just looks as if the sand there is a different color. Like a rust or a copper color. What is it? Brown Algae? Excuse my ignorance but this is my first saltwater tank so all these things are new experiences to me . Should I worry about it at all?

 

[Anonymous]

welcome to the diatom/algae cycle!

the rest of your initiation will follow :wink: ......

 

[IcantTHINKofONE]

SWEET! I know it's not a favorable thing to most but I'm excited! I have life!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

SWEET! I know it's not a favorable thing to most but I'm excited! I have life!!!!

I hope you keep this upbeat attiitude even when the green hair algea takes over! 8O

:lol:

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

btw-this is probably the best time to fully educate yourself about nitrates, phosphates, their causes, and methods of removal-doing this NOW will help to minimize, maybe even eliminate, the 'nuisance factors' as you, and your tank, progress.. :wink:

luck

 

[webman]

When I first started my first tank, I only used damsels for the cycle. Cycling this way is okay but it will tank months sometimes to cycle. Then, you have to add species slowly or they will die off along with your money.

The second attempt was to start with everything you want in the tank from the jump. So, i added 50lbs. live rock, 2" to 3" sand bed, 5 damsels and two power jets to circulate the water. Then, I waited a month for the cycle to take place before I tried to add any other species. Education of nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, phosphates and ph are mandatory.

The second attempt was successful and my tank has been up for 2 years now.

Good luck and enjoy your tank.
Webman