Is it good?

[spoonie]

I have had my setup going know for maybe two months. I just recently had my puffers in there for a while and have transfered them to another tank and have went out and bought a trigger a clown and sand sifting star. I have added a few small peice's of live rock and am now seeing a huge outbreak of brown alage is this good does this mean I am finally starting to cycle my tank?

 

[Ikarus5150]

I Think that when You first start out you have a tendency to want to things to hurry up. In my humble opinion your tank is in the cycling stage. You should add animals slowly and let the biological filter build. A good skimmer is essential. I tried 2 cheapies and finding that the just didn't fit the bill. Good circulation Is another factor. A lot of Water Movement is important. Think of the ocean. waves, current. and pick corals that will do well in that environment. To little lighting can contribute to brown algea aswell.

 

[WRASSER]

There is a chance your trigger and puffer will pick at or eat your starfish 8O

 

[zonkers]

Don't forget that brown algae is really Diatoms, & their primary nutrient is silicates in your water. I was a repeat diatom sufferer until I realized my well-water was totally jacked with silicates (road run-off from wintertime street-sanding). Get a silicates test kit & check your water source. In my case, I needed to get an RO/DI unit with a silicate membrane. Haven't had an outbreak since.