brown algae

[frostiex]

I have had that happen before on my 33G that I took down, but eventually they gone away. does anyone know if this process always happens?


What contribute to it? I heard it had to do with the water.

[Flusher]

Diatoms are just part of the "breaking in" cycle of a tank. I noticed when I tore apart and set up my tanks again, only the new rock and substrate was really affected by the diatoms. I'm pretty sure they go away on their own, but they go away faster by removing them (manually or with algae-eaters).
________
CHILDREN PAXIL

[Joe Reefer]

I thought I read somewhere not to use lava rock in salt tanks. Can someone confirm.

[Bob I]

Originally Posted by frostiex

I have had that happen before on my 33G that I took down, but eventually they gone away. does anyone know if this process always happens?


What contribute to it? I heard it had to do with the water.

Yes is the answer. I have never set up a new tank without the brown algae showing up. Many call them diatoms, however, to me it is just brown algae. It always goes away.

[goby1]

I didn't get any algae in my 46 g when I set it up. But then, looking at my log, I cycled the rock in the tank barebottom and did 2 or 3 water changes a week for 2 weeks and then a big water change before I put the sand in. I think I used tap water for the initial set up and then I've used a rinky dink filter that you hook up to your tap since. It was some work initally but then I didn't get the dreaded algae so it paid off for me. Even now 2 years later I don't get much in the way of algae (except the coraline stuff) and I have a white sand bed (thanks to a star fish and various snails I suppose). ... knock on wood though. I only have the 50/50 96w pc lighting though and that probably has a lot to do with it. Add a little light here and there and I might have green soup, who knows.