Subj : New Tank Brown Growth
To : Suds
From : Steven Reeves
Date : Thu Apr 08 2004 01:12 pm
Re: New Tank Brown Growth
> Need some expert advice...
>
> Facts: been cycling 3-4 weeks, new tank, 4 happy Damsels, live sand
> only, good amonia, a little high nitrite (.225 ppm ), no nitrate,
> canister and wet-dry filters.
>
> Problem: ugly brown growth on the sand and rocks.
>
> Question: Will this go away by itself or do I need to adjust
> something?
Well .. Wet Dry filters are nitrate factories .. the reason for the brown algi
is high nitrate/nitrite ... you say that you have 0 nitrate .. I cant believe
that being you have algi ... I would test with another test kit ... Are you
sure its brown? .. or more red than brown? ... Cano alge is a reddish brown and
slimy to the touch.. and needs to be controlled ...
If you have live sand .. I would get rid of the wet/dry filter ... and put some
live rock in the tank ... buy it from several places though for diversity ...
If the tank is new .. and you state that it is .. it is normal for the alge to
grow ... this is part of the tank cycling ... when the alge is gone ... you can
be pretty sure that its cycled .. and ready for live stock ...
I highly recommend that you remove that wet/dry filter .. and go with live rock
and sand .. you will be MUCH happier with the results.
