Quick question. Tank cycling

[Street]

My 100 G tank is in its 3rd week of cycling, and now i have quite a bit of what looks like some sort of algae that has a brown color to it on the live rock, sand bed, and glass.

I know that there will be algae bloom of different sorts throughout the cycle, I'm just wanting to make sure that its not nothing abnormal .

Sorry about no pic or info on params, at work at the moment. I'll be able to post that later tonight when I get home.

I have noticed that places on my rock that are overshadowed and where no light can reach there is no algae growing, as well as on certain parts of the sandbed, but ofcourse that makes sense, no lights to feed the algae, no growth. lol

Anyways, thanks in advance for the replies/help.

[joshkennedy07]

probably diatoms. Its good - means you can sustain life in your aquarium.

[AngeloM3]

Nothing abnormal.

Just scrape and pull out as much as you can... then use a net to scoop out anything that's floating around.

[Aquarist007]

The algae bloom occurs because of increased nitrates and phosphates in your tank from your live rock curing.
As the rock cures there is less and less of this algae food and it dies off
You could start to run your lights for 3 hours a day to encorage the growth of corraline algae on the rock(the purple stuff)
If corraline takes over the rock then the other algae can't compete with it

[Street]

Thanks guys, I actually have noticed a few spots that seem to be a darker almost violet tint to it. Im hoping that its coraline but have to wait it out and see.

[LJA]

Even though plants grow better under a lower light spectrum, is it possible for brown algae/diatoms to bloom under 20K actinics only?

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by LJA
Even though plants grow better under a lower light spectrum, is it possible for brown algae/diatoms to bloom under 20K actinics only?

definetly, light really as little to do with algae blooms----its more the abundance of their food that causes it--nitrates and phosphates.

[LJA]

Thanks capn

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by LJA
Thanks capn

you are welcome--keep posting

[rookiegirl]

Helpful thread, glad i popped in...was just about to post asking the same questions, tx.

[singold]

The LV should definately help jump start the cycling.

[Jerry Hallums]

I am in day 22 since I added water and live rock---the levels are way down, and I added a cleanup crew from garf.org It came today, and they are very busy---also added some garf grunge to the mix to see how that works. Hope your tank does well

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Jerry Hallums
I am in day 22 since I added water and live rock---the levels are way down, and I added a cleanup crew from garf.org It came today, and they are very busy---also added some garf grunge to the mix to see how that works. Hope your tank does well

you are moving slow which is great--but I would aim for zero ammonia and zero nitrate--not just low levels of them==before adding anything else.