my sand is turning brown need help!

my sand is turning brown i don't know why? has any body ever had this problem before? sorry for title

 

Is this a new/ or cycling tank? Is the brown stuff on rocks too, possibly glass?

 

Maybe diatoms depending on age of the tank and stage in cycle. Pictures would be helpful if you can get them

 

i started the tank in march it's not on rocks just the sand. all corals and fish are fine. i just noticed that the starfish say away the snails and goby won't clean the sand. i try dusting it off but in matter of hours it's back.

 

i vote diatom

edit: nevermind, you say matter of hours its back... cyanobacteria sounds like your culprit

 

If the tank is less than 2 months old my bet is diatoms... they will consume all the silicaa in the tank then die out in a week or 2.

 

its normal in a newer system!

 

so what should i do about it just ride it out, and will it hurt anything in tank.

 

if its diatoms it will go away very soon by itself. if its cyano then you have to do a lot of work... like reduce nitrate, phosphate, and DOC in your water. google them both to determine which of the two it is.

 

do you have any pics? it would help alot

look at this

http://www.3reef.com/forums/algae/ultimate-nuisance-algae-thread-58657.html