Take a look at this picture

Hey Guys and Gals,

My tank just finished cycling 2 weeks ago, since then I've been getting brown Algae on my substrate. I believe this is normal, but it looks to like it's too much I not sure since I am just a beginner. Please take a look at this picture at let me know what you guys think. I have a crew consisting of the following: 15 Margarita's, 12 red hermit carbs, 2 emerald carbs and 2 sally's lightfoots. I use RO\DI unit for fresh water, and all of my parameters are as follows: Ammonium-0, Nitrite-0,nitrate-0,PH-8.2,Phosphate-0,salinity-1.024,temp 74-75 degrees, alk or DKH - 5.

 

Perfectly normal. Just let it run its course

 

Agreed. Annoying but part of the new tank phase.
Your parameters are right on.

That said, do you have the halides from your sig on that right now? How long?

 

Acutally I don't,.. I have 2 40 watt actinics running. 2 weeks.

 

I have a few more questions, First how long should this brown algae last before it is gone?, second does it turn to green algae afterwards? will removing the mechanical filteration speed up the diatom phase?

 

My tank has been around for a long time, and it is still around. Mainly because of nitrates, poor lighting, and lack of macros. If you ahve good lighting, it should go away in time, and if you have macros in a fuge or in the tank, it will outcompete the brown algae and the brown algae will disappear. Your nitrates are low so thats a good thing. Stirring it up doesn't make it go away completely, a lot just covers somewhere else in the tank.

 

I agree.. plus check out the algae board.. tons of info on cycling and algae there.

 

Hey Guys,

Looks like my brown diatoms are starting to diminish after 5 days of having them. Anyway what's suppose to happen next, is the green algae going to start poping up? Also I have 1-40 watt white Power-Glo high intensity bulb and 1-40 watt blue Marine-glo actinic lights for a total of 80-watts on a 90 gal tank. Is that wattage and type of lights good enough to put in mushrooms?

 

Not really. You have less than 1 watt per gallon and as far as I know, no photosynthetic corals can be kept under such low lighting. You could try it though.

 

Thanks Amcarrig, what about my next phase after brown diatoms are gone?