SW brown algae - help
 

So, I'm still very new to this, and need some help. My tank has only been cycled for about one month, give our take. I have one GSP in there, and the salinity is 1.020-21

Temp 80 Nitrates at about 15ppm. I don't know for sure, because I threw away my SW nitrate card, thinking I'd never have a SW tank. I have to look at the color from the internet site. Lights on 8 hours per day

I try to keep it at 1.020, but the water evaps so fast, I have to keep adding freshwater to keep it from going up.

So, my question. My lights were off on the tank for at least 2 weeks. Last Tuesday I got the lights working. 4 T-12's reef type lights. Probabaly too much light, but all bulbs have to run, or none at all.

I'm getting algae that looks brown to me. I do have some live rock, but my once white/beige substrate is even turning brown. Any advise?? Ugh, if I'm getting this, this quick, I'm in trouble. :lol:

Gwen

Looks like regular diatoms which over time will disappear by themselves.

Agreed. Diatom Bloom. Nothing to be alarmed about.

My tank went through that about a month and a half in. Got wicked nasty looking in there for like a week and then went away as fast as it came.

Whew! Thanks all! That's crazy that it can go away as quick as it came. So glad I don't have to worry. I'm going to try to get away without a protein skimmer. Is that doable?

Gwen

In less than a 30g tank, yes its doable

Well, tank is more than 30 gallons, so I guess I'll need one. Thanks.

Gwen

Update
 

I've not bothered to scrape off the algae, and here's where things are at. It's crazy in the tank. Brown everywhere. And long tuffs of "pretty" green algae on the glass, and some brown too. I will scape it off the glass, but don't know if I should or just leave it, and let it go away on its own? I can't imagine how all this would disappear. Where does it go? The cool thing is even after weekly water changes, I still had nitrate readings, like around 15ppm. After being out of town for 4 days, came back last night, tested the nitrates and they are at 0! Is that the algae taking care of that? So cool :shock:

Gwen

You can scrape the algae off the glass, matter of fact you should. You don't want to look at that stuff. The algae on the rocks and sand leave, don't worry it will take care of itself. The Diatoms will. You may have some Hair Algae left over, but a Clean Up Crew will take care of that.

The problem for me is I can't have a "clean up" crew. Green spotted puffers will eat about anything they can. I would love to have some hermit crabs, but they will likely be killed, which is a bummer. I'm looking at your fish suggestions from my other post.

I'll scape off the stuff on the glass. Thanks

Gwen