Brown stuff on my rocks and sand

[arkansasboy]

I am still cycling but I have this brown stuff spreading throughout the tank. It is on the top and front edges of the dry rock placed in the tank originally but not on the extra 20 lbs added last weekend. It is also on the sand and spreading across a little more each day. The ammonia is 0, nitrites are 0 and nitrates are at 5.

 

[little_fish]

sounds like diatoms, should go away on their own

 

[arkansasboy]

I hope so because its downright ugly. haha. So is this an okay thing during the cycle?

 

[Waddi]

Diatoms are expected when cycling.

 

[arkansasboy]

Thanks yall

 

[sen5241b]

Margarita snails will eat brown algae

 

[SarahSmile]

The bummer about them though is they usually like temps a bit cooler than we keep our tanks at, 72-77

 

[arkansasboy]

The diatoms are finally starting to go away somewhat.