Brown algae and bubbles on sand

Its the bio filtration it has not caught up with the new water volume. it will eventually disappear once the filtration is fully established on the sump.

There isn't much filtration in my sump yet. I need to get some carbon though. I have been meaning to go get some live rock. In the mean time, I will cut my lights back and feed less.

evan127 wrote: There isn't much filtration in my sump yet. I need to get some carbon though. I have been meaning to go get some live rock. In the mean time, I will cut my lights back and feed less.

Have you read about the four live components that will start up a new marine aquarium? I wouldn't do it any other way.

Sorry, but Activated Carbon doesn't help here. It does not take the algae feeding pollution out of the water.

Along with bacteria, algae growth is a normal part of keeping a reef aquarium and what you are seeing is the normal part of starting up a new tank.

Macroalgae helps eat pollution/nutrients too and looks a lot nicer than the brown algae. Get some Macroalgae and give it good light. It will eat the Nitrogen compounds that make up the "cycle".

Snails eat the brown algae and the green algae that will soon follow. Get more snails. Snails are more useful than you know. Get more snails.

Keeping lights to a minimum just prolongs the brown algae growth. Algae growth is one of the main filtration processes of a reef aquarium. The balance between algae growth and having enough herbivores to eat the algae is an important part of keeping a reef aquarium.
And did I mention to get more snails.


Edited by Mark Peterson - November 22 2010 at 2:52am

Leave the light on on your sump 24/7 to help the chaeto grow.  Plan on more snails, if you've been feeding regularly don't feed for a few days.  Running a skimmer?  If so make sure it's tuned right.