Diatoms/Brown Algae Help

I've been cycling my new tank for about 3 weeks now.
Tank Parameters:
Amonia 0
PH 7.9
Nitrate 21
Nitrite 3.5

But now it looks like I'm having a little problem with diatoms or brown algae or something. There is not very much but I was just wondering if maybe I should start running the protein skimmer or clean it off. Or should I just leave it untill the tank is done cycling.

I am cycling the tank with some squid tentacles and my DIY rock and some oolite sand. I'm planning on adding some cured live rock once the cycle is done.

 

i didnt run my skimmer during the cycle i would just let it play out, some snails should do the job once its ready to add them

 

i vote wait. looks like your in the home stretch. diatoms should go away quick. once the silicates are gone.

are you using RO/DI water??

 

+1 on not worrying about it

diatoms come and go and the only things that vary are the extent to which they cover your tank and thus the duration of the outbreak

my last set up , they arrived week 2 and where gone by week 4 (nano)
but on my 5ft they arrived about week 4 and lasted until about week 8 and during that time my tank looked like an explosion in a cocoa factory

no action required -as wfb2270 says they dissapear when all the silicates are used up

Steve

 

Patients.... over the next 6 months to a year you will experience several different types of algae outbreaks, this is just the first one caused by the diatoms that feed on the silicate in the tank, it will clear on its own as soon as the silicates are gone.

 

Great! Thanks for all the replies + karma.
I am using RO/DI water by the way.
Thanks!

 

Do not worry, what you have going on is a new tank syndrome. The brown algae will go away in time once the tank stabilizes. Usually diatoms appear a few weeks to a couple of months within cycling a new tank and is just a normal stage of the process. Best thing is to just wait it out. Good luck.

 

Yep, normal for new tank.. Just want to add if you add a source of silicates they will come back occasionally(although not usually as much as you're initially getting). Using RO/DI water is a good way to prevent this.

 

I had brown algae problems that kept appearing and disappearing. So I just removed all the sand and went with a bottomless/sandless reef tank and ever since I haven't had a problem with brown algae.

 

My new tank's cycle is in it's 3rd week and just noticed an on set of the brown algae last night....