Copper-brown on my sand

[pednurkim]

Hi. I am fishless cycling a 125 gallon tank. It was started using a cycled sponge filter and a cycled 2nd sponge in my new AC 110 filter. I'm about 4 weeks in. The ammonia is 0 ppm and nitrite is at about 2 ppm in 24 hours. The tank is on the 5th ammonia dose. Yesterday I noticed the airline had come loose from the sponge filter. Today I noticed that an area of sand has some copper-brown areas. What could this be? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Sgooosh]

diatoms are growing in your sand i think...

 

[pednurkim]

What do I do about it?

 

[Sgooosh]

What do I do about it?

For me, once a cycle is more established, it goes away on it’s own.

 

[Slaphppy7]

What kind of sand?

 

[pednurkim]

What kind of sand?

Pool filter

 

[pednurkim]

For me, once a cycle is more established, it goes away on it’s own.

That sounds good. Thank you!

 

[Slaphppy7]

It has little to do with cycling your tank, but alot to do with the silicates in the substrate

Once the silicates start to become depleted, with age and water changes, the "brown algae" (diatoms) will subside

 

[Sgooosh]

It has little to do with cycling your tank, but alot to do with the silicates in the substrate

Once the silicates start to become depleted, with age and water changes, the "brown algae" (diatoms) will subside

That might be the reason why my older tank do not have it

 

[pednurkim]

It has little to do with cycling your tank, but alot to do with the silicates in the substrate

Once the silicates start to become depleted, with age and water changes, the "brown algae" (diatoms) will subside

Thank you! I was worried something bad was happening.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Thank you! I was worried something bad was happening.

More than welcome.