[zlatan2601]

Hi,my tank (6 weeks hold) shows soe brown coloration at one side, more specifically the side looking at the window (indirect sunlight).

Some pictures of the coral substrate somewhere else (original color):

IMG_20190303_171503.jpg (1.23 MiB) Viewed 13525 times

Picture of the window side of the tank with the brown coloration:

IMG_20190302_123449.jpg (1.01 MiB) Viewed 13525 times

Is this normal? Is this coloration of the coral substrate or are these algae?

Fyi i bought this coral substrate:

IMG_20190303_171551.jpg (1.06 MiB) Viewed 13525 times

IMG_20190303_172258.jpg (1.19 MiB) Viewed 13525 times

It's not as beautiful as the original white but I don't mind if it is normal:). Or should I be worried? Shrimps are behaving normal, some are very red, some are pale. They don't swim a lot but sometimes they do and i see them frequently eating algae present in the tank..

[Algae In Space]

It's the so called diatom. It is a form of alga which is part of tank cycling. After the diatom the green alage will follow. Everything A-OK

[zlatan2601]

Yeey, I am very relieved to hear that, thank you!

[odin]

Yup just another post relaying what @Algae In Space has said, very normal and is part of the cycling process. If you think your shrimp are happy now wait till its fully cycled (which wont be far away).

[zlatan2601]

Hmm, guess i will need more shrimps or my glass will get covered with algae
Hope they start breeding soon

[odin]

Get a few horned nerite snails for your tank, they will eat up the algae and wont breed.

[zlatan2601]

Yes but they lay eggs everywhere don't they? I don't like that... And will they leave the water? My tank isn't closed on the top...

[Algae In Space]

Welcome to the “algae game“

[zlatan2601]

Update, the brown algae (diatoms) are taking over the tank. Mainly the lime stone rock and the white coral, but also the glass walls. Is this still normal? Tank is 2.5 months old now. Shrimp seem to be ok, but each time i clean the glass walls they are disturbed and i dont see thel for days.

This brown algae seems to form a film, also covering some of the green algae i received from a friend... Doesnt look nice at all. Will it disappear by itself, or are snails really needed?

Fyi i have a 30 liter tank with 10-15 shrimp. Salinity is 1.012, pH around 7

Edit: the film also traps a lot of air bubbles, also big air bubbles. The film covers white coral and lime stone, and later the glass, but does not cover the lava rock at all...

[Algae In Space]

Sounds normal to me. You can use „microbe lift“ or something of that kind to speed the whole thing up. Strange my Opae Ula don't mind me cleaning the tank at all!