Uh oh! Sand is turning brown!

[jdmc]

I am a reef tank beginner... I have a 1 week old tank and within the past 24 hours my sand is beginning to turn dark brown. Could this be a nitrate cycle beginning? Im sure this is simple to the experienced aquarist but Im at a loss. Could anyone please help woth advise or an explanation.
Thanks.

[Reeftanker3295]

Its diatoms. They will go away in a couple of weeks. Remember dont add anything yet! Wait until ammonia and nitrite are 0 then wait a couple more days then add your first fish.

[jenglish]

Most likely it is just diatoms, tiny microorganisms part of the standard cycle. People may have outbreaks of them due to water quality issues later in a tank's life but they are perfectly natural part of tank start up and nothing to be concerned about. If they are easily removed and "dusty" then they are diatoms.

[Loverotties]

Agree with both!

[quader94]

welcome to TRT!

as said above its most likely diatoms

[Elegance Coral]

Diatoms bloom because of an abundance of silica. If you can vacuum the diatoms out it will shorten the life span of the bloom. You will be removing the silica they depend on as you syphon them out.

[jdmc]

Thanks for the advice. I will try to wait it out a bit.

[powdr_dayz]

Use RO/DI Water. That helped eliminate a diatom problem that I was having in my tank.