Does this look like algea?

[Dominik K]

Hi All

I recently flooded my dsm tank.
No co2 injection.

Pretty sure im starting to see some algea but wanted to check. I thought the red/brown stuff might just be some iron in the rocks but it seems its some sort of brown algea.

 

[MichaelJ]

Hi @Dominik K Its probably diatoms - very common in new tanks and they will go away eventually. Just make sure you have good flow/circulation in the tank and keep up the very frequent water changes, as I assume the tank is still being cycled. Also, since you dry started, the plants will now have to adapt to being submerged and the extremely limited amount of CO2 found in a non-injected tank. Light needs to be kept at low intensity for the same reason.
Cheers,
Michael