Mobile Bay Reef Keepers

I have a new tank set and I believe it is at the end of cycling. I only had a small outbreak of diatoms-light dusting and actually still have it but by far this is not a nuisance. I was wondering however if inferior lighting might be the cause of this algea hanging about. I was under the impression that stages of algea would overtake the next, is this true?

The brown algea is normal and will grow with or without the presence of light. More than likely you may get cyano algea next that will be red or green in appearane, a very slimy algea. These are very normal for a tank still cycling. Even people with established tanks will get these if the sand bed is disturbed.