My Tank’s Nitrogen Cycle Progress: Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, and Brown Algae

[admin]

Hey everyone, just wanted to share an update on my tank’s cycling process for anyone who’s going through the same thing or starting their reef journey.

I’m currently in the third week of cycling my tank, and things are progressing just like I’ve read. I started by adding ammonia and bacteria, and after a couple of weeks, my ammonia levels have finally dropped to zero. But, as expected, now my nitrites and nitrates are high.

Also, I’ve started noticing brown algae (diatoms) popping up on the rocks, substrate, and even the glass. I’ve read that this is normal during cycling, caused by excess silicates in the water. It doesn’t look great, but apparently, it’s part of the process and should go away as the tank stabilizes.

Here’s what I’ve been doing so far:

Water changes – I’m planning on doing some 20-30% water changes to help bring down the nitrates and hopefully reduce the algae growth.
Testing frequently – I’m keeping an eye on the ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates to track the cycle’s progress.
Patience – From what I’ve learned, I just need to wait it out. Once the cycle completes and ammonia and nitrites hit zero, I’ll be in a much better place.
Has anyone else experienced this stage? Any advice for managing the brown algae until the cycle finishes?

I’ll post a pic of the brown algae for reference. Thanks!