Is this algae? Good? Bad Sign?

[myfishbrian]

As the title says... heres the picture:

http://picasaweb.google.com/gsjr89/AlgaeInAquarium/photo#5112456204612953410

It's like a weird brown sand algae. Oh and btw I am working on some frags so prepare for some new pics soon! If you want to see all my pictures on the web go here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/gsjr89/

 

[wantvws]

Looks like diatoms to me. It showed up in my tank just after it finished cycling....and then went away after it covered everything.
I'm still very new to the hobby...hopefully someone else can confirm it for you.
Robbie

 

[clown-lover]

Looks like diatoms to me as well.. How old is your tank? This is something that all tanks get, and all tanks have to go through...

 

[myfishbrian]

It is about 2 months old. So I'm guessing its the diatoms. Is it bad/good/neither? What should I do? Is it ok to vacuum it up?

 

[wantvws]

It is about 2 months old. So I'm guessing its the diatoms. Is it bad/good/neither? What should I do? Is it ok to vacuum it up?

I think other than being ugly, it's not harmful. Mine started exactly as yours is (brownish tinge here and there), and pretty much made everything in the tank this nice rusty color for about a week and a half. And then it stopped. Literally, it vanished in a day or two.
Here is a pic of mine at it's "brownest".
Hope this helps!
Robbie

 

[Subliminal]

Hey mfb,

Not that it has much to do with your question, but you can have pictures from picasaweb show up in your posts.

Add the

tags and erase everything except the http addy after img src. You want to keep what I've highlighted in red below:

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/damontmorris/AlaskaPics/photo#5039952775770776802"><img src="http://lh5.google.com/damontmorris/RfGCWMSPpOI/AAAAAAAABDE/zsNc_e9tRiU/s800/Picture%20176.jpg" /></a>

It ends up like this:

 

[myfishbrian]

Subliminal: I was actually putting the link to the album on purpose to try and get others looking at my other pictures. Haha, but thats for the help and I'm sure it was of value to someone.

Anyways so... it will go away on its own?

Edit: Also I have an older tank that is about 3.5 months old that never had this problem...

 

[wantvws]

It should. My lawnmower blenny knocked a dent in it, but the bulk of it just disappeared.
Robbie

 

[Dustin83]

Yep. It should go away. For quicker result, keep your water parameter at top notch. No need to vacuum it. That might only cloud your tank.

 

[david123]

same happened to me, i left it all and now has gone a really cool metallicy colour with bright greens and weird colours - looks pretty good. my tank is now at about 3 months.