algae cycle?

[sureone]

<span style="font-size: 12px;">My tank is 3 weeks old. The first week I had brown algae. Then it went to bright green now I am seeing red algae mostly in the sand. Is this normal and how should I handle it? I have 7 snails that do a good job on everything but the sand.
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[mkinna1]

Tanks usually get algae at first. It will go away with time. Make sure you have no nitrates or phosphate, because they help it!

 

[whitmanb]

sureone,

This is typical when you are first starting up your tank. What you are having is cyanbacteria, which comes in all 3 colors. When you are cycling your tank, keep the rocks brushed off as much as possible so that you dont lose your coralline algae coloring (will come back if you do) and place an airstone in the water along with a powerhead to keep the water moving. Then use some Nitromax to help grow the good bacteria in the tank. Once this is all gone.. Put some PurpleUp along with your typical additives and you will have some awesome looking rock in a few weeks!

Brian