Rocks with brownish tinge...algae already?

[Fountainhead]

Here is a photo of a section of rock. Notice the brownish speckles. I'm seeing this on a number of surfaces. Is this algae already? (I'm in my 4th day of an uneventful cycle.) If it's algae (diatoms?) will it go away on it's own, or is there something that should be done to keep it in check? Or is it something else completely? I'm using RO/DI water.

Thanks.

<img src="http://mywebpages.comcast.net/kschannen/orange.jpg" alt="" border="0">

[kp1917]

I didn't notice mine starting with specks like that but by day 10 or so I started to have the brown algae show up. By day 20 or so when I received my second shipment, it and green hair algae were dominate. I've only had my critters in since last Thursday night and they have all but finished off the algae.

In short, don't worry, thats what God made snails and hermits for.

[snooter1]

How long are you keeping the lights on. I was beging to get algee as well. Richard stated 5 hours is all you need. I was going much longer than that. How close are to a completed cycle? I am my third day of an equally uneventful cycle.

[Fountainhead]

PC lighting on for 5 hours. I'm almost through my 4th day. My ammonia has already dropped now to essentially 0...at least the test kits (2) that I have are no longer registering any. Nitrites are maybe 0.1, though that test seem awfully subjective. Pretty amazing, though my shipment arrived very quickly so die off was kept to a minimum.

[snooter1]

When are you shooting for the 2nd shipment? Was hoping to mine withion a week but by Am ssems to be stuck at .25 with Ntrates reading 10. No Nitrite to date. Slow going over here

[irishpete]

I got the Brown myself, day 12 of cycling, it almost just sprang up overnight. I was lighting for 4 hrs/day, and just installed timers and moonlight and set my light cycle. Ph. 8.2, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 10ppm. seems a bit quick to me?? Im getting a few crabs in a day or two and will hopefully clean up a bit.......