My Rock Turned Orange!

[Flake]

So after spending the morning sitting by the tank, I hopped off to go watch a movie or two. Came back to google something and BAM. Everything is orange. Rocks, sand, everything.

I assume it's diatoms but I would like to be sure considering they popped up so fast.

How do I get rid of them? Will they burn themselves out and die off? Does this mean my tank is nearly cycled? Ammonia looked almost gone this morning and nitrates/nitrites were both much lower.

 

[roka64]

Yep, diatoms, they will burn themselves out. It happens to pretty much all new tanks. I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[Speakerman]

What Kelvin rating is your lighting? possibly your light has a high orange value and sets off the brown diatoms making them look that way.

Have you looked at the diatoms with the light off + a flashlight?

 

[Flake]

I honestly have no idea what kelvin rating the light is. It doesn't say. I don't think it's the light making it orange though, I turned the light off when I noticed it to try to stunt it's growth. When I went to show my boyfriend later, I turned the light back on and now it looks rusty and less expansive.