brown spots during cycling

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kharizmarae

Aquarium Advice Newbie
Joined
Jul 28, 2004
Messages
2
Location
Maine, USA
I have had my tank up since 3/4/07. I put fish (3 zebra danios) in it on 3/6/07. As of 3/15/07 I had these levels: ph 8.2, nitrite 0, ammonia 1.0.
As of today (3/19/07), I am starting to get little reddish/brown spots on my plastic plants, my big rock, and the gravel on the bottom.
What is the cause? Should I be worried? How do I make it stop?
Also, are my levels where they should be? I'm a bit worried that the ph not right at all! HELP, I want to make sure this is going good, I don't want to have to start over or give up.
~Kristina
 
Sounds like diatoms. It will go away on it's own as the tank matures. For now just wipe it off. Not pretty to look at but it's natural in a new tank. No reason t worry.

Since you are cycling fish I would do a water change of 50% to get that Ammonia reading down. Don't let it get above 1 ppm. I wouldn't be concerned about the pH. The perfect pH is not as important as a stable pH. If it's at a steady 8.2 then I wouldn't mess with it.
 
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