i have some brown colored fuzzy stuff seems like algae growing on my sand in my saltwater aquarium?

Question

is that healthy or bad? should i get some hermit crabs or something? what causes that stuff to grow?

Answer 1

This might be brown algae or diatoms, especially if it's fairly new, and this is common to see oin a newer tank. These make use of nutrients in the water and too much light in the tank. They also need silica to make their outer shells. Once the supply is used up (unless it's being introduced through your salt mix or water source) it will lessen over time as green algae out competes it. Hermits and some snails will help out by eating or moving the rocks around, turning them over so they don't get any light.

See these links for more on diatoms: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/brownalgcontfaqs.htm - for saltwater

http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/algae/diatoms.shtml - for freshwater, but still has info that applies to SW

Answer 2

copy and paste coppers answer