Algae and other questions

[Elaine23]

ok, have 54 gallon fish only tank. (Just starting out... I'm still waiting for my nitrates to go down) In the meantime I have 3 damsels in there and my tank and live rock, decor and sand has the brown ugly algae all over. Question: Do i go ahead and clean it all off (tank, equipment and decor) or just leave it for when i add new fish and snails?? And any suggestions on how to lower the nitrates? I'm also needing suggestions on lowering my salt level. It was perfect when i added my damsels and it has gone above the norm. I dont want to kill my fish by giving them too much of a "change", but i want it to be right when i do get my new fish. (I'm a REAL newbie, can you tell?)
Suggestions greatly appreciated.

[Biomanjcs72]

How high is your Salinity?
Are you referring to Nitrates, or Nitrites. If your referring to the latter, then time will take care of that, but the former, will require water changes, unless you have a DSB (deep sand bed) or other nutrient export system in place.

How is your system set up, LR?, external filter? Skimmer? etc. Tell us everything, the folks here will be more than happy to help you out.

The brown algae will eventually disappear, it's part of the new tank cycle. (How long has the tank been up and running too)

BY THE WAY...WELCOME TO REEFLAND

[Elaine23]

My 54 gallon corner tank has been up and running (cycling still) for about a month. My salinity level is at 1.024. I have a 4in deep sand bed of mixed live sand and aragonite. I have about 45# of Figi Live Rock and a Sea Clone Protein Skimmer (which i was told AFTER i spent $145.00 on the darn thing that it wasnt the best type) I have a powerhead at the top and i had one at the bottom opposite side, but it died (still trying to figure out how to fix it). No special lighting (just the hood light that come with it).
I am now down to 2 damsels, i have a bully in there that i believe is the cause for the other 2 deaths. (i cant seem to catch the booger cause he hides in the live rock, any suggestions on that would be great too)

[waterloomarc]

The easiest way to lower your salinity level would be to add water with less salinity during your next water change. Let the amount that you want to lower it by determine the salinity of your new water. But your level of 1.024, while nearing 'high', is not something to be terribly worried about. It is within a healthy range for fish.

Marc

[icemark]

first: Welcome to Reefland,

Second it sounds to me like a Diatom bloom. It is part of a tank cycling. Feel free to wipe down the sides of the tank now. It should eventually disappear or minimize (depending on your salt water source).

and 1.24 is fine I usuually run at 1.25 lately.

While not great, The Sea Clone is fine for that small of a tank, and perfect for many beginners, but there are a couple of modifications you can do to it to make it more efficent when you are feeling confident and ready to tinker.