Rusty look in aquarium

Question
I have an established salt water tank and just recently it is having a rusty look on every thing.  Any sugestions

Answer
Hey John,

Sounds to me like you just might have a piece of iron or steel in there that doesn't belong. In corrosive salt water, metals typically don't last too long. If it's really rust, you can either change the water until it's gone, or get a few plants. Either way, the rust isn't a killer, just don't place fish in right now.

However, if what you're experiencing is not rust, but brown algae, you just gotta scrub it clean. You can tell the difference, by looking at the water itself. Rust will turn the water brown, where as brown algae may float in the water, but you'll see little specs of brown, and a brown fuzzy growth over everything that doesn't move. To get rid of brown algae, just gently stir the sand, and use your regular plain fish net to repeatedly swoop and scoop out the algae you stirred up. Rinse and wash all your decorations and pump equipment, and be ready to do this once a month for the rest of the time you have your tank!

Salt water is definitely NOT my area of expertise, and i really do recommend getting a second opinion, but from when i have cared for salt water tanks, those two things were typically the problems (pieces of metal 'fell in' from students around my old highschool dropping stuff in just to see what happens).

Hope this helps, and hope you enjoy your new salt water tank! Good luck!