Brown stuff in tank

[ga_daisy]

Its a light - medium brown. It is on the rocks, but not on the sand or the glass. While its stuck to the rocks, it looks soft and fuzzy. If you fan your hand by it, it will be in the water column and looks like volcanic ash.

What is it and how do I get rid of it? I'm fortunate that I don't suffer from what seems to be the normal saltwater issues, such has HA and the other green nuisance algae's.

BUT....what the heck is this stuff and how do I rid myself of it?

 

[ga_daisy]

dawgdude;394654 wrote: Google diatoms and see if thats it. If so they feed off of silica so switch to RODI or change your filters and use a silica remover.

Silica remover?

I started using RO water about a month ago.

 

[ls1boost]

I had that diatoms stuff and it went away on its own after about a month now I have this red/brown matlike algea kind of looks like coraline algea color but is soft and you can suck it off with a siphon tube any idea what that could be?

 

[ga_daisy]

dawgdude;394659 wrote: Is it diatoms?

well....the only pics that I could find shows it on the glass. I do have some that grows on the glass and I use the mag float to clean it off, but I'm not sure about the stuff that I'm seeing on my rocks. Maybe because there is a longer span of growth on the rocks and when its on the glass I just wipe it off and never let it really grow?

 

[ga_daisy]

Also...in one of the descriptives it was said to be a slime. The stuff that I have doesn't appear slimey at all. Its more light and fluffy like ash.

 

[weaglereefer]

Could just be detrius from lack of flow. If it's settling and all it takes is you swooshing your hand by it, I'd bet you don't have enough water movement. Anything loose like that should be able to be kept in suspension and skimmed out.

 

[ga_daisy]

yeah...it does seem to be in lower flow areas. I really need to amp up my flow. I've been "talking" about doing it for a while. Its time to just do it.

Thanks guys.

 

[dakota9]

Sounds exactly like cyno to be. Would you say it's almost like a powder that covers the rocks?

Large waterchange and run GFO.

 

[ga_daisy]

I thought cyno was more of a slime or sludge?

 

[ga_daisy]

lol....I'm terrible about hijacking threads....

My clean up crew.....

well, I bought this tank used and some stuff came with it. Then, I bought a good bit from someone that was breaking down a system. So as to how many and exactly what I have....I really don't know.

I know I've got
one or two Mexican snails
two Brittle Star
Serpent Star
Sand Sifting star
Sea Hare Nudi
a few blue legged hermits
some (again...have no idea how many) snails
a couple Halloween hermits
two or three emerald crabs
some shiny black crab that I have no idea where he came from

But as far as how many of what and the exact "brand" of snails and hermits, I honestly don't know. I hate to say that....and I'm sure that is another thing I need to amp up in the system.

Suppose its just easier to buy pretty stuff and not so much think about spending money on the things that do all of the not so glamourus jobs of the aquarium!

I read somewhere that hermit crabs are often "over done" in the home aquarium. What do you guys suggest?

 

[cr500_af]

A lot depends on how many "some" snails is (approximately). On a tank your size, you can use a LOT of snails. I have about 25 in my 90g and it is not enough IMO. I'm going to go and buy more on Monday.

And, for what it's worth, if I were doing it over again, I'd use all snails as a CUC and skip the hermits entirely. It seems all they do is fight each other and murder my snails for their shells (even though there are plenty of empty shells there for their use).

Oh yeah, and they knock over frags like there is a prize under each of them.

 

[dakota9]

ga_daisy;394700 wrote: I thought cyno was more of a slime or sludge?

Just for the record, Cyno can look like tissue covering rock and substrate, or it can be (what I would describe as) a thin powdery looking substance dusted over the rock. It depends on the level of infestation as to it's appearance, in my experience.

 

[jennm]

What are your water parameters?

 

[snowmansnow]

IF it's cyano pm me.. i just got rid of an outbreak in my 120 reef. you can pull your HAIR OUT over this stuff haha.

B

 

[ga_daisy]

Sorry guys.....my router was shot out for a day or two, wasn't able to gain access from home.

Jenn, I'll be coming to your place tomorrow for the Aquavitro, I'll bring a water sample.....if you don't mind, maybe we can figure it out from there.

As far as posting a pic, I forgot to "borrow" the office camera and mine sucks, you would never be able to really see what this looks like. I did take another look, there is some of this in my higher flow areas. I've got a Koralia 3 aimed right at some of it......so not sure if that helps as far as determining what it is.

I'll also attempt to get a "sampling" of it to bring to Jenn.

 

[jennm]

See you later, Deana We'll get you figured out.

Jenn

 

[ga_daisy]

dawgdude;395183 wrote: Does it look like this?

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No....its not on the sandbed, its hanging from rocks. It makes my rocks look fuzzy. I consulted with Jenn, she believes it to be detrius and I need a good toothbrush and a siphon. (guess what I'm doing next weekend? hmmm water change, fuzzy stuff siphon party anyone?):up: All the cool kids are doin' it!

My goofybutt got a water sample together to bring to Imagine Ocean while I was out "fishing" Sunday and left it sitting beside of the tank. Of course....I realized this when I was 16 miles away from home. There was NO way I was turning back around! When I parked my car yesterday and started unloading my new corals (thanks Kelsey and Gary!), I had gone 250+ miles!

Was terrible weather but a GREAT day for reef fishin'!