black film

bigginapk · 10/19/2007, 10:59 AM

There is a unknown black film that has appered in my tank in the last few days. all the parameters are :
nitrates 50
nitrites 0.1
ammonia 0.25
PH 8.4
temp 78.3
TDS 10
salinity 1.025
Alk 8.0
calcium 460
phos 0.5

I have done two water changes in the past three weeks using premixed R/O water from the LFS. it does seem to be in the middle where there would be lack of good water flow. Can anyone tell me what it is and how do I treat it. Here is a few pics.

RobNJ · 10/19/2007, 12:21 PM

i would guess cyano , increase the flow in the tank and see if that helps, vacuum it out on your next water change

rustybucket145 · 10/19/2007, 12:26 PM

Whoa!! Take it out and smell of it. NOW!! If it smells like rotten eggs or sulfur you have a problem. Do NOT remove it if you can't without disturbing it. I'd suggest turning off all the pumps before trying to remove it.

It looks like hydrogen sulfide to me which is a result of a very low flow or stagnet area. You really need to remove this or it could crash your whole tank.

Once you remove it your MUST increase your flow. How much flow do you have? Maybe somebody can give some suggestions of ways to increase your flow.

chk4tix · 10/19/2007, 01:38 PM

that doesnt look good at all. As said before, you need to increase your water flow and if possible remove that piece completely. With your nitrates being so I would also worry.

10/19/2007, 10:59 AM	#1
bigginapk bigginapk Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Astatula, FL. Posts: 445	black film There is a unknown black film that has appered in my tank in the last few days. all the parameters are : nitrates 50 nitrites 0.1 ammonia 0.25 PH 8.4 temp 78.3 TDS 10 salinity 1.025 Alk 8.0 calcium 460 phos 0.5 I have done two water changes in the past three weeks using premixed R/O water from the LFS. it does seem to be in the middle where there would be lack of good water flow. Can anyone tell me what it is and how do I treat it. Here is a few pics. __________________ ----------------------------------------- BIGGIN Current Tank Info: 75G reef with the works

10/19/2007, 12:26 PM	#3
rustybucket145 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: valdosta, ga Posts: 3,707	Whoa!! Take it out and smell of it. NOW!! If it smells like rotten eggs or sulfur you have a problem. Do NOT remove it if you can't without disturbing it. I'd suggest turning off all the pumps before trying to remove it. It looks like hydrogen sulfide to me which is a result of a very low flow or stagnet area. You really need to remove this or it could crash your whole tank. Once you remove it your MUST increase your flow. How much flow do you have? Maybe somebody can give some suggestions of ways to increase your flow. __________________ 400gals of various tanks in the same system. Current Tank Info: 2 175w MH, 2 VH0 Actinics, Lots of Live Rock, tons of copepods, a Fat Mandarin Goby, Niger Trigger, Yellow Tang, Falco Hawkfish, Bi-Color Pseudo, numerous soft, SPS and LPS Corals

10/19/2007, 12:21 PM	#2
RobNJ Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hasbrouck Heights, NJ Posts: 945	i would guess cyano , increase the flow in the tank and see if that helps, vacuum it out on your next water change

10/19/2007, 01:38 PM	#4
chk4tix Moved On Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 53	that doesnt look good at all. As said before, you need to increase your water flow and if possible remove that piece completely. With your nitrates being so I would also worry.