Problem on live rock with picture inside

Billy1205 · 10/05/2015, 07:08 PM

Hi, I'm new to this hobby which just cycle my tank for a week. During this period I found out there are some brown stuff spreading around my live rock.
I tried to blow it using wave maker, but it seem like stick on the live rock. Can anyone help me out and tell me what is this? Do I need to remove my live rock and wash it?

Tank spec as below:
Ammonia : 0.5
Nitrite : 0
Nitrate : 0
Phosphate : 0.25
Ph : 8.1
dKH : 7
Calcium : 400

Equipment:
135gallon tank including DT and Sump
Protein Skimmer SRO 3000INT
2 x Oceanrevive Arctic T247 (sunrise from 3pm to 4pm, sunset 9.30pm to 12am)
2 x Vortech MP40QD setting in NTM
Calcium reactor RO-CR 2000
ROWAphos in phosban reactor 150

Bogue Chitto · 10/05/2015, 07:18 PM

That's diatoms. You will have that for a while and then it will start to decrease, it happens to all of us. Lights make it grow faster. It just takes time, It won't really hurt anything much, but will just look bad. Phosphates sorta fertilize it so try not to over feed or put too many nutrients in the water.

LuciDog · 10/05/2015, 07:21 PM

The joys of a new tank.

It gets ugly. Then it gets uglier. Then it clears up. Then gets ugly again.... Eventually it will stabilize. Until then, patience.

heathlindner25 · 10/05/2015, 07:40 PM

everything looks normal to me

Billy1205 · 10/05/2015, 08:25 PM

anyone know the cause of it?

LuciDog · 10/05/2015, 08:44 PM

The cause of diatoms?

In the process of cycling your tank, you are "curing" your rock, introducing silicates and nutrients into the system. This fuels a diatom bloom. As your system stabilizes, your blooms will come and go. Keep up with good tank husbandry and they will eventually die off and shouldn't return, unless you start adding more rock or sand.

cincyjim · 10/06/2015, 07:13 AM

Love the rock display. Very nice job!

Shawn O · 10/06/2015, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincyjim

love the rock display. Very nice job!

+1

Billy1205 · 10/06/2015, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincyjim

Love the rock display. Very nice job!

it took me 3 hours to do it. LOL, anyway thank you

Shznittle · 10/07/2015, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billy1205

anyone know the cause of it?

The cause of diatoms? Just like what somebody already mentioned, phosphates seeds it but it feeds off of nitrates just like any other algae, good or bad. I dont know for sure, but im sure its pretty much unpreventable. The degree of its outbreak just depends on the amount of nutrients you add to the tank so just like somebody already mentioned, dont overfeed.

CStrickland · 10/07/2015, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shznittle

The cause of diatoms? Just like what somebody already mentioned, phosphates seeds it but it feeds off of nitrates just like any other algae, good or bad. I dont know for sure, but im sure its pretty much unpreventable. The degree of its outbreak just depends on the amount of nutrients you add to the tank so just like somebody already mentioned, dont overfeed.

While diatoms surely require phosphate (because they are alive) they do not wax and wane in our tanks as a function of nutrient availability the same way other nuisance algaes do. They have another limiting factor that generally inhibits their growth. This is thought to be silicates in the water because diatoms require it to produce their frustules. Most tanks have an abundance of silica when new rock and sand are added, but do not import it on a regular basis (unless tap water is used), so usually as the new carbon structures exhaust their stores, and the diatoms that have utilized what was introduced are removed through filtration, they disappear on their own.

Feeding more nutrients into the tank than your filtration can remove is bad, but it doesn't seem to affect diatoms much since no matter how much phos you add, without silica they can't build their bodies

Billy1205 · 10/07/2015, 06:29 PM

So, if I start using GFO to reduce phosphate down to 0, will it help to clean the diatom faster? Or can I just do a 100% water change?

thegrun · 10/07/2015, 07:57 PM

If you are hoping for pearly white rocks like you had when you first set up the tank, forget about it! White rocks are a sign of a dead tank. As far as the diatoms go, you want to keep your nutrients down and flow high. Diatom blooms are a natural part of the tank maturing however, so you are going to see some no matter what.

stingeragent · 10/07/2015, 11:57 PM

+1 . Just let it run it's course.

Isaacs55 · 10/08/2015, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CStrickland

While diatoms surely require phosphate (because they are alive) they do not wax and wane in our tanks as a function of nutrient availability the same way other nuisance algaes do. They have another limiting factor that generally inhibits their growth. This is thought to be silicates in the water because diatoms require it to produce their frustules. Most tanks have an abundance of silica when new rock and sand are added, but do not import it on a regular basis (unless tap water is used), so usually as the new carbon structures exhaust their stores, and the diatoms that have utilized what was introduced are removed through filtration, they disappear on their own.

Feeding more nutrients into the tank than your filtration can remove is bad, but it doesn't seem to affect diatoms much since no matter how much phos you add, without silica they can't build their bodies

+1
+2
+3
+4
+5
+more lol
To the OP:
Agree 100% phosphates and nitrates have nothing to do with diatoms. Strictly a new tank syndrome that every tank goes through because of the amount of silica in your tank. Enjoy it while you can lol youtube the DIATOMIST...

Silvergryphon · 10/08/2015, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrun

If you are hoping for pearly white rocks like you had when you first set up the tank, forget about it! White rocks are a sign of a dead tank.

Or that you have a rock-boring urchin

Billy1205 · 10/08/2015, 06:37 PM

Here are some update pictures. Although I really hate the look (getting worse and attached on my standpipe), but I know this is the process I must go through. I'm so excited to receive my CUC on coming Tuesday. Hope they will at least help me clean up some diatom.

btw, thanks for all the reply which really help me alot.

Dkuhlmann · 10/09/2015, 06:07 AM

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your tank isn't ready for a cuc. You don't add anything even a cuc as long as you have any ammonia or nitrite readings. Your tanks hasn't cycled yet. Granted I'm going off of your parameters from two weeks ago, What are your parameters now? It could be you get lucky and the ammonia and nitrites are down to 0 but you were at .5 ammonia with 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates two weeks ago which means your tanks hasn't cycled. Your ammonia will spike much higher and then start to go down but your nitrites will start to go up. Once ammonia is 0 and your nitrites will be at their highest point then start to drop, as this happens you will start getting nitrates that will keep increasing as your nitrites go to 0. Once you are at 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites you do a 20% wc and then you can add your cuc. If done before the cycle is complete they will certainly die.

Billy1205 · 10/12/2015, 07:14 PM

Some update here:

Ammonia : 0.00
Nitrite : 0
Nitrate : 0
Phosphate : 0.00
Ph : 8.2
dKH : 8
Calcium : 400

I'm currently using API test kit, I'm wondering why I'm not able to detect any nitrite and nitrate, I'm using cure live rock for cycling the tank and used sand. Now I found out my live rocks are getting worse, there are not only diatom on it, but it seem like growing green stuff (I don't it is hair algae or bryopsis algae). I do attach some picture here, need help from you guys. Is my tank still under "normal" condition?

Dkuhlmann · 10/12/2015, 07:38 PM

If I were you, I'd go get a bottle of pure ammonia without any additives in it and dose your tank to at least 2ppm and see if it creates the nitrites or it just goes to 0 after 24 hrs. Don't test anything accept ammonia at the first test. Then when you measure at 24 hr mark also test nitrites.

I'm just trying to make sure you are cycled and I really don't think you are. This is how it's tested. So if it's cycled great you go to 0 ammonia and can start adding to the tank. If not then it will cycle. Make sure you take all cuc members out of the tank before dosing the ammonia.

Billy1205 · 10/12/2015, 07:42 PM

ok, I will do it. Besides, do you have any idea what is those green stuff that growing on the live rock? is this normally appear during cycling the tank?

stingeragent · 10/12/2015, 07:55 PM

Looks like green hair algae to me, and yes it's normal. Your tank will go from brown algae to green algae to red (cyano), and all sorts of other colors and crud for the next several months.

Billy1205 · 10/13/2015, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stingeragent

Looks like green hair algae to me, and yes it's normal. Your tank will go from brown algae to green algae to red (cyano), and all sorts of other colors and crud for the next several months.

do you have any idea how to get rid of cyano? will it gone by itself like diatom?

sde1500 · 10/13/2015, 07:24 AM

Almost of all this stuff will go away on its own. I have had my tank set up since April I think, and still it shows signs of these things. Diatoms are gone, I do have some hair algae, but not very worried about it. I just had a huge cyano outbreak, didn't really do much to it, siphoned it once or twice, thats about it. Its going away on it's own now. Your live rocks will go from white, to brown, to highlighter green and purple.

My biggest suggestion for this is just don't worry. Don't compare your new tank to these tanks that have been around for years. They are cleaner because they are well established. Yours is going to be messy for a while.

10/05/2015, 07:21 PM	#3
LuciDog Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 355	The joys of a new tank. It gets ugly. Then it gets uglier. Then it clears up. Then gets ugly again.... Eventually it will stabilize. Until then, patience. __________________ Current tank info: 30gal sumpless 120gal with 40gal sump 90gal freshwater - 2 angel, blood parrot, 3 mystery snails, pleco, and a school of rasbora's

10/05/2015, 08:44 PM	#6
LuciDog Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 355	The cause of diatoms? In the process of cycling your tank, you are "curing" your rock, introducing silicates and nutrients into the system. This fuels a diatom bloom. As your system stabilizes, your blooms will come and go. Keep up with good tank husbandry and they will eventually die off and shouldn't return, unless you start adding more rock or sand. __________________ Current tank info: 30gal sumpless 120gal with 40gal sump 90gal freshwater - 2 angel, blood parrot, 3 mystery snails, pleco, and a school of rasbora's

10/06/2015, 07:13 AM	#7
cincyjim Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,147	Love the rock display. Very nice job! __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: SCA 150G, 5 inch sand bed, 2 Tunze 6095s, ReefBreeders v2+ 50" with 2 all Blue Reefbrites, and Continuous Water Change System

10/09/2015, 06:07 AM	#18
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	I hate to be the bearer of bad news but your tank isn't ready for a cuc. You don't add anything even a cuc as long as you have any ammonia or nitrite readings. Your tanks hasn't cycled yet. Granted I'm going off of your parameters from two weeks ago, What are your parameters now? It could be you get lucky and the ammonia and nitrites are down to 0 but you were at .5 ammonia with 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates two weeks ago which means your tanks hasn't cycled. Your ammonia will spike much higher and then start to go down but your nitrites will start to go up. Once ammonia is 0 and your nitrites will be at their highest point then start to drop, as this happens you will start getting nitrates that will keep increasing as your nitrites go to 0. Once you are at 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites you do a 20% wc and then you can add your cuc. If done before the cycle is complete they will certainly die. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

10/12/2015, 07:38 PM	#20
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	If I were you, I'd go get a bottle of pure ammonia without any additives in it and dose your tank to at least 2ppm and see if it creates the nitrites or it just goes to 0 after 24 hrs. Don't test anything accept ammonia at the first test. Then when you measure at 24 hr mark also test nitrites. I'm just trying to make sure you are cycled and I really don't think you are. This is how it's tested. So if it's cycled great you go to 0 ammonia and can start adding to the tank. If not then it will cycle. Make sure you take all cuc members out of the tank before dosing the ammonia. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

10/05/2015, 07:18 PM	#2
Bogue Chitto Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 960	That's diatoms. You will have that for a while and then it will start to decrease, it happens to all of us. Lights make it grow faster. It just takes time, It won't really hurt anything much, but will just look bad. Phosphates sorta fertilize it so try not to over feed or put too many nutrients in the water.

10/05/2015, 07:40 PM	#4
heathlindner25 Moved On Join Date: May 2012 Location: flowery branch georgia Posts: 3,644	everything looks normal to me

10/05/2015, 08:25 PM	#5
Billy1205 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 68	anyone know the cause of it?

10/07/2015, 06:29 PM	#12
Billy1205 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 68	So, if I start using GFO to reduce phosphate down to 0, will it help to clean the diatom faster? Or can I just do a 100% water change?

10/07/2015, 07:57 PM	#13
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	If you are hoping for pearly white rocks like you had when you first set up the tank, forget about it! White rocks are a sign of a dead tank. As far as the diatoms go, you want to keep your nutrients down and flow high. Diatom blooms are a natural part of the tank maturing however, so you are going to see some no matter what.

10/07/2015, 11:57 PM	#14
stingeragent Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 1,032	+1 . Just let it run it's course.

10/12/2015, 07:42 PM	#21
Billy1205 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 68	ok, I will do it. Besides, do you have any idea what is those green stuff that growing on the live rock? is this normally appear during cycling the tank?

10/12/2015, 07:55 PM	#22
stingeragent Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 1,032	Looks like green hair algae to me, and yes it's normal. Your tank will go from brown algae to green algae to red (cyano), and all sorts of other colors and crud for the next several months.

10/13/2015, 07:24 AM	#24
sde1500 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Glocester, RI Posts: 3,336	Almost of all this stuff will go away on its own. I have had my tank set up since April I think, and still it shows signs of these things. Diatoms are gone, I do have some hair algae, but not very worried about it. I just had a huge cyano outbreak, didn't really do much to it, siphoned it once or twice, thats about it. Its going away on it's own now. Your live rocks will go from white, to brown, to highlighter green and purple. My biggest suggestion for this is just don't worry. Don't compare your new tank to these tanks that have been around for years. They are cleaner because they are well established. Yours is going to be messy for a while.