unknown brown spots id please

acrouse · 06/25/2006, 08:44 PM

I got this brown leather looking stuff growing on my LR. It starts as lots of small spots and has spread to the top of most of the rocks. Anything eat this stuff? Is it good or bad?

Thanks for any input
Jolene

bertoni · 06/25/2006, 08:50 PM

I'd guess it's an encrusting animal or alga of some sort. Without a sharp closeup, I don't think I can do much in the way of id. I doubt you'll be able to find a predator for it, but you could kill it with a kalk paste if you don't like the looks of it. I doubt that it'll hurt anything.

crustin · 06/25/2006, 08:57 PM

looks like algea to me, try blowing it off with a turkey baster, if it comes off it algea

acrouse · 06/25/2006, 09:01 PM

It will not blow of with a baster but the leafs on the edge sway in the current. When it was curing I had very little. It seem to be doing the best on the tops on the rock. closest to the lights.

lunkerbunker · 06/25/2006, 09:03 PM

its a type of encrusting algae that needs to be peeled or scrapped off. the stuff spread pretty quickly. my naso tang has been grazing on it. hth

bertoni · 06/25/2006, 09:27 PM

If you decide to eradicate with lime paste, use small doses. Lime will spike the tank's pH, alkalinity, and calcium. Maybe try 1ml and see what happens.

acrouse · 06/26/2006, 09:12 PM

How do you use lime paste? Is it sold at lfs, or a homemade paste? Is it applied directly to the brown spots. Tried to peel it off today with no luck, it is very attached to the rocks except at the edges. thanks for the information. Jolene

bertoni · 06/26/2006, 11:05 PM

Lime paste is just a mixture of water and calcium hydroxide. Calcium hydroxide is sold as pickling lime and kalk.

acrouse · 07/05/2006, 09:48 PM

Do you just apply the paste directly to the brown spots?-sorry it took so long to reply-was gone over the holiday! thanks jolene

bertoni · 07/05/2006, 10:28 PM

Yes, that's what I'd try. One small spot at a time, though. Watch that pH carefully!

06/25/2006, 08:44 PM	#1
acrouse Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ackworth Posts: 473	unknown brown spots id please I got this brown leather looking stuff growing on my LR. It starts as lots of small spots and has spread to the top of most of the rocks. Anything eat this stuff? Is it good or bad? Thanks for any input Jolene

06/25/2006, 08:50 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'd guess it's an encrusting animal or alga of some sort. Without a sharp closeup, I don't think I can do much in the way of id. I doubt you'll be able to find a predator for it, but you could kill it with a kalk paste if you don't like the looks of it. I doubt that it'll hurt anything. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/25/2006, 08:57 PM	#3
crustin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: ga. Posts: 470	looks like algea to me, try blowing it off with a turkey baster, if it comes off it algea __________________ never give up Current Tank Info: 90g semi- reef

06/25/2006, 09:27 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If you decide to eradicate with lime paste, use small doses. Lime will spike the tank's pH, alkalinity, and calcium. Maybe try 1ml and see what happens. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/26/2006, 11:05 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Lime paste is just a mixture of water and calcium hydroxide. Calcium hydroxide is sold as pickling lime and kalk. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/25/2006, 09:01 PM	#4
acrouse Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ackworth Posts: 473	It will not blow of with a baster but the leafs on the edge sway in the current. When it was curing I had very little. It seem to be doing the best on the tops on the rock. closest to the lights.

06/25/2006, 09:03 PM	#5
lunkerbunker Moved On Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: nyc Posts: 296	its a type of encrusting algae that needs to be peeled or scrapped off. the stuff spread pretty quickly. my naso tang has been grazing on it. hth

06/26/2006, 09:12 PM	#7
acrouse Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ackworth Posts: 473	How do you use lime paste? Is it sold at lfs, or a homemade paste? Is it applied directly to the brown spots. Tried to peel it off today with no luck, it is very attached to the rocks except at the edges. thanks for the information. Jolene

07/05/2006, 09:48 PM	#9
acrouse Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ackworth Posts: 473	Do you just apply the paste directly to the brown spots?-sorry it took so long to reply-was gone over the holiday! thanks jolene

07/05/2006, 10:28 PM	#10
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Yes, that's what I'd try. One small spot at a time, though. Watch that pH carefully! __________________ Jonathan Bertoni