Sand/LR turning rusty/gold colored

flyguy7150 · 07/11/2007, 08:04 PM

Hi, im new to the forums and to saltwater tanks. Recently changed from freshwater. I have live sand and live rock and recently some parts of the sand and rock are turning this rusty gold color. Im wondering what is causing this. Still curing?? Overfeeding maybe, i feed my fish twice per day. Frozen one setting, flakes at night.
My water:
Ph: 8.2
Salinity: 1.024
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0

Equipment:
Coralife super skimmer
Coralife 96watt PC
fluval 304

Some pics of my tank and what im talking about...

chemesgh · 07/11/2007, 08:11 PM

Looks like a typical diatom bloom in a new salty tank. Don't worry about it, it should pass in a few weeks. Just don't overdo it on the feeding.

chris31 · 07/11/2007, 08:42 PM

yea i dealing with a major case of that and im getting really frutraded im getting diff things to do from every1

drummereef · 07/11/2007, 09:07 PM

Your tank is going through the normal diatom bloom most newly cycling tanks go through. No worries. It will go away on its own in time. To keep it away, the use of RO/DI water is highly recommended.

chris31 · 07/11/2007, 09:11 PM

hey drummerreef even the diatoms on the sand bed and on the rock will go away on its own

flyguy7150 · 07/11/2007, 10:08 PM

Thanks for all the quick replies guys. Thought i somehow managed to kill my rock

Do you guys think i should get a cleanup crew, like margarita snails... and such to help it out?? Or just let it clear on its own

kaihonu82 · 07/11/2007, 10:27 PM

are you saying you don't have any clean up crew? by all means, throw some snails and crabs in...and by throw, i mean acclimate gently

flyguy7150 · 07/11/2007, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kaihonu82
are you saying you don't have any clean up crew? by all means, throw some snails and crabs in...and by throw, i mean acclimate gently

lol. Nope no clean up crew. Wasn't sure how important they are

I'll probably try to pick some up tomorrow or something. All the good stores are far. Maybe like 10 snails 2 crabs sound good?? 46g BF btw.

Zann · 07/11/2007, 11:27 PM

cerith snails work good on diatom blooms

AquaReeferMan · 07/11/2007, 11:34 PM

I would get like 10 Astraea snails, 2 Cerith snails, and a couple of blue leg hermits. Diatoms will eventually fade away but having a clean up crew will do it faster and keep it from coming back.

flyguy7150 · 07/12/2007, 11:18 AM

thanks again everyone

drummereef · 07/12/2007, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by chris31
hey drummerreef even the diatoms on the sand bed and on the rock will go away on its own

Yes, if the tank is new and you have good husbandry skills it will go away. All a part of the new tank cycle. Now, if you are having a diatom issue on an established tank then the water source needs to be looked into. Like I said, silica feeds diatoms. Rid the source of the silica issue and say goodbye to the diatoms.

07/11/2007, 08:04 PM	#1
flyguy7150 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pembroke Pines Posts: 895	Sand/LR turning rusty/gold colored Hi, im new to the forums and to saltwater tanks. Recently changed from freshwater. I have live sand and live rock and recently some parts of the sand and rock are turning this rusty gold color. Im wondering what is causing this. Still curing?? Overfeeding maybe, i feed my fish twice per day. Frozen one setting, flakes at night. My water: Ph: 8.2 Salinity: 1.024 Ammonia: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 0 Equipment: Coralife super skimmer Coralife 96watt PC fluval 304 Some pics of my tank and what im talking about...

07/11/2007, 09:07 PM	#4
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Your tank is going through the normal diatom bloom most newly cycling tanks go through. No worries. It will go away on its own in time. To keep it away, the use of RO/DI water is highly recommended. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

07/11/2007, 10:08 PM	#6
flyguy7150 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pembroke Pines Posts: 895	Thanks for all the quick replies guys. Thought i somehow managed to kill my rock Do you guys think i should get a cleanup crew, like margarita snails... and such to help it out?? Or just let it clear on its own __________________ Leo Click on my red house to see my 90g RR tank :) Tons of pictures, tons... Click!!! Current Tank Info: 90g AGA Reef Ready, 6x54w T5s w/ SLRs, 29g Sump/fuge, OR 2500 Return, Octopus NW150, 2 x TLF Phosban Reactor, Koralia #1, #4, MJ Modded

07/11/2007, 10:27 PM	#7
kaihonu82 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: bay area, ca Posts: 454	are you saying you don't have any clean up crew? by all means, throw some snails and crabs in...and by throw, i mean acclimate gently __________________ lindsay

07/11/2007, 11:34 PM	#10
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	I would get like 10 Astraea snails, 2 Cerith snails, and a couple of blue leg hermits. Diatoms will eventually fade away but having a clean up crew will do it faster and keep it from coming back. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

07/11/2007, 08:11 PM	#2
chemesgh Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pensacola FL Posts: 179	Looks like a typical diatom bloom in a new salty tank. Don't worry about it, it should pass in a few weeks. Just don't overdo it on the feeding.

07/11/2007, 08:42 PM	#3
chris31 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long island NY Posts: 928	yea i dealing with a major case of that and im getting really frutraded im getting diff things to do from every1

07/11/2007, 09:11 PM	#5
chris31 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: long island NY Posts: 928	hey drummerreef even the diatoms on the sand bed and on the rock will go away on its own

07/11/2007, 11:27 PM	#9
Zann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Southaven Ms Posts: 569	cerith snails work good on diatom blooms

07/12/2007, 11:18 AM	#11
flyguy7150 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pembroke Pines Posts: 895	thanks again everyone __________________ Leo Click on my red house to see my 90g RR tank :) Tons of pictures, tons... Click!!! Current Tank Info: 90g AGA Reef Ready, 6x54w T5s w/ SLRs, 29g Sump/fuge, OR 2500 Return, Octopus NW150, 2 x TLF Phosban Reactor, Koralia #1, #4, MJ Modded