brown stuff on my live rock....HELP!!!

neily · 10/08/2008, 11:56 PM

ok dont know what this is but its trippin me out. im new to SW so yah i have live rock and there is like brown stuff growing on my rocks, not too much but it is growing. if it was green it would be algea but no. and if it was purple it would be coraline. but yah its brown kinda like a golden color. can anyone just explain to me what it might be if they have any idea???

Zestay · 10/09/2008, 12:13 AM

diatoms
harmless
everyone gets them in a new tank

they go away on thier own

neily · 10/09/2008, 12:38 AM

well here's some pics and its normal right? not sure if you can see it but yah theres litlle hints of them growing on my rocks. i just want to know what causes that to grow???

Octopus8 · 10/09/2008, 06:17 AM

Here's more than you ever wanted to know about diatoms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatom

Diatoms are a normal part of setting up a new aquarium. The brown (diatoms) will eventually die off and be replaced by coraline. After the diatoms cleared up my rocks started turning a very bright green followed by purple, pink and dark red coraline algae. Fortunately I've been able to avoid green hair algae to this point.

Good luck!

rogergolf66 · 10/09/2008, 06:35 AM

it will spread even more don't panic it is normal. you can and should get some snails to help with this and other algeas that will come along over the life of your reef, but if you dont' they will go away. this time that is because it is a new tank, but next time you will need those snails and clean up crew to help you out.

Rgoer

jimgldn · 10/09/2008, 06:56 AM

I second the clean up crew

neily · 10/09/2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Here's more than you ever wanted to know about diatoms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatom

Diatoms are a normal part of setting up a new aquarium. The brown (diatoms) will eventually die off and be replaced by coraline. After the diatoms cleared up my rocks started turning a very bright green followed by purple, pink and dark red coraline algae. Fortunately I've been able to avoid green hair algae to this point.

Good luck!

since it can turn into the purple coraline, is there something to does the algea to make it grow into the coraline??? like a lil boost or nutrient???

neily · 10/09/2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rogergolf66
it will spread even more don't panic it is normal. you can and should get some snails to help with this and other algeas that will come along over the life of your reef, but if you dont' they will go away. this time that is because it is a new tank, but next time you will need those snails and clean up crew to help you out.

Rgoer

cool dudes thanks!

neily · 10/09/2008, 10:59 AM

since it can turn into the purple coraline, is there something to does the algea to make it grow into the coraline??? like a lil boost or nutrient???

Zestay · 10/09/2008, 07:26 PM

well the diatoms them self wont turn into coraline algae. the only thing you need to dose your tank with is water changes and light to grow coraline.

purple up
coraline algea stimulator
all these other things are DANGEROUS to your tank
if you over dose you can kill your tank.
water changes
lighting
flow.
and time
you cant rush things.

use a good salt
IGNORE what your LFS tells you they want a sale. we want your tank to be happy

i let my tank sit on my desk with nothing but water rocks and sand in it for over 2 months before i added any life. after 2 months i was already through my diatom bloom. inital bit of hair algae bloom. than i tossed in a bunch of crabs and snails and starved them untill they ate all the hair algae =) only after they proved useful did i drop some pellets in there.

neily · 10/09/2008, 07:43 PM

haha fa sho

buccard · 10/09/2008, 07:43 PM

My 90 Gallon tank has the same stuff...light layer over the sand and the top side of the rocks. I know how you feel the tank is so beautiful and then that brow crap happens and makes it look dingy instead to fresh and clean. I hope it goes away soon I dont like it.

Mine is more noticable because I used some base rock mixed in with the live rock and it shows up alot more on the base rock.

I see people recommending the clean up crew...How soon can they be added?

My tank has been up only two weeks...how about yours neily?

neily · 10/09/2008, 10:04 PM

going to be a full week tomorrow

Michael · 10/10/2008, 12:01 AM

as mentioned it will get worse than it is now before it burns out, all part of the cycle

10/08/2008, 11:56 PM	#1
neily Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 21	brown stuff on my live rock....HELP!!! ok dont know what this is but its trippin me out. im new to SW so yah i have live rock and there is like brown stuff growing on my rocks, not too much but it is growing. if it was green it would be algea but no. and if it was purple it would be coraline. but yah its brown kinda like a golden color. can anyone just explain to me what it might be if they have any idea???

10/09/2008, 06:35 AM	#5
rogergolf66 im an addict lol Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Land o lakes, FLorida Posts: 12,930	it will spread even more don't panic it is normal. you can and should get some snails to help with this and other algeas that will come along over the life of your reef, but if you dont' they will go away. this time that is because it is a new tank, but next time you will need those snails and clean up crew to help you out. Rgoer __________________ Goal levels: salinity 35ppt, temp 78-79, alk 8-9, cal 430-450, mag 1310-1400 po4 .03, no3 1-3 Current Tank Info: System 1... 100 gal Zoa tank I built, 30 gal Ric Yuma shroom tank, 30 gal mix tank my sons,40 gal softie tank, 40 gal nem tank, two 40 gal LPS tank. System 2... 240 gal SPS display attached 100 gal frag SPS only tank.

10/09/2008, 07:43 PM	#12
buccard Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lakeland, Florida Posts: 970	My 90 Gallon tank has the same stuff...light layer over the sand and the top side of the rocks. I know how you feel the tank is so beautiful and then that brow crap happens and makes it look dingy instead to fresh and clean. I hope it goes away soon I dont like it. Mine is more noticable because I used some base rock mixed in with the live rock and it shows up alot more on the base rock. I see people recommending the clean up crew...How soon can they be added? My tank has been up only two weeks...how about yours neily? __________________ Roger Save a fish, click on the red house. Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon-mixed reef

10/10/2008, 12:01 AM	#14
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	as mentioned it will get worse than it is now before it burns out, all part of the cycle __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

10/09/2008, 12:13 AM	#2
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	diatoms harmless everyone gets them in a new tank they go away on thier own

10/09/2008, 12:38 AM	#3
neily Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 21	well here's some pics and its normal right? not sure if you can see it but yah theres litlle hints of them growing on my rocks. i just want to know what causes that to grow???

10/09/2008, 06:17 AM	#4
Octopus8 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: SW Florida Posts: 271	Here's more than you ever wanted to know about diatoms. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatom Diatoms are a normal part of setting up a new aquarium. The brown (diatoms) will eventually die off and be replaced by coraline. After the diatoms cleared up my rocks started turning a very bright green followed by purple, pink and dark red coraline algae. Fortunately I've been able to avoid green hair algae to this point. Good luck!

10/09/2008, 06:56 AM	#6
jimgldn Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 52	I second the clean up crew

10/09/2008, 10:59 AM	#9
neily Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 21	since it can turn into the purple coraline, is there something to does the algea to make it grow into the coraline??? like a lil boost or nutrient???

10/09/2008, 07:26 PM	#10
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	well the diatoms them self wont turn into coraline algae. the only thing you need to dose your tank with is water changes and light to grow coraline. purple up coraline algea stimulator all these other things are DANGEROUS to your tank if you over dose you can kill your tank. water changes lighting flow. and time you cant rush things. use a good salt IGNORE what your LFS tells you they want a sale. we want your tank to be happy i let my tank sit on my desk with nothing but water rocks and sand in it for over 2 months before i added any life. after 2 months i was already through my diatom bloom. inital bit of hair algae bloom. than i tossed in a bunch of crabs and snails and starved them untill they ate all the hair algae =) only after they proved useful did i drop some pellets in there.

10/09/2008, 10:04 PM	#13
neily Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 21	going to be a full week tomorrow