2 newb questions...

mnowicki · 11/30/2010, 01:04 PM

Hey guys,

Q1:
I was trying to find information on this but can't seem to, hopefully someone can point me in the right direction. I have a newly established tank that has been cycling for over 4 weeks now. I have noticed a slime that has developed quite pronouncly on just the silicone over the past 1-2 weeks. It is more abundant on the new silicone that I put down vs. the silicone that came with the tank. When i slide my finger across the silicone this stuff slides off really easily and is a yellowish/brown snot type of consistancy. In high flow areas this stuff even tears itself off the silicone once it has built up. What is this and what is the cause? If this is normal, great, but I'd like to still understand why if someone has an explanation. If it isn't normal, what should be done?

Q2:
On my heaters I have developed a white hard substance in the areas where it is the hottest. What is the cause of this, is this the same sort of deposit that often forms on tea kettles over time? Could it be due to using treated tapwater and not RO/DI?

Thanks and I appreciate the feedback ahead of time!!

sn4265 · 11/30/2010, 01:18 PM

On question 1 I'm inclined to think it might be diatoms, but that's possibly just because my tank is going thru the diatom phase right now.

Question 2... What do you mean by "treated tapwater"? If you are really using just dechlorinated tapwater I think this may very well be your problem. If you are using some kind of purification system and have a very low TDS, I'm really not sure.

mnowicki · 11/30/2010, 01:45 PM

thats what I meant by treated tapwater. Sounds good, hopefully my RO/DI system will come in this week so I guess that'll solve that minor issue

Thorin192 · 11/30/2010, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mnowicki

Hey guys,

Q1:
I was trying to find information on this but can't seem to, hopefully someone can point me in the right direction. I have a newly established tank that has been cycling for over 4 weeks now. I have noticed a slime that has developed quite pronouncly on just the silicone over the past 1-2 weeks. It is more abundant on the new silicone that I put down vs. the silicone that came with the tank. When i slide my finger across the silicone this stuff slides off really easily and is a yellowish/brown snot type of consistancy. In high flow areas this stuff even tears itself off the silicone once it has built up. What is this and what is the cause? If this is normal, great, but I'd like to still understand why if someone has an explanation. If it isn't normal, what should be done?

I agree with sn4265 that this is probably diatoms. Do a search for diatoms online and see if the pictures match what you are seeing. If not try adding a picture here so that it will be easier to identify

Floowid · 11/30/2010, 02:57 PM

I would say diatoms. And seeing that diatoms feed on silicates, that may be why you are seeing them moreso on the silicone sealant. In a few days they should be dusting the entire tank, and then they will disappear entirely.

cornraker · 11/30/2010, 03:08 PM

It's probably diatoms. I had the same deal. If it wipes off easily like you said.

bertoni · 11/30/2010, 06:45 PM

A slime makes me think bacteria, cyanobacteria, or dinoflagellates, but it'd take a microscope to be sure. I wouldn't worry for the moment, in any case.

The deposits on the heater likely are calcium carbonate. I'd clean them off from time to time, and check the calcium and alkalinity parameters. They might be a bit high.

Bloodritual · 11/30/2010, 11:42 PM

Agreed with the calcium carbonate buildup on the heater. It kept building up in my heater when I first set it up, I just clean it up once a week during that time by soaking it in vinegar. It eventually stopped building up after I had my tank's chemistry stbilized.

saltyseaman01 · 12/01/2010, 01:50 PM

sounds like diatoms to me it will go away. bad thing with every new tank is you have to go trough ulgy tank stages which is all normol. as for the heater sounds like calcium build up

mnowicki · 12/01/2010, 05:04 PM

appreciate the help. I'll look into diatoms and also possible bacteria candidates, but diatoms does seem to fit from the pictures I look at.

Anyone have an idea of how long the diatoms typically last? Up until its nutrients (silicates) are up? How long is this stage usually for a new tank?

bertoni · 12/02/2010, 03:07 PM

Diatoms require phosphorus and nitrogen from the water column, just like all the other microbes, as well as silica. They'll last until the phosphorus and nitrogen are exported, most likely.

11/30/2010, 01:04 PM	#1
mnowicki Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: North Jersey Posts: 133	2 newb questions... Hey guys, Q1: I was trying to find information on this but can't seem to, hopefully someone can point me in the right direction. I have a newly established tank that has been cycling for over 4 weeks now. I have noticed a slime that has developed quite pronouncly on just the silicone over the past 1-2 weeks. It is more abundant on the new silicone that I put down vs. the silicone that came with the tank. When i slide my finger across the silicone this stuff slides off really easily and is a yellowish/brown snot type of consistancy. In high flow areas this stuff even tears itself off the silicone once it has built up. What is this and what is the cause? If this is normal, great, but I'd like to still understand why if someone has an explanation. If it isn't normal, what should be done? Q2: On my heaters I have developed a white hard substance in the areas where it is the hottest. What is the cause of this, is this the same sort of deposit that often forms on tea kettles over time? Could it be due to using treated tapwater and not RO/DI? Thanks and I appreciate the feedback ahead of time!!

11/30/2010, 01:18 PM	#2
sn4265 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 570	On question 1 I'm inclined to think it might be diatoms, but that's possibly just because my tank is going thru the diatom phase right now. Question 2... What do you mean by "treated tapwater"? If you are really using just dechlorinated tapwater I think this may very well be your problem. If you are using some kind of purification system and have a very low TDS, I'm really not sure. __________________ First saltwater tank setup 11/6/10: 80 lbs LS and 150 lbs LR, Aquamaxx EM200 skimmer & Phosban Reactor Photon 48 LED pH 8.0, Temp 78, NO3 ~0, Mg 1400, Ca 420, Alk 7.5 Current Tank Info: 120 gal with 40B sump with fuge, pair of black Occellaris Clowns, purple Firefish, Coral Banded Shrimp, Foxface

11/30/2010, 01:45 PM	#3
mnowicki Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: North Jersey Posts: 133	thats what I meant by treated tapwater. Sounds good, hopefully my RO/DI system will come in this week so I guess that'll solve that minor issue __________________ ~H20: RO/DI, Inst Ocn 1.020, 78 deg, ph 8.2 ~Rock:120 lbs DT ~Substrate: 120lbs DT, 60lbs DSB Sump ~Filtration: Mesh Sock->SWC 150bmk Skimmer->DSB->Carbon

11/30/2010, 02:57 PM	#5
Floowid Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Centerville, UT Posts: 712	I would say diatoms. And seeing that diatoms feed on silicates, that may be why you are seeing them moreso on the silicone sealant. In a few days they should be dusting the entire tank, and then they will disappear entirely. __________________ 75 gallon mixed reef

11/30/2010, 06:45 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	A slime makes me think bacteria, cyanobacteria, or dinoflagellates, but it'd take a microscope to be sure. I wouldn't worry for the moment, in any case. The deposits on the heater likely are calcium carbonate. I'd clean them off from time to time, and check the calcium and alkalinity parameters. They might be a bit high. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

11/30/2010, 03:08 PM	#6
cornraker Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Germantown, MD Posts: 108	It's probably diatoms. I had the same deal. If it wipes off easily like you said.

11/30/2010, 11:42 PM	#8
Bloodritual Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 82	Agreed with the calcium carbonate buildup on the heater. It kept building up in my heater when I first set it up, I just clean it up once a week during that time by soaking it in vinegar. It eventually stopped building up after I had my tank's chemistry stbilized.

12/01/2010, 01:50 PM	#9
saltyseaman01 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 52	sounds like diatoms to me it will go away. bad thing with every new tank is you have to go trough ulgy tank stages which is all normol. as for the heater sounds like calcium build up

12/01/2010, 05:04 PM	#10
mnowicki Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: North Jersey Posts: 133	appreciate the help. I'll look into diatoms and also possible bacteria candidates, but diatoms does seem to fit from the pictures I look at. Anyone have an idea of how long the diatoms typically last? Up until its nutrients (silicates) are up? How long is this stage usually for a new tank? __________________ ~H20: RO/DI, Inst Ocn 1.020, 78 deg, ph 8.2 ~Rock:120 lbs DT ~Substrate: 120lbs DT, 60lbs DSB Sump ~Filtration: Mesh Sock->SWC 150bmk Skimmer->DSB->Carbon

12/02/2010, 03:07 PM	#11
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Diatoms require phosphorus and nitrogen from the water column, just like all the other microbes, as well as silica. They'll last until the phosphorus and nitrogen are exported, most likely. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

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