I have this yellowish brown stuff not only on my live rock, but sand too now.....

John Hartford · 05/02/2006, 11:00 PM

I have had the tank set up for about 2 1/2 weeks now. I have added live rock from my 125 plus cured live rock that I had bought. My water paramters are in check, and I have been doing water changes everyweek roughly 30 gallons. I know that my skimmer is certainly doing its job so I don't think theres a problem there. So what is this stuff, I even have it in the sand in my refugium now.

mbbuna · 05/02/2006, 11:48 PM

sounds like diatoms. give it time

John Hartford · 05/03/2006, 06:43 AM

what are diatoms and is there anything one can do to control it?

theop · 05/03/2006, 07:01 AM

They are type of unicellular algae that will come a couple weeks into your cycle and usually disappear in a week or two.

They are unsightly but not harmful, and are nothing to worry about. You could vacuum your gravel and rocks if you want.

rustybucket145 · 05/03/2006, 07:43 AM

I wouldn't vaccum, you will be removing beneficial bacteria. Just ride it out. It will usually turn from brown to green to coraline. Just all part of the algae cycle that all new tanks go through. JMO I think you are changing too much water. You should cut your weekly changes back to 5-10gal or just go with monthly changes while your tank is cycling.

05/02/2006, 11:00 PM	#1
John Hartford Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 256	I have this yellowish brown stuff not only on my live rock, but sand too now..... I have had the tank set up for about 2 1/2 weeks now. I have added live rock from my 125 plus cured live rock that I had bought. My water paramters are in check, and I have been doing water changes everyweek roughly 30 gallons. I know that my skimmer is certainly doing its job so I don't think theres a problem there. So what is this stuff, I even have it in the sand in my refugium now.

05/03/2006, 07:43 AM	#5
rustybucket145 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: valdosta, ga Posts: 3,707	I wouldn't vaccum, you will be removing beneficial bacteria. Just ride it out. It will usually turn from brown to green to coraline. Just all part of the algae cycle that all new tanks go through. JMO I think you are changing too much water. You should cut your weekly changes back to 5-10gal or just go with monthly changes while your tank is cycling. __________________ 400gals of various tanks in the same system. Current Tank Info: 2 175w MH, 2 VH0 Actinics, Lots of Live Rock, tons of copepods, a Fat Mandarin Goby, Niger Trigger, Yellow Tang, Falco Hawkfish, Bi-Color Pseudo, numerous soft, SPS and LPS Corals

05/02/2006, 11:48 PM	#2
mbbuna Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 6,847	sounds like diatoms. give it time

05/03/2006, 06:43 AM	#3
John Hartford Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 256	what are diatoms and is there anything one can do to control it?

05/03/2006, 07:01 AM	#4
theop Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 1,493	They are type of unicellular algae that will come a couple weeks into your cycle and usually disappear in a week or two. They are unsightly but not harmful, and are nothing to worry about. You could vacuum your gravel and rocks if you want.