Reef Central Online Community

Go Back   Reef Central Online Community > General Interest Forums > New to the Hobby
Blogs FAQ Calendar

Notices

User Tag List

Reply
Thread Tools
Unread 12/15/2009, 10:35 AM   #1
-Pixie-
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia, sunny coast
Posts: 192
Hmmm....whats on my rock?

About a month ago i bought a heap of live rock from my LFS, since then it has adapted well.


Recently i have made the decision to keep corals, so i started to supplement water with seachem reef fundamentals.

My calcium rose my magnesium held its level, but about 1 week later i have gone from a nice corraline and white look with alot of growths, to now a brown tinge to every peice,but only happned when i started to supplement my water. I have attached a picture below.

Im starting to worry, anybody have any ideas as to why, and wether it is a good or bad thing?


Attached Images
File Type: jpg 013.jpg (70.1 KB, 124 views)
-Pixie- is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/15/2009, 10:36 AM   #2
-Pixie-
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia, sunny coast
Posts: 192
Also i have noticed that it hasnt affected any of the growths as yet as they all show through.


-Pixie- is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/15/2009, 10:42 AM   #3
Chiefsurfer
Registered Member
 
Chiefsurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Seaside Park, NJ
Posts: 2,138
looks like diatoms to me. Did you cycle the tank? This is usually a natural part of the cycling. It could also be that by adding those supplements(how did you do it, with a water change, or directly in the tank?) you may have added some nutrients that the algae needed to start.

The "live rock" wasn't all white when you got it was it? How long did you wait before adding live-stock, like the sea star? What are your parameter readings?


Chiefsurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/15/2009, 10:56 AM   #4
-Pixie-
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia, sunny coast
Posts: 192
ammonia - 0
nitrite - 0
nitrate - 50
calcium - 400

PH 8 ATM for some reason.

a month 3xchromis
a week later 1xpsuedochromis
another week 1xlinkia

No rock wasnt all white, ill add older pics and some current ones.

Also why would my PH be dropping and how to fix this problem?



Last edited by -Pixie-; 12/15/2009 at 11:11 AM.
-Pixie- is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/15/2009, 11:02 AM   #5
-Pixie-
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia, sunny coast
Posts: 192
Here are some pics.

And trust me im well aware linkia was a bad move, was on the recomendation of my LFS -- << jerk.


Attached Images
File Type: jpg 023.jpg (57.1 KB, 76 views)
File Type: jpg 025.jpg (69.8 KB, 67 views)
-Pixie- is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/15/2009, 11:03 AM   #6
-Pixie-
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia, sunny coast
Posts: 192
Supplements were added directly to tank, slightly diluted


-Pixie- is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/15/2009, 11:04 AM   #7
-Pixie-
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia, sunny coast
Posts: 192
First pic is current, second is a little older showing some die off


-Pixie- is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/15/2009, 11:05 AM   #8
-Pixie-
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia, sunny coast
Posts: 192
Any idea on what the orange growth with the tentacle type things is?


-Pixie- is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/15/2009, 11:26 AM   #9
-Pixie-
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia, sunny coast
Posts: 192
Also just added a T5 3 bulb fixture with 3 x 10k sun bulbs, could this have anything to do with it?


-Pixie- is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/15/2009, 12:08 PM   #10
stingythingy45
Registered Member
 
stingythingy45's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MA
Posts: 3,296
Pixie,

The first picture is definitely a diatom bloom on the rocks.This should disappear after silicates are used up in the tank.That should take a week or two as long as you don't reintroduce them with tap water.
Seconds picture could be a majorno anemone.Not sure as I've never had any just seen them,but these critters can be a pest.
Last picture could be sponge,but as it's on top of the rock probably not.
It could be some fungus caused by die off in,on the rock.


__________________
Bob

Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref
stingythingy45 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/15/2009, 12:09 PM   #11
stingythingy45
Registered Member
 
stingythingy45's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MA
Posts: 3,296
Quote:
Originally Posted by -Pixie- View Post
Any idea on what the orange growth with the tentacle type things is?
Do a search for majorno anemone.
Maybe somebody will comment that has dealt with them before.


__________________
Bob

Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref
stingythingy45 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/15/2009, 12:28 PM   #12
NaClCrocodile
Registered Member
 
NaClCrocodile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 400
Majano Anemone*

Looks like a diatom bloom in the first picture. Are you using tap or RO water? Also you really should consider replacing one of the 10k bulbs with an Actinic. This will give you a much bluer appearance. You'll be happy with it.


NaClCrocodile is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/15/2009, 02:34 PM   #13
Chiefsurfer
Registered Member
 
Chiefsurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Seaside Park, NJ
Posts: 2,138
Agree that at least one of those 10k has to be changed to actinic. Is the fixture brand new? What did you have before? If the fixture is used, how old are the bulbs? If they are old, they can produce poor light that can increase algae/diatom growth. If diatoms, it appears to be part of the cycle. Your Nitrate seems VERY high.

At 50ppm on a tank with 4 fish in it, and a linkia, it is likely not really done with its cycle if it's only 5 weeks old. Over time in reef tanks I have heard that PH will drop. This is why they make carbonate buffer to raise it to 8.3. Also, you can have PH swings depending on when you test, because as I understand it, having a lot of CO2, will bring your PH down. All critters in your tank create CO2, and use oxygen. When you have algae/plant life, your plants absorb CO2, and produce oxygen. If you don't have a refugium opposing your regular light cycle, you could be getting swings. Check your PH early am, and later, right about when the lights turn off. My bet you will have a higher ph at night.

The white thing looks to me like an encrusting sponge. I have a few, NOTHING near that size. The orange/brownish thing could be majano. If so, BAD!


Chiefsurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/16/2009, 12:44 AM   #14
-Pixie-
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia, sunny coast
Posts: 192
Thanks guys, so what to do about the brown appearance/diatoms?


-Pixie- is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/16/2009, 12:45 AM   #15
-Pixie-
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia, sunny coast
Posts: 192
And is it bad?


-Pixie- is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/16/2009, 12:45 AM   #16
-Pixie-
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia, sunny coast
Posts: 192
I used tap water for my initial tankfill


-Pixie- is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/16/2009, 05:19 AM   #17
Chiefsurfer
Registered Member
 
Chiefsurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Seaside Park, NJ
Posts: 2,138
the tap is likely a large part of the reason for your diatom bloom. Tap carries tons of garbage along with it, a lot of times, algaes and such along with it. This is why tap contains chlorine to keep algaes in check.

If you haven't already, your next big purchase should be an RO/DI water-maker. IMO, this is the only way to go.

As to the diatoms, seems normal during a cycling tank, which it seems yours still is at about a month. Also, not sure your flow, but diatoms and cyano like to hide in low flow areas more than others.


Chiefsurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/16/2009, 05:27 AM   #18
-Pixie-
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia, sunny coast
Posts: 192
Still no ammonia
still no nitrite

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i meant 5.0 not 50 nitrate


Im sure i cant possibly be cycling still?


-Pixie- is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/16/2009, 05:30 AM   #19
-Pixie-
Registered Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Australia, sunny coast
Posts: 192
Ive adjusted flow towards the worst peices for now, hopefully things improve, all i can put it down to is the tap water...

thanks cheif =)


-Pixie- is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 12/16/2009, 07:49 AM   #20
Chiefsurfer
Registered Member
 
Chiefsurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Seaside Park, NJ
Posts: 2,138
also, sand-sifter componants of a CUC will help this a great deal, including some snails, hermit crabs, and a sea cucumber. Welcome


Chiefsurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:35 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2025 Axivo Inc.
Use of this web site is subject to the terms and conditions described in the user agreement.
Reef CentralTM Reef Central, LLC. Copyright ©1999-2022
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging v3.3.0 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2025 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.