Brown patches on sand and rock

[kablamo]

Thats the best description i can give! It gets bigger every day.
If it is Diatoms, will my LMB eat it?

 

[kablamo]

BUMPO!:jumping:

 

[sailfin]

The LMB is doubtful. Get some conches and/or nassarius snails. Sand sifting gobies will help as well.

 

[hondo]

sounds like Diatoms and no the LMB will not eat it. Is your tank a new set up as this is a common symptom of a new tank. diatoms feed of the silicats in the water and as they use them up it will die back naturally. Pods feed of fdiatoms and also fighting conch but nassarius will not touch them. Best thing to do is provide lots of current with some power heads and let them naturally die off

 

[kablamo]

good call, thanks for info

 

[sailfin]

Originally posted by Hondo
... but nassarius will not touch them...
Actually they do help. They will stir the sandbed and help it stay clean, even on top. Reach into the tank and disturb the sand where there is an area of diatoms. This disturbed area will be bright white again. The nassarius helps in this manner. I do know this to be fact, since I have them in my tank.
:joy:

 

[kablamo]

By the way, butch the LMB IS eating the brown patches, he seems to like it very much, leading me to believe they are algae and not diatoms