Brown Stuff?

[aceroc]

I have brown stuff on my rocks and on my power heads and my HOB Filter tubes. I didn't have this yesterday. It is kinda of a rusty color and it dusty, i can wipe it right off. I read it could be diatoms because my tank is only 6 weeks old? All my perameters are right where they should be.
Temp - 80
PH 8.2
Amonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 20
Salt - 1.025
and i use RO water for top offs and water changes.
Thanks for the help.

 

[salty cheese]

Sounds like diatoms to me.

 

[treybomb]

i kinda have the same problem except alot!!!!!!!!!! on my sand?? good? bad?

 

[salty cheese]

Harmless and temporary.

 

[aceroc]

Temporary as in how long? Go away with water changes? or should i get a cleanup crew?

 

[aceroc]

Upon further reading i am going to buy some atrea snails and some more blue leg hermits to clean up my diatom outbreak.
The question i have is i plan on buying about 10 of each and will this mess up my bioload? I know you should only add 1 fish per week to 2 weeks, how will the snails effect the tank?

 

[pohtr]

clean up crew isn't supposed to add to the bioload from what I've read here.

 

[soo high]

did u use tap water? number one cause of brown sh@T ha... it will go away in a month maybe 2 depends on ur water stats. i had it for a month then it went away and purple. green and voilet algea started to appear.

 

[aceroc]

I have a dual stage water filter, this might be the cause of it. I used this water from day one and had no diatoms and i also fill up water jugs for a friend of mine who has had a salt tank for over a year with no diatoms. Maybe it is just because of a new tank and using Instant Ocean?

 

[aceroc]

I just called my LFS to see if they had turbo snails and they are $3.99 a piece. Any other ideas to get rid of Diatoms?

 

[bigarn]

Originally Posted by Aceroc
I just called my LFS to see if they had turbo snails and they are $3.99 a piece. Any other ideas to get rid of Diatoms?
Just wait it out ... it'll pass.

 

[nathanrr]

Originally Posted by Salty Cheese
Harmless and temporary.
OK :thinking:
I have a 55gall tank and its been runing for a year and 1-2
I have two 250watts metal halide and two blue Florescent
bulbs and I have the same problem!!! I have too wipe it off
every day and i'ts been 6 months !!! !!OVER HEAT!! !!OVER HEAT!!
I refill with RO too and the water is fine.
:help: !Please Help! :help:

 

[nathanrr]

Originally Posted by Salty Cheese
Harmless and temporary.
OK :thinking:
I have a 55gall tank and its been runing for a year and 1-2
I have two 250watts metal halide and two blue Florescent
bulbs and I have the same problem!!! I have too wipe it off
every day and i'ts been 6 months !!! !!OVER HEAT!! !!OVER HEAT!!

I refill with RO too and the water is fine.
:help: !Please Help! :help:

 

[aceroc]

Does this just go away as in the brown wont be visable or as in the brown will still be there but no more diatoms?