odd things in my DT

[jjgomillion]

So I am waiting very patiently for my cycle to complete, but I just sit and stare at it, So I have noticed a few things. I have brown algae covering everything. I have heard this is a good sign and will clear on its own or shortly after I add the crew. I also see what looks like soft and sqiushy maroon colored coraline algae, though I am pretty sure all coraline is hard. Does anyone know what this could be??? Another thing that has me stumped are these little bubbles all over my tank. I have adjusted my powerheads and water lever so there are no bubbles coming from the jets and although I can just bump the bubbles off the rock and even some sand they reappear by the next day. I was thinking maybe bubble algae was on one of the piecces of LR I got but they are not greenish on color. They just look like bubbles. And one last Q, I have noticed a bunch of little white starfish coming out of my LR. They are mishpaen. Some have 2 legs while others have 4, 5, 6. Are these ok to leave in the tank or are they going to cause a prob when I start stocking my reef? If so I could start picking them out as I see them now while it is empty.
Even more so than for my cycle to finish, I will be patiently wating for you nice folks to reply...lol
Jessica
75G wannabe reef
8 moon led's
4 x 65w pc's
2 x 250w mh
ps3 sump w/skimmer

 

[dischirm]

Those starfish are Asterina stars, they reproduce by splitting, that is why they are mishapen. They are good! The squishy maroon colored stuff in Cyano. not good, it comes with too many nutrients in the water. Syphon it out when you do a water change and get a skimmer if you dont have one. Hopefully someone else has more advice on getting rid of Cyano.

 

[jjgomillion]

ok thanks. I just went to the lfs and had my water tested to verify what my results were. He said I was ok to start adding a cleanup crew so I am adding 7 snails and 3 more hermits (i alaready have 2 in there from my LR). He said pretty much the same thing about the cyano. I wonder what nutrients are too sbundant in my tank? Hmmmm? Anyone know what to do about the cyano please post!!??

 

[larryndana]

Originally Posted by jjgomillion
So I am waiting very patiently for my cycle to complete, but I just sit and stare at it, So I have noticed a few things. I have brown algae covering everything. I have heard this is a good sign and will clear on its own or shortly after I add the crew.
This is probably Cyano. It is common in new tanks. Its also caused by problems with your water as well. If it doesn't clear up you may a problem with water or you may have another problem. problems like....feeding to much, lights on to long, not enough circulation, and using none ro or ro/di water.
Originally Posted by jjgomillion
I also see what looks like soft and sqiushy maroon colored coraline algae, though I am pretty sure all coraline is hard. Does anyone know what this could be??? Another thing that has me stumped are these little bubbles all over my tank. I have adjusted my powerheads and water lever so there are no bubbles coming from the jets and although I can just bump the bubbles off the rock and even some sand they reappear by the next day. I was thinking maybe bubble algae was on one of the piecces of LR I got but they are not greenish on color. They just look like bubbles.
I believe this is all because of the cyano, which is a bacteria and not an algea as commonly thought of.
Originally Posted by jjgomillion
And one last Q, I have noticed a bunch of little white starfish coming out of my LR. They are mishpaen. Some have 2 legs while others have 4, 5, 6. Are these ok to leave in the tank or are they going to cause a prob when I start stocking my reef? If so I could start picking them out as I see them now while it is empty.
as stated these are asterina stars, there is a small percentage of cases where they will eat soft corals, but like i said a small percentage. If you are worried you should take them out, I wouldn't worry. They don't eat fast so....if you see some on a coral pick them off.

 

[perfectdark]

How did you cycle your tank and how long has it cycled for? IMO your tank is too new to start a cyano bloom. But if you cycled with live fish and over fed them, kept your lights on for too long and or have poor flow in your tank it is possible.
To determine if it is cyano you can try to pick it up. Cyano lays across everything like a mat. So when you pick it up it tends to come up in a mat like clump. Are there wavy hairs growing out of it? It might be too early to see that right now but eventually if neglected cyano has hairs that grow off it and sway in the current. And finally what color is it, dark red, wine colored? and Pics are always the best way to tell.

 

[larryndana]

Originally Posted by jjgomillion
ok thanks. I just went to the lfs and had my water tested to verify what my results were. He said I was ok to start adding a cleanup crew so I am adding 7 snails and 3 more hermits (i alaready have 2 in there from my LR). He said pretty much the same thing about the cyano. I wonder what nutrients are too sbundant in my tank? Hmmmm? Anyone know what to do about the cyano please post!!??

You should always be able to test your own water, if you don't have any test kits i'd invest in some asap.
excess nutrients may be in the water you are using. Where do you get your fresh water?

 

[bgrae001]

I have hundreds of those little stars in my reef tank and I have lots and lots of tiny brittle stars in my tank. I haven't seen any problems from them on any of my corals.
As to the water, my question is do you have or use RO/DI water?

 

[perfectdark]

You dont have to. But a whole myriad of issues result from not using it, and makes keeping your tank stable a real pain.

 

[larryndana]

Originally Posted by PerfectDark
You dont have to. But a whole myriad of issues result from not using it, and makes keeping your tank stable a real pain.
?, don't have to what?

 

[larryndana]

Originally Posted by bgrae001
I have hundreds of those little stars in my reef tank and I have lots and lots of tiny brittle stars in my tank. I haven't seen any problems from them on any of my corals.
As to the water, my question is do you have or use RO/DI water?
it is true, in rare cases they eat coral. they are on the list of not reef safe stars. check out 'Reef Invertebrates' by Anthony Calfo & Robert Fenner.
I believe thats the book i saw it in, if not i'll have to do some searching.

 

[perfectdark]

Originally Posted by larryndana
?, don't have to what?
Sorry I didnt use the quote button...
bgrae asked "As to the water, my question is do you have or use RO/DI water?"
my answer was...
You dont have to. But a whole myriad of issues result from not using it, and makes keeping your tank stable a real pain.

 

[larryndana]

Originally Posted by PerfectDark
Sorry I didnt use the quote button...
bgrae asked "As to the water, my question is do you have or use RO/DI water?"
my answer was...
You dont have to. But a whole myriad of issues result from not using it, and makes keeping your tank stable a real pain.
gottcha

 

[bgrae001]

Originally Posted by PerfectDark
Sorry I didnt use the quote button...
bgrae asked "As to the water, my question is do you have or use RO/DI water?"
my answer was...
You dont have to. But a whole myriad of issues result from not using it, and makes keeping your tank stable a real pain.
Well I didn't use RO water in my last tank and I had serious issues with algae. I bought a RO/DI unit before I set up my new tank and I haven't had any issues with any type of algae, as a matter of fact my LMB died from starvation.