What is this stuff?
- Thread starter kedabo
- Start date
rustyj
Member
Originally Posted by kedabo
Ever since my brittle star died
there has been this redish brown stuff forming on my live sand. Can anyone tell me what this might be and what to do about it? I can post pics if needed.
It very well could be cyno bacteria which can appear reddish brown. Are there bubbles around or under it and is it a little slimy looking? If so you should try to physically remove it. It happens when phophates and nitrates get too high and in new tanks, esp when over feeding. If it were diatom and you had a 'clean up crew' than they should be able to take care of it. If your star fish was your clean up crew than you might want to consider picking up several hermi's and snails to take care of the algae blooms that you will have periodically.
Ever since my brittle star died
It very well could be cyno bacteria which can appear reddish brown. Are there bubbles around or under it and is it a little slimy looking? If so you should try to physically remove it. It happens when phophates and nitrates get too high and in new tanks, esp when over feeding. If it were diatom and you had a 'clean up crew' than they should be able to take care of it. If your star fish was your clean up crew than you might want to consider picking up several hermi's and snails to take care of the algae blooms that you will have periodically.
payton 350
Member
it is most likely because the star isn't there to sift the sand around and it's lying dormant...most people have it but don't see it because their critters are sifting the sand around and it magically disappears....most likely gonna need another sand sifting creature in order to keep your sand sparkling again
stingrayjs
Member
That looks like Cyno to me.
my way
Active Member
Originally Posted by canisee2
My way i was thinking it was from over feeding?
A diatom bloom will occur even without over feeding on a new tank, it usually lasts about a week then as it dies off (I'm pretty sure it uses up the nutrients it needs and dies off, there are people on the boards much more knowledgable on this subject than I am, hopefully they will correct me if I'm wrong), then you will see green algea start to grow.
My way i was thinking it was from over feeding?
A diatom bloom will occur even without over feeding on a new tank, it usually lasts about a week then as it dies off (I'm pretty sure it uses up the nutrients it needs and dies off, there are people on the boards much more knowledgable on this subject than I am, hopefully they will correct me if I'm wrong), then you will see green algea start to grow.
drewissett
Member
I have some of the cyno, what can I do other than physicly remove it?
drewissett
Member
is chemipure reefsafe?
saltn00b
Active Member
take cyano as nature's way of telling you something is not right with your tank. the most common problem is not enough flow! you want to aim for 15x your tank in turn over from your main pump.
so double check your GPH's and make sure to include vertical height in your calculations, it makes all the difference.
that is your first thing you must check, but in the mean time, reduce the photo period, suction out what you can physically when you are doing the WC's, and check your levels. and reduce food to scarce rations
*** also, i want to add, it is always best to take these oppurtunites to fix the problem with your tank as opposed to masking it by trying to remedy the symptom with some chemical additive. if you can avoiud dosing your tank with chemicals, do it!
so double check your GPH's and make sure to include vertical height in your calculations, it makes all the difference.
that is your first thing you must check, but in the mean time, reduce the photo period, suction out what you can physically when you are doing the WC's, and check your levels. and reduce food to scarce rations
*** also, i want to add, it is always best to take these oppurtunites to fix the problem with your tank as opposed to masking it by trying to remedy the symptom with some chemical additive. if you can avoiud dosing your tank with chemicals, do it!