Brown

Ok, well I acquired a 90 gallon tank with about 120 pounds of live rock. The rock is covered in this light brown mud like algea. I can rub the rock with my finger and it flake's off and makes my water cloudy. Just wandering what this is. I don't have any fish except a blenny that he had from when i picked it up. I have about 3 pepermint shrimp he had also. I went to the LFS store and bought 20 hermits, should I buy more to clean this off. Should I continue rubbing the rock also? When I do I see good coraline growth. I am not going to transfer my fish and coral over till have this algea undercontrol. I am not running the lights either.

 

A picture's worth a thousand words....also makes for a better id.

 

Yeah I agree I will try an snap one tonight forgot to mention that in my post. Im at work right now

 

Sounds like a diatom bloom, although a picture would confirm. If it is diatoms, it will disappear on its own, and the diatoms will feed other critters in your tank, and other algae as it dies off. I would personally not add any other livestock at this point, and let your tank mature a bit more.

 

The tank was an establish for over a year he just did not maintain it. Everything was transferred over hopefully a pic will help id a little better.

 

I am not adding anything till I control this that is for sure. I am in no rush as my 20 gallon that I am transferring from is doing great.

 

Even so, there is bound to be some kind of cycle in any transfer. That's why it's wise to wait until things stabilize before rushing to add livestock. Especially considering that you already have a blenny and shrimp. But if you want to add a small clean-up crew now, it's probably ok (such as blue legs hermits or snails).

 

Not rushing anything. The blenny was in the tank to begin with. I understand the chance of a cycle. I am just trying to find the best way to get this of the rocks so when my tank is ready. I don't have this issue. Is there any downfall to rubbing the rock besides making my water cloudy?
Also, I didnt even know the blenny was in there. He hid in a rock along witht he shrimp.

 

I would not rub the rocks - there's really no point to it. It will go away on its own (if it is diatoms), but a clean-up crew will speed things along.

 

Yeah, I have 20 crabs in there. Should I buy more for a 90. Whats the rule of thumb when it comes with size of tank and CUC