brown stuff due to bacteria adder ? + brown air lines

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by shepido, Jul 20, 2010.

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  1. shepido

    shepido Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2010
    Messages:
    43
    So we have had a tank for a while now, but never are able to get a fish, first it was not enough live rock, then ammonia never low enough. So we have been seeding our tank with some bacteria and it seems like there is brown crap growing on everything now, the plastic plants, the live rock, the substrate etc. Is it algae ? The air feed lines from the air pump are brown now as well.

    What can we do to remedy this situation. It's been almost 2 months and looking at a tank full of rocks is starting to really get boring.

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  3. steve wright

    steve wright Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2009
    Messages:
    11,284
    Location:
    shenzhen Guangdong PRC
    Shepido

    tanks mature at varying rates, depending on many factors ( quality and type of rock/ sand, method used to cycle etc)
    a tank at 2 months could be experiencing a diatom bloom ( its sometimes earlier than this but not always IME)

    The diatoms feed on available silicates - and once the silicates are used up, the brown ?(which is actually the dead diatom) fades away and goes alltogether

    give it another 4 weeks and you should find it will be getting close to how it did the day you set it up



    Steve