Please help to ID this on my DSB and base rock.

Discussion in 'ID This!' started by kn70122, Oct 12, 2013.

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  1. kn70122

    kn70122 Plankton

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    My tank has been up for about a month. Every fish is very healthy, no signs of stress or something. I do 10-15% PWC every week. However, I noticed this brown thing building up slowly after about 3 weeks after the tank set up.
    The pic below is a piece of base rock I buy from a LFS:
    [​IMG][/URL][/IMG]
    After a week, it's building up every where including my LR, SB and even the back of the aquarium. Is it brown algae? Notice that it's very easy to come off on the base rock. I tried rubbing it off by my fingers and it did come off easily. I'm not sure what to do with the spots on my SB and LR cuz I know if I rub it off from my LR, I will be rubbing off all the coraline algae. should I just rub it off or siphon it? Please help asap because it does look bad.[​IMG][/URL][/IMG]
    [​IMG][/URL][/IMG]
    Thank you in advance.
     
    kn70122, Oct 12, 2013
    kn70122, Oct 12, 2013
    #1

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  2. ingtar_shinowa

    ingtar_shinowa Giant Squid

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    diatoms
     
    ingtar_shinowa, Oct 12, 2013
    ingtar_shinowa, Oct 12, 2013
    #2
  3. Swisswiss

    Swisswiss Caribbean Reef Squid

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    +1, yerp! a muncher of silicates. common in new newly cycled tanks and may appear later as well. you can get snails and such to clean it but it will eventually disappear on its own.
     
    Swisswiss, Oct 13, 2013
    Swisswiss, Oct 13, 2013
    #3
  4. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    Agreed.

    Probably not what you want to hear due to appearance, but the best solution is don't do anything. As already mentioned, it will disappear on it's own, but the more you fight it, the longer it will last.
     
    Mr. Bill, Oct 13, 2013
    Mr. Bill, Oct 13, 2013
    #4
  5. benbabcock

    benbabcock Bubble Tip Anemone

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    Almost a sure thing in any new aquarium. It will consume all the silicates in a week or 2 then disappear almost instantly.
     
    benbabcock, Oct 13, 2013
    benbabcock, Oct 13, 2013
    #5
  6. kn70122

    kn70122 Plankton

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    Thank you yall for replying. So I just leave it there? No need to clean it off?
     
    kn70122, Oct 13, 2013
    kn70122, Oct 13, 2013
    #6

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  7. FishThumb

    FishThumb Astrea Snail

    Joined:
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    Edmonton
    Your new tank will go through lots of different cycles and blooms as it matures.
     
    FishThumb, Oct 13, 2013
    FishThumb, Oct 13, 2013
    #7
  8. sceia

    sceia Astrea Snail

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    Yep...sure signs of a cycle... It will magically disappear when the cycle is done.
     
    sceia, Oct 14, 2013
    sceia, Oct 14, 2013
    #8
  9. Greg@LionfishLair

    Greg@LionfishLair 3reef Sponsor

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    You've gotten great advice...I know it SEEMS unlikely, but honestly, the diatoms will indeed burn themselves out...generally 1-3 weeks. In fact, the more you fool with the stuff, the longer your bloom will last. Clean your viewing panels and leave the rest.

    This one is kinda "close to home" for me as decades ago, I fought the stuff tooth and nail on my first SW tank, then I finally found someone who told me to leave it alone, and BAM...it left.
     
    Greg@LionfishLair, Oct 15, 2013
    Greg@LionfishLair, Oct 15, 2013
    #9