Brown on rocks, confirming what entity it is.

[Tarawa]

Getting brown covering the rocks, I turned my light intensity up (Hydra 52) since I believe its a diatom outbreak, when I did my water change I rubbed my finger on the rocks and its not slimy at all, pushing my belief that it is diatoms. Hermit crabs are eating it or trying. Not too concerned about it from reading all the stuff on here.

Live Stock:
3 black/white ocellaris clowns
3 hermit crabs of unknown species

Aquarium:
120gal DT/30gal sump
nitrates: 3ish ppm
phosphates: undetectable via salifert
pH: 8.3
cal/alk/mg: not tested (should be ok tho, using Omega Sea Reef Salt)

Just wanna make sure I'm fighting the right bioform :lol2:

 

[whosurcaddie]

Do you use RO/DI water? If it is like a brown dusting then its most likely diatoms. Diatoms are caused by excess silica in the water. A GFO reactor will help but most silica comes in from exhausted DI resin or unfiltered tap water. It basically has to run its course and consume the silica in the water column. But you need to make sure you are adding silica free water back in with top offs and water changes. It usually clears up really quick when silica concentrations are reduced.

Not sure if I understood the first sentence correctly but a change in light intensity can cause a diatom bloom.

 

[Tarawa]

I am using RO/DI, its not a dusting, it didnt really come off wwhen I rubbed it with my fingers

 

[pyithar]

try a toothbrush.

 

[Tarawa]

I wasnt trying to physically remove it, was making sure it wasnt dinoflangets as ppl have described it as slimey =D

is cyanobacteria slimey to the touch?

 

[whosurcaddie]

I wasnt trying to physically remove it, was making sure it wasnt dinoflangets as ppl have described it as slimey =D

Dino's is more of a puffy growth with air bubbles within and on top of the algae.

 

[uncleL]

How long has your tank been up? Are going to add another clown? They seem to do better in pairs......I have 6??

 

[Tarawa]

tank cycled for a few months, had the fish and crabs in it for a little over a month now. I was considering getting another clown to balance it, however I am concerned about doing this, because the 3 now are a good bit larger than when I bought them, and a new one would be tiny and might get bullied by the other three. These three seem to be doing well together, hoping they'll continue.

 

[pyithar]

120G is not large enough for 3 clowns for long term. one would be bullied when the other two become a mated pair. just from my readings though. i'm too afraid to try more than a pair of clowns in my 150G.