fuzzy on Live Rock. Pic for ID provided!

[navychief]

All,

Here within the past two weeks I've been noticing this grayish/white fuzz covering my live rock. I haven't done anything different that I can think of that might have brought this on with the exception of changing out my old GFO as recommended.

If someone can ID this and tell me how to fight it, I'd appreciate it.

 

[navychief]

?

?

Anyone have an idea? Maybe the start of Cyno?

 

[Palting]

My best guess is algae, not cyano. Cyano is more flat surface than fuzzy.

 

[navychief]

time

time

My best guess is algae, not cyano. Cyano is more flat surface than fuzzy.

Thanks for the input. I guess I'll ride it out and see what it does. I changed my GFO and GAC just in case.

 

[aquamanpc24]

sponge!

 

[navychief]

Doubt it

Doubt it

sponge!

Over my entire LR in the tank? Doubt it.

 

[KeMo]

Its some form of algae Not really sure what type. I would cut back on feedings and start to do more water changes in case you are over feeding the tank. I would also if you can take the rocks out and scrub that off of them in a tub of saltwater.
Can you pull it off or is it stuck on the rock ?
If it is spreading on all your LR I would clean each piece with a toothbrush and place back into the tank.
Also I just looked at your tank specs and for a 60 gal tank you need more then 1 power head. I have a 29 long and had 2 hydor 750's before I upgrade to an Mp10
Water movement is a key thing in the growth of algae. I would get more flow in that tank as most algae does not like high flow..

 

[navychief]

Advice

Advice

Its some form of algae Not really sure what type. I would cut back on feedings and start to do more water changes in case you are over feeding the tank. I would also if you can take the rocks out and scrub that off of them in a tub of saltwater.
Can you pull it off or is it stuck on the rock ?
If it is spreading on all your LR I would clean each piece with a toothbrush and place back into the tank.
Also I just looked at your tank specs and for a 60 gal tank you need more then 1 power head. I have a 29 long and had 2 hydor 750's before I upgrade to an Mp10
Water movement is a key thing in the growth of algae. I would get more flow in that tank as most algae does not like high flow..

Thanks, Kemo. I think I'll first try and add another one of my Koralia 3s. Take a look at the pic. I'm trying to avoid the dreaded sand storm, so I guess I will put one on the opposite side, exactly like the other, except more mid-way down into the tank.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

I'd suggest taking the rock out when you do your next water change and giving it a scrub in the old tank water, then rinsing it off in another tub of tank water.

What is your maintenence routine? How long was your old GFO and GAC running? Are you using RO/DI water?

 

[navychief]

The tank is about 3 months old. I changed out my carbon and rowa last night after 2 months. I've been measuring all my Params with nothing out of tolerance from what the kits are telling me.

The salinity is stable at 1.024 along with 76F temps.

I use a 5 stage RODI. Could possibly need to change the carbon or DI.

 

[navychief]

Water changes every 3 weeks. About 15 gallons

 

[Toke23]

Water changes every 3 weeks. About 15 gallons

i would do water changes more often than that. i try to do once a week maybe week n a half. then again im new to this stuff so mayb im wrong too.

 

[navychief]

I've been thinking about moving it up to 2 weeks at 15 gallons. That's half the tank capacity minus the Solana sump.

 

[KeMo]

I did water changes every week for about the first 4 months. As my tank has gotten older and been able to break down waste better I have moved to water changes every 2 weeks. Some people do them every month. So it depends on your levels of Nitrates.
If they are very high then yes do water changes weekly to get them down. It took me about 5 months to get my nitrates down to around 5.
Most do around 10% water changes. So on a 60 gal your looking at around 10 gal would be loads.
Also I had abit of a algae problem and cut off my 10.000 k lights and only ran my blues as alot of algae seems to feed off of the Red/yellow spectrum of light. Thats another thought.
Next water change I would take the rocks out place in the old water a scrub abit with a toothbrush. Then shake it to get any excess off and place back into the tank.
Good Luck, Keep us Posted on the Progress.

 

[navychief]

Plan...

Plan...

I did water changes every week for about the first 4 months. As my tank has gotten older and been able to break down waste better I have moved to water changes every 2 weeks. Some people do them every month. So it depends on your levels of Nitrates.
If they are very high then yes do water changes weekly to get them down. It took me about 5 months to get my nitrates down to around 5.
Most do around 10% water changes. So on a 60 gal your looking at around 10 gal would be loads.
Also I had abit of a algae problem and cut off my 10.000 k lights and only ran my blues as alot of algae seems to feed off of the Red/yellow spectrum of light. Thats another thought.
Next water change I would take the rocks out place in the old water a scrub abit with a toothbrush. Then shake it to get any excess off and place back into the tank.
Good Luck, Keep us Posted on the Progress.

Everything was running fine with all my trates showing zero. The only thing I can think of causing this is either my RODI resins need changed or the 7" filter sock I use with the tank. I've never ran a filter sock before I bought the Solana. The filter sock was getting changed out every week, swapping between two. I'd clean the hell out of the one I removed, and put in the "clean" one from the week prior.

No matter how "clean" I felt the sock was, maybe there is enough waste matter still present in the sock?

Anyhow. I removed the overflow box and sock. Now I have just a straight pipe returning to the sump downstairs.

before:

after:

Ya think this was a good move?