maintaining mushrooms and polyps

[scarpenter]

I recently set up 110 gallon tank. I placed live rock in it Thursday and some of the rock is already turning brown. What do I do? What is causing this? Tank conditions are great and lighting is OK but not wonderful. The rock had some great electric green mushrooms and some sort on pinkish polyps. I really don't want to kill thim but am not yet set up for a reef aquarium. I know they are supposed to be easy to keep......any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Ursus]

The 'brown-ing' of your rock is normal. These are diatoms forming. Completely normal part of the process. What to do about it? Get yourself a good cleanup crew. For cleaning rocks and glass I prefer trochus snails, but they won't do much for your sand. I currently have no sand cleaning snails so maybe someone else can chime in with a suggestion.

 

[reidcrandall]

I've got some Nassarius snails for my sand. They do a great job. You can get em at www.premiumaquatics.com.

Reid

 

[scarpenter]

if you check out my photo gallery you see what I am referring to...