Weird Stuff Growing on LR! PLEASE LOOK!

[Dricker18]

I am not sure what this stuff is. It looks like some sort of algae, is it normal? It looks sort of fuzzy, it is growing on the back wall and on my powerheads, as well as the live rock. I need someone to ID this for me if they know what it is. Should I do anything to get rid of it, or let it run its course, or is it good?

<a href="http://gyazo.com/032091298995cae9032e2a27789cbf37"><img src="http://i.gyazo.com/032091298995cae9032e2a27789cbf37.png" /></a>
^ above is the fuzzy stuff on the rock. You can really see it along the top edge of the LR.

What is it?

also looks like a piece of hair algae that washed out of my refugium wrapped around the coral. (not worried about that)

<a href="http://gyazo.com/5e53dc26b16bb0f162f29ca10d4553e5"><img src="http://i.gyazo.com/5e53dc26b16bb0f162f29ca10d4553e5.png" /></a>

 

[JoeVandal49]

Algae.

The longer algae(around the frag) looks like Chaeto. Maybe just washed in from the sump?

What kind of Clean up crew are you working with? Looks like the majority of your live rock was fully cured at purchase?

 

[Dricker18]

I have a sand sifting starfish, a red skunk shrimp, 2 blue legged hermits (very small), 1 red legged hermit (normal size), and about 7 snails different species about 3 sand sifting, and 4 other snails cant remember species.

 

[JoeVandal49]

Couple thoughts.

Do you have a phosphate/nitrate issue?

Even if your readings are "0" you may be receiving a false "0" as it is being consumed by the algae. You need to find and reduce the source of PO4/NO3.

Is this a newly established tank? Volume? Info? Stickies can help you provide the info we need here.

Your Sand sifting starfish will not live long if i am guessing right about your tank info from just looking at the photos. But looks can be deceiving so we need some more info.

I would also definitely add more snails, but again, recommendations would require additional info from you.

 

[Dricker18]

Ok so since that last comment I changed my HOB filter media which is a 50 gallon rated filter for a 36 gallon tank.

My parameters are
sg 1.0245
ph good
nitrite 0
nitrate 0

Not sure about phosphates and calcium however the other day when I bought the star I had the LFS test it and they said it was all ok.

It is a new tank about a month and a half old. When I started cycling my tank I used tap water (before I had my rodi unit) and obviously conditioned it. Since then I have done a water change of about 10 gallons or so. And when I do top offs I use RODI unit so I am slowly cleansing out all of the remaining tap water that was in there. My tap water is very good quality tap water to say the least.

Since I have just tested the water I took a few more photos.

<a href="http://gyazo.com/56f7ef53b2d2638e7573fbd95436619d"><img src="http://i.gyazo.com/56f7ef53b2d2638e7573fbd95436619d.png" /></a>

<a href="http://gyazo.com/b7c0da1474180032cbb71911be071480"><img src="http://i.gyazo.com/b7c0da1474180032cbb71911be071480.png" /></a>

<a href="http://gyazo.com/3d32a1cd358f8787cb96b1397ec6132d"><img src="http://i.gyazo.com/3d32a1cd358f8787cb96b1397ec6132d.png" /></a>

 

[JoeVandal49]

After looking at the new photos i think your just going through the normal process of diatoms/dinos etc.

You have a pretty large bioload for that size tank being that young, especially if you are doing multiple feedings with the anthias.

 

[Dricker18]

I just have 1 anthia, and I feed them all mysis shrimp and all of the fish eat it so I don't have to do separate feedings.

do you think the small clown, anthia, firefish, and dottyback are too much right now? Between my HOB filter and Refugium I have atleast 40 gallons. My nitrogen cycle has been established before I added any livestock. I am hoping this is just initial tank algae, and will go away but it is taking very long.

Also I have taken the hair algae off of that coral frag since that last picture.

 

[dustinkimpel]

If you have dinos they are by no means normal and you need to take counter measures immediately... but that doesn't look like dino... just hair algea. Check your water again. I am willing to put money on your water having a high phosphate level.

 

[dustinkimpel]

I just have 1 anthia, and I feed them all mysis shrimp and all of the fish eat it so I don't have to do separate feedings.

do you think the small clown, anthia, firefish, and dottyback are too much right now? Between my HOB filter and Refugium I have atleast 40 gallons. My nitrogen cycle has been established before I added any livestock. I am hoping this is just initial tank algae, and will go away but it is taking very long.

Also I have taken the hair algae off of that coral frag since that last picture.

Do you have a skimmer?

 

[JoeVandal49]

If you have dinos they are by no means normal and you need to take counter measures immediately... but that doesn't look like dino... just hair algea. Check your water again. I am willing to put money on your water having a high phosphate level.

Thanks for correcting me. I certainly should not have typed dinos. I meant to say diotoms/cyano, as generally thats the standard process for new tanks.

 

[RGS2]

Looks like some type of hair algae. I second the motion to find out phosphate levels.

I would be somewhat concerned about your sand sifting star thriving in such a young tank. You probably don't have an established enough sand bed for it yet.

 

[Dricker18]

I was told by my LFS that the sand sifting star would clean up the sandbed not eat everything living. Ugh, I guess ill take it back tomorrow and get a bunch of more snails.

Although according to http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+2857+572&pcatid=572 for sand sifting starfish.

Like other starfish, Astropecten polycanthus efficiently consumes mass amounts of detritus and uneaten foods. This nocturnally active member of the Astropectinidae family can move large amounts of sand as it burrows into the substrate in its search for food.

This peaceful omnivore will effectively clean even the largest home aquarium of detritus and left over food. Like other starfish, the Sand Sifting Sea Star will also consume small invertebrates, including shrimp, urchins, mollusks, bivalves, or other small sea stars. As such, the Sand Sifting Sea Star should be actively fed a varied diet consisting of natural food sources, especially in well-established marine aquariums. Otherwise, this voracious feeder will quickly clean your aquarium of detritus and then burrow into your substrate, starve, and eventually begin to decay.

 

[RGS2]

I have sandsifters and like them, however, as the LA write up states, they are "voracious" feeders and your sand bed is likely not "dirty" enough for it long term.

I wouldn't rush to return it, but you may need to observe it closely to make sure it's active, and doesn't begin wasting away (which is typically a very slow process over a month or two).

IMO, they are best in a much larger 100g+ tank established tank.

 

[Dricker18]

Yes, but I don't want him to die plus I want the copepods and other small organisms to live that would be more beneficial to my nitrogen cycle.

 

[Cfabia1]

In my opinion you should definitely get a bigger clean up crew. I would add like 30 more hermits at least. That will help any leftover food get eaten before its rots, keeping phosphates lower. Plus they are always picking at the rock.

 

[Cfabia1]

Also I would go with Nassarius Snails over the starfish.

 

[Isaacs55]

I wouldn't be worried at all Dricker18 it looks like normal diatoms to me...just regular expected algae for a new tank. Your rock looked real nice with great coraline algae on it. I doubt that it it's Dinos or even GHA to be honest. Just wait it out and it should go away. Although no ore using tap water cuz then your adding silicates back to the water and that's just feeding diatoms. If your tank is less then 3-4 months old I'm sure and pretty positive it's diatoms. It's just harder to tell because you have purple coraline rock it looks like, so you won't be able to tell as good as if it were dry rock... good luck. I wouldn't be worried honestly. Diatoms can get fuzzy but they will go away