NEdd to know what this Brown Stuff in my Tank Is?

[baseballkid5]

I dont know what this stuff thats growing in my tank very quickly. And how to get rid of it. Its growing on the rocks and has a layer on the sand bed. Also covering the glass very quickly. Is there something i can use to get rid of it or do i have to wash the rock every time i do a water change? Is it Water cond Carbon. Please help if you can
Thanks
Scott

 

[luke33]

Is your tank new? As this is normal in a new tank. If you have an older tank there's a problem. Are you using RODI water with a tds of zero? What kind of filtration do you have set up. How large of a tank is this and what kind of fish, corals do you have. How often do you feed and do you dose anyting. How much flow do you have i your tank. These are all questions you need to answer first. : )

But just sounds like diatoms to me from a new tank.

 

[lizardarm]

I agree, sounds like diatom algae. If at all possible, it's always best to try to get a picture of it that you can post with your question.
I don't know that throwing more chemicals in the water to "take care of it" is the answer; just try to be vigilant about cleaning it off/getting it out daily and do more water changes. These things are usually caused by excess nutrients in the water, so all the things that Luke mentioned have to be scrutinized. Go out and buy a Phosphate test kit.

 

[baseballkid5]

i have had this tank up and running for over 2 years.I get all of my water from Barrier reef.I have a 20 gallon long sump that feeds into a filter sock then live rock into the main sump that goes through carbon and i have a classic tunze skimmer with a mag 7 return. The tank is a 75 gallon with 0 corals about 120 lbs live rock Dalmation puffer, Picasso trigger, Harlequin tusk wrasse, Vlamingi tang and blue angel. I have about 15 Turco snails. But this Brown stuff is something ive been cleaning off the rocks for weeks.I feed Krill and clams mysis and formula one. I water change every 2 weeks 15 gallons. And i do not dose with anything.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Hard to tell, but it looks like diatoms. Have all those fish been in there for 2 years, or have you just added one? Also, when was the last time you changed your lights?

 

[returnofsid]

Have you recently made any changes to the tank? Added or removed live rock, stirred up your sand bed, changed or replaced lighting, rearranged any live rock? Any of those can contribute to a diatom bloom. I had a powerhead quite on me recently, in a well established reef tank, and didn't even notice it until I noticed diatom on the sand in it's direct flow path. Replaced the powerhead and diatom was gone a couple days later.

 

[luke33]

That is a HUGE load for a 75g tank. I hope you plan on a large tank in the future to take care of those guys. I would imagine your tank has just reached the point that your skimmer and water changes aren't keeping up with the bioload. Your trates and po4 are pry on the rise. Trates aren't terrible for a fowlr tank but if they get to high fish will start to get stressed. Do you know what your tank parameters are?