Live Rock Turning --- Orange?

[pimp4cheddar]

I have a few pounds of Live Rock in my tank and it's begun turning Orange. It's the weirdest thing.

Over the past two days it's started turning from the normal color of yellow...to a dark Orange. There are still a few spots of purple on it...but half of the Live Rock in my tank is turning a weird color.

I would have searched...but the search function never works for me...

Any advice. It's a 30 gallon tank with 2 damsels (that have been in the tank for 1 week).

 

[xxBarneyxx]

How long has the tank been set up? It sounds like it could be diatoms (type of algae) which is common in new set ups. It is normally a browny/orange colour. Does it rub off the rock?

 

[SkiFletch]

Also could be Cyanobacteria...

 

[pimp4cheddar]

So is any of this stuff bad?

I'll take pics for you to see later today.


I haven't touched the rock or tried to see if the orange stuff comes off...should I?

 

[ben1987]

probably just a bit of phosphates you got in the water.

 

[pimp4cheddar]

Updated with pics:

WITH FLASH:

WITHOUT FLASH:

MY LIVE ROCK WITH FLASH (UPCLOSE):

MY LIVE ROCK WITHOUT FLASH (UPCLOSE):

MY LIVE SAND WITH FLASH:

MY LIVE SAND WITHOUT FLASH:

AS YOU CAN SEE...IT'S ONLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TANK...WHICH IS WHERE MY FILTER HITS:

 

[pimp4cheddar]

anyone have any idea what could be causing the brown/orange stuff?

is it bad?

 

[pimp4cheddar]

Does anyone have any clue as to what this brown stuff is?

I want to rearrange my rock, but I'm holding off on doing so until I find out what it is.


Also, it's now on my sand and there are little spots on my glass.....


Thanks,

 

[AJ Tudor]

Looks like algae to me, I have similar appear on my glass and gravel, just scrape it off the glass and it should be fine

 

[ben1987]

yep algae/diatoms iirc. You should be fine, just test your phosphates aswel

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Yeah dont worry about it. As ben said check your phosphate/nitrate levels. Its fairly common in new setups and will go away by itself in time most likely. Nothing to worry about.

 

[ben1987]

Did you use tap water or RO?

 

[pimp4cheddar]

I used purified water...I ran it through the PUR Water Filter that I have...


Thanks for all the advise...I was going crazy!

 

[ben1987]

I used purified water...I ran it through the PUR Water Filter that I have...


Thanks for all the advise...I was going crazy!

If thats like a drinking water filter then that isnt going to be as good as using RO water. Therefore there are going to be more nitrates/phospahtes in the water before you even take into account the tanks stocking.

 

[pimp4cheddar]

So I'm guessing the best thing to do would be to just leave it alone and keep up with the water changes...and everything will return to normal?

Thanks for your help ben...Happy Thanksgiving!