Some Burnt Looking Spots On My Rocks?

[debbs2207]

Hi everyone,

Wondering if anyone has come accross this. I have brown/black spost ALL over my ocean rock my LR and it's even growing on the case of my internal filter, it's wierd stuff and it's everywhere. They are small spots and have increased rapidly! It is moss of some kind but only in small spots.

Any ideas if it's good or bad....i'm hoping for good!
Thanks
Deb

 

[Betta5]

Brown algea?

 

[debbs2207]

i'm not sure, read up about brown algae and it sounds about right, the tank is not established (no fish), we are in the 3rd month running it in.

I can't find any pictures on-line that look like what I have though or how to get rid of it.

hmmmm

 

[Betta5]

It is common in new setups, it will clear up on its own i think,
here is a really bad case,
http/saltaquarium.about.com/library/grap..._200lighten.jpg

 

[SkiFletch]

Cyanobacteria?

 

[debbs2207]

The cyanobacteria looks like a real pain in the ass!!!

Although some of the pictures do resemble what I have in my tank, they don't state the colour which is brown! We had mega high ammonia and now suddenly we have no ammonia and high nitrate and nitrite!?!?!

Not sure what is going on, i'm going to look around to see if I can get some more answers but any more ideas of help would be much appreciated.
Deb

 

[tmreynolds]

Hi,

What form of filtration are you using, if its live rock, how much and how big is the tank? 3 months in and still high ammonia and nitrites are worrying.

Are you using a skimmer?

Have you tested your phosphate level?

These may help

 

[SkiFletch]

Deb, cyano comes in red, green, brown, purple, orange, rust, and many other color variations

Sounds like something is drastically wrong in your tank. Can you list as many of the following as you can for us?

Livestock
Tank size
LR amount
Temp
pH
sg
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
Phosphate
Calcium
Alkalinity
Feeding Regimen (what, how often, how much)
Maintenance Regimen (water changes, gravel vac, how much, how often, etc)

And what type of equipment are you using to get all the readings, how old is it, and has it been checked by an independent source (LFS)

 

[debbs2207]

Deb, cyano comes in red, green, brown, purple, orange, rust, and many other color variations

Sounds like something is drastically wrong in your tank. Can you list as many of the following as you can for us?

Livestock
NONE (JUST AS WELL)

Tank size
180 litres, jewel vision

LR amount
I'm not sure, around 6-7 large pieces and another 6 smallish ones

Temp
25.6

pH
7.5

sg
salinity: 31PPT, specific gravity: 1.023

Ammonia
0!!! Was 4.0ppm 2 days ago

Nitrite
1.6 mg (was 0 2 days ago)

Nitrate
110mg/L (again was 0 2 days ago)

Phosphate
Don't have this test

Calcium
Don't have test

Alkalinity
being thick what is this?

Feeding Regimen (what, how often, how much)
None

Maintenance Regimen (water changes, gravel vac, how much, how often, etc)
Was changing every day to reduce ammonia, but stopped after being advised to, last change was 20% about a week ago, coral gravel about 1.5inches.

And what type of equipment are you using to get all the readings, how old is it, and has it been checked by an independent source (LFS)
Master test kits, a couple are older but bought seperatley over the last 12 months, ammonia test bought a month ago.

 

[SkiFletch]

No livestock, phew. Ok so your pH is drastically low and your biologics are going nuts. Something clearly died and/or is decomposing in the tank. Do you have small children in the house that my have dropped something in the tank that they shouldnt have? . Has any serious chemical work been done in the house (ie new flooring, solvents used, painting)? And is your water source RO, tap, or something else?

If you didn't do anything wrong to poison the tank, something died and has done it for you . Many inverts including nudibranchs, small anemones, sea slugs, and others can emit toxins that will wipe out a tank upon their death. Sounds to me like you might have had just such an organism perish within your rock while its still young and caused a pretty significant dieoff event.

Moving forward, your first task should be to have your LFS verify your tests and ask them if they can do the tests you dont own. If it does come back the same as yours, you should wait until the biologicals ammonia and nitrite subside, then wait a couple days and do a LARGE water change. Hopefully your pH will clear up and you'll remove the nitrates and any remaining toxin in the tank. Then some more waiting and monitoring to see if the tank is stable before you consider stocking