Black and brown stuff on my rocks

[needlehandssoftfingers]

Hi everyone I'm back again already haha. I have none of this stuff on my sandbed. They both showed up and grew quite fast relative to the coralline I see elsewhere. I can't seem to move it with directed blasts of air/water, it just stays there. I'm scared to touch it lol is it fungus? Bacteria? It doesn't look fuzzy or slimey, my first thought was a type of coraline algae but I don't see much of that come up on Google and these really did show up fast.

Tank only 1.5 months old, first month was lights off. Now I have a zoa in there. My magnesium was 1200 for a bit but now it's at 1320. Calcium shot up to 500+ as I was dosing PurpleUp and didn't catch it fast enough. Seemed to shoot above 450 instantly. My nitrates were also about 75ppm until recently where I got it down to around 45-50. Phosphates were 0.5 a few days ago. Ph 7.8 but I adjusted a powerhead for more 02 so I'll update if I got it up a bit.
Dkh 10.5, s.g 1.026-5.
I've noticed calcium precipitate on my rocks by the way. Anyone know if it'll dissolve over time when I get my #'s down?

 

[Dan_P]

Hi everyone I'm back again already haha. I have none of this stuff on my sandbed. They both showed up and grew quite fast relative to the coralline I see elsewhere. I can't seem to move it with directed blasts of air/water, it just stays there. I'm scared to touch it lol is it fungus? Bacteria? It doesn't look fuzzy or slimey, my first thought was a type of coraline algae but I don't see much of that come up on Google and these really did show up fast.

Tank only 1.5 months old, first month was lights off. Now I have a zoa in there. My magnesium was 1200 for a bit but now it's at 1320. Calcium shot up to 500+ as I was dosing PurpleUp and didn't catch it fast enough. Seemed to shoot above 450 instantly. My nitrates were also about 75ppm until recently where I got it down to around 45-50. Phosphates were 0.5 a few days ago. Ph 7.8 but I adjusted a powerhead for more 02 so I'll update if I got it up a bit.
Dkh 10.5, s.g 1.026-5.
I've noticed calcium precipitate on my rocks by the way. Anyone know if it'll dissolve over time when I get my #'s down?

All normal. Don’t worry about apparent precipitate.

What is the nitrite level in your system? Nitrate seems too high.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

you wont get coraline in a one month old tank.
what about flow, do you have any flow going through the rocks?

 

[needlehandssoftfingers]

you wont get coraline in a one month old tank.
what about flow, do you have any flow going through the rocks?

I have about 10 spots if coralline starting as I seeded from my lfs. They're tiny tho for sure
I have flow yes, 2 powerheads in a 20g

 

[needlehandssoftfingers]

All normal. Don’t worry about apparent precipitate.

What is the nitrite level in your system? Nitrate seems too high.

Nitrates are about 50ppm. I was overfeeding first couple weeks and no skimmer. I'm working on larger more frequent WC

 

[Dan_P]

Nitrates are about 50ppm. I was overfeeding first couple weeks and no skimmer. I'm working on larger more frequent WC

Are you saying nitrites are zero?

 

[needlehandssoftfingers]

Are you saying nitrites are zero?

Oh sorry I read too fast lol I'll check nitrites tonight

 

[needlehandssoftfingers]

Are you saying nitrites are zero?

So nitrites are still at 0 thankfully. Any advice on what to keep an eye on/work at for the next few weeks?

 

[Dan_P]

So nitrites are still at 0 thankfully. Any advice on what to keep an eye on/work at for the next few weeks?

My only thought is about getting the nitrate level down. I don’t understand how it got so high.

 

[needlehandssoftfingers]

My only thought is about getting the nitrate level down. I don’t understand how it got so high.

I overfed and forgot to clean out my HOB filter until last weekend. The sponge/mesh was thick with fish poop
And I often didn't cut my mysis enough so pieces too large for my citron and clownfish would stay in the tank