Brown spots on dry rock

JediCruz · Dec 28, 2020

So I’ve gone through the diatom phase and am in the green algae phase. But now I’m starting to see these brown spots showing up on the dry rock. I’d like to mention that I do I have one small piece of live rock from my LFS that has coralline algae on it, though I don’t think that’s significant to this question. Any ideas on what it is? I have not tried brushing it off yet but by the looks of it, it doesn’t look like it would brush off. I’ll try that tomorrow morning when the lights are back on.

WIReefer · Dec 29, 2020

Rock looks fairly new, most likely just part of the ugly stage would just ride it out. Was a good choice on putting that live rock in the tank. I would just make sure you have readable levels of no3 and PO4 and should be all good.

vetteguy53081 · Dec 29, 2020

They’re diatoms and derive from silicates and developing organically.
If you wish to stay ahead of it, you can blow loose with a turkey baster and reduce white light intensity a little and add snails such as turbo, astrea, trochus, nassarius and a few blue leg hermit crabs

JediCruz · Dec 29, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
They’re diatoms and derive from silicates and developing organically.
If you wish to stay ahead of it, you can blow loose with a turkey baster and reduce white light intensity a little and add snails such as turbo, astrea, trochus, nassarius and a few blue leg hermit crabs

Though it’s possible it’s diatoms, i sincerely doubt it. I put new inhabitants and coral in today so I didn’t get a chance to try and blow it off but, as I mentioned, it doesn’t look like the diatoms that hit my tank 2 weeks ago. It doesn’t look like it can brush off or blow away.

Kinjirra · Dec 29, 2020

Its its not diatoms and brown..what are your Phos and Nitrate levels?

JediCruz · Dec 29, 2020

So I can’t test phosphate yet since I don’t have a test that will check that. I do have high nitrates. 60ppm. It’s the reason I implemented the refugium.

Kinjirra · Dec 29, 2020

long your Phos and Nitrates arnt bottomed out....should rule out the Dino....maybe just diatoms having another go at it...Diatoms are a part of the natural cycle in the ocean and happen yearly but they arnt a thing to worry about imho..just not pretty. If it means anything my Diatoms wouldnt blow off the rock or anything...took some snails to clean it up.

JediCruz · Dec 29, 2020

Kinjirra said:
long your Phos and Nitrates arnt bottomed out....should rule out the Dino....maybe just diatoms having another go at it...Diatoms are a part of the natural cycle in the ocean and happen yearly but they arnt a thing to worry about imho..just not pretty. If it means anything my Diatoms wouldnt blow off the rock or anything...took some snails to clean it up.

I have snails in there so they’ll take care of I’m sure. Just curious as to what they were. Also have hermits in there now as well