Brown Stain..

Delatedlotus · Aug 28, 2019

Tank is completely covered with like a brown stain.. And I don't know what to do and why.. New kit water test Ammonia = 0... Nitrite = 0... Nitrate = 40... PH = 8.2.. Phosphate = 0... And I just can't keep this from coming back. I did a lot not to long ago.. Chem Clean two months ago

(got rid of the green) , Added my fuge back with sox's and cheato 2 weeks ago, and added a UV sterilizer in line 2 weeks ago. This has completely taken over my tank.. I have been using to large power head to try to clean off rock.. It does temporarily... Lights on to long? Or what.. Please if you have advice I really need it.. I have a lot of rock... right?.. Thanks Rod

Flippers4pups · Aug 28, 2019

Size and age of the tank, please.

Delatedlotus · Aug 28, 2019

129 gallon, 75 gallon and a 120 gallon horse trough with a fug in it. Total 286 Gallon salt system.. Set up for some 20+ years..

Mastiffsrule · Aug 28, 2019

My thought jumps to Dino I hate to say

Flippers4pups · Aug 28, 2019

Delatedlotus said:
129 gallon, 75 gallon and a 120 gallon horse trough with a fug in it. Total 286 Gallon salt system.. Set up for some 20+ years..

Okay, things have definitely gone south. Looks like dinoflagellates.

What's your maintenance schedule like? RO/DI water?

Amboss72 · Aug 28, 2019

I’m seeing this same stuff in a tank. I’ve run diatomaceous earth filters on the tank. My rust colored stuff seems to have some structure to it. I’m running fluconazole on it now. I tried the Cyano, Dinoflagellates tests and my brown stuff maintained structure. Right now I’m trying fluconazole and hoping this takes care of it. The client in my situation didn’t rinse the gfo he put in his reactor. I’ve sucked this crap out to no avail. I’ve done so many water changes I’m tired. The gfo issue was months ago. Snails don’t last but urchins do. My magnesium is high so that may explain the snails sluggish nature. I’ve worked dinoflagellates before but the stuff I’m dealing with doesn’t settle on my sand bed and it’s not stringy. It doesn’t reorganize upon being broken up.