TJFitz1980
Active Member
Ok what is this brown stuff? My tank is 3 months old. I would expect this earlier in the setup of a tank but not being 3 months old. How do I deal with it?
Brown stuff?
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Ok what is this brown stuff? My tank is 3 months old. I would expect this earlier in the setup of a tank but not being 3 months old. How do I deal with it?
Jason mack
Monti madness
You have a diatom bloom .. new tank syndrome .. welcome too the club .!! Could be that your cycle was not totally finished .. you can probably expect a gha bloom then a cyno bloom . It's all part of the course . Maybe your rocks are still leaching out ..
but some more info will help
What did you start with
live sand/dry rocks ?
Live rocks ?
What are your parameters?
Is this a fowlr set up ?
but some more info will help
What did you start with
live sand/dry rocks ?
Live rocks ?
What are your parameters?
Is this a fowlr set up ?
I would check your water source.
Ok what is this brown stuff? My tank is 3 months old. I would expect this earlier in the setup of a tank but not being 3 months old. How do I deal with it?
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TJFitz1980
Active Member
Live sand dry rock and yes...don't yell at me but tap water...
I just wouldn't expect this to be happening at 3 months
I just wouldn't expect this to be happening at 3 months
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TJFitz1980
Active Member
Would vibrant help? Should I do a water change?
Jason mack
Monti madness
Aaaaah we seem too have found the source !! Are you treating the tap water ???
Yell? no absolutely not . But I knew it was tap water just looking at the tank. Jus sayin.
New tank uglies (diatoms, gha and cyano) are part of new tank syndrome even with people who use RODI as source water. The fact that you are using tap water will magnify these growing pains and they will become chronic. Is there any way that you can get better source water... optimally investing in an RODI unit or at least using distilled water? If not, you will be constantly going through an uphill struggle with nuisance algae.
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TJFitz1980
Active Member
I plan on getting an rodi just haven't yet...not real familiar with which one is cost effective and easy to work with.
Here are my water test results.
Here are my water test results.
Jason mack
Monti madness
Do you test for phosphates ??I plan on getting an rodi just haven't yet...not real familiar with which one is cost effective and easy to work with.
Here are my water test results.
if you have anything living in your tank and want to keep it that way...DO NOT use vibrant.
Using vibrant in a new tank will cause massive algae die off without your nitrifying bacteria being able to handle the load. You will have an ammonia spike and fish will die. You may be able to save some corals if you have them.
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TJFitz1980
Active Member
I can test my phosphates but I can't ever read the results! Here is from my water company but the masters they have is 2015
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TJFitz1980
Active Member
I got the vibrant right when I set up my tank I used it only a couple times. Never had an issue from it that I know of but didn't use it much.
This is true. I'm using RODI, and same thing (live sand, dry rock)
The moment I added in 1x piece of live rock to seed the rest, BAM bloom! Only been a week so far so I'm keeping patient
What is a GHA bloom Jason mentioned?
Btw, this RODI unit has been great for me. Affordable too
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00204CQF6/ref=twister_B00DV4370M?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I havn't measured TDS or anything, but it was affordable and works easy with my garden hose.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Thats a good one 
Its what I have as well.
I hooked it up to the kitchen sink.
GHA bloom is green hair algae. Its not a "given" that youll get this as is diatoms. Diatoms will happen in any new aquarium period. GHA, like cyanobacteria, has to be introduced via frag or snail shell. and if you keep your parameters good (nitrates and phosphates) and keep an eye out for it, theres no reason for it to bloom out of control.
Ive always scrubbed incoming frags/snails etc so I have never had GHA in my display tanks.
Its what I have as well.I hooked it up to the kitchen sink.
GHA bloom is green hair algae. Its not a "given" that youll get this as is diatoms. Diatoms will happen in any new aquarium period. GHA, like cyanobacteria, has to be introduced via frag or snail shell. and if you keep your parameters good (nitrates and phosphates) and keep an eye out for it, theres no reason for it to bloom out of control.
Ive always scrubbed incoming frags/snails etc so I have never had GHA in my display tanks.
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TJFitz1980
Active Member
A $75 rodi???? And it's good? What about getting filters for it?
Oh awesome, got it! Since I tossed in that 1x piece of live rock, I'm sure it'll happen then - which once again is better for it to happen early rather than when its stocked!Thats a good one
I hooked it up to the kitchen sink.
GHA bloom is green hair algae. Its not a "given" that youll get this as is diatoms. Diatoms will happen in any new aquarium period. GHA, like cyanobacteria, has to be introduced via frag or snail shell. and if you keep your parameters good (nitrates and phosphates) and keep an eye out for it, theres no reason for it to bloom out of control.
Ive always scrubbed incoming frags/snails etc so I have never had GHA in my display tanks.
Hahah I haven't had any issues as I mentioned! I HIGHLY recommend the 4x stage though (DI), as DI is very important at lowering phosphates & better water quality.
So far I've produced Maybe 250 gallons of RODI water, and the color changing DI resin is only about 25% used.
My 'waste' rate has been about 12x gallons of waste compared to 5x gallons of rodi produced, so it's not too bad. Just end up watering the trees w/ it.
Filters are available, but it looks like many people (correct me if im wrong), end up buying DI resin and packing it themselves.
I would say this unit is made to be for more affordable smaller tanks - such as my 55 gallon.
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TJFitz1980
Active Member
My tank is only a 40 so I assume this would be fine
