Brown teardrops??

[Ratsinmyhead]

I put water in the tank 3weeks ago so not at all concerned with this as I’m sure it will naturally pass. I had cured and cycled my rocks for almost 5 months prior to putting them in the tank and filling. First week was clean. Second week I had diatoms I assume as it was brown dust covering everything. I blew as many off the rocks as possible and vacuumed the sand bed. Things seemed stable until this started taking hold. It looks like a gooey brown teardrop. Some have longer tails. Just wondering what this phase is and if I should be alarmed. Thank you in advance

 

[James M]

Looks like the ugly stage form looking at your rocks

 

[Ratsinmyhead]

Any idea if these are still diatoms? Or just a brown algae? I would assume just let it be or should I try removal by sucking/scraping it off? I know the uglies can last months, just wondering specifically what it is.

 

[Austin Prosser]

How big is the tank and how much rock has been added?
What is everything you have added that might have a hitchhiker?
If all your rock is clean and corals or clean up crew haven’t been added it’s probably just a standard mix of diatoms & slime algae that are just the new tank uglies.
I would give it a week test the nitrates, if you use rodi water it should be a standard tank cycle period.
-If your ammonia and nitrite are not present you could add a snail or hermit to help clean slowly but Just leaving it to disappear should work as well.

 

[James M]

Any idea if these are still diatoms? Or just a brown algae? I would assume just let it be or should I try removal by sucking/scraping it off? I know the uglies can last months, just wondering specifically what it is.

I don’t know the name but your CUC Should eat it

 

[Ratsinmyhead]

Sounds good, thank you. The tank is 180g with a 75fuge. Only about 100lbs of rock. Nothing added that would have hitched in. I will just wait another week or two and test before I start adding some cuc.
Thanks again

 

[Austin Prosser]

Seems pretty normal, I wouldn’t be worried about it nice setup though

 

[Ratsinmyhead]

In time

 

[Ratsinmyhead]

Top is first week. Bottom is second week. Middle is today.