Bubbles on live rock and diatoms??

[Luka]

Noticed some bubbles on my live rock didn't think much just thought it was from my filter but don't think they are any idea what they could be? It's only some live rock in batches picture below.

Also I have diatoms that some seem to have very very very tiny brown hairs sticking up (picture won't get them) anyways are these diatoms or brown hair. Also it's all over my tank just like diatoms would be. Is there any way to get rid of them it's making my tank ugly.

Bubble patches

Diatoms?

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

New Tank?

 

[brandon429]

Yes it is. See how the substrate has the growth as well? all that means is you can either wait for things to possibly subside, or begin guiding your substrates into how you want them to look (full tank cleaning)

its far more common to let this set in and become a near permanent part of the tank biota. getting people to clean/work on a tank is nearly impossible, we are told it upsets balances to intervene. undeniable fact:

no invader can ever overtake a tank if its removed at first sight. This one has about 80% coverage so far, and is common for new tanks, but is also fine practice in removal because next comes the GHA.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Break out the gravel Vac!

 

[Virtualbasil]

You could take the rock out of the tank and remove the bubbles which some believe that releasing the bubbles in the tank spreads the algae further. How's your phosphate levels? Have you vaccumed the substrate? Maybe more flow would help?

 

[brandon429]

this is a thicker grained substrate so it will take in and hold more waste. no prob to use, but the gravel vac mentioned above needs to be as regular as the water changes for this design.

 

[Luka]

Yea I vaced the sand Monday the diatoms just come back...that is if they are diatoms. And I am not sure what my phosphates are. I am going to get a test kit after school today, you think I should get a second powerless aswell? It's only a 15 gallon tank. Also what is causing the bubbles? Could it just be photosynthesis.

 

[Virtualbasil]

The only phosphate kit worth getting to me is a hanna. I don't know how much flow you have in your tank but I had a similar problem and I upped the flow and started running GFO and it has went away.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Could it just be photosynthesis.

yup.

 

[byars73]

Do you have a clean up crew?

 

[Luka]

Yea I have a clean up crew snails and hermits. Snails don't go on the sand tho so might get some that will clean my sand. And yea it's a fairly new tank. What's GFO and whats GHA?? Also is the algae just diatoms or waste???

 

[Virtualbasil]

GFO is granular ferric oxide it removes phosphate. You can run it in a reactor or just a media bag.

 

[Luka]

Display tank safe of course??

 

[Virtualbasil]

I'm about putting a media bag in the display. You could get the bulk reef supply mini reactor and run A mix of GFO and carbon.

 

[Virtualbasil]

this HTML class. Value is http://www.bulkreefs

 

[Luka]

Okay I will look into this I am going to petco now to see what test kit they got...going to get another power head and probly a larger vacuum

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

it is a normal phase of a young tank. But its best to keep cleaning. usually it clears itself up as it may be bacterial or organic dieoff from/in the live sand as the biofilter ramps up and matures.
if you do nothing it will likely pass. if you do something, it will likely pass.

 

[Luka]

Okay thanks, they didn't have a phosphate test kit at petco so need to order one online. I think I am going to clean cause it's really ugly and I hate it haha.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

IMO in the long and short. basic maint is key.
getting the gravel vac technique down will save MANY heartaches later.

 

[Virtualbasil]

save yourself money and get a hanna phosphate checker. All the other kits are very hard to really tell what the results are.