Identifying brown on my live rock

[Leonardstdr]

I have been running this tank near 4 months now and my livestock is doing well. I noticed in the past two weeks that I have been accruing this brown all over my live rock. The first time around I identified it as diatom algae and grabbed a few extra inverts to handle the issue. After a few days and a slow down of the original issue I have now been hit even harder with a thicker substance. I am wondering if it is more of the same or something new. I intentionally haven’t changed the water today (my normal water change day) and haven’t cleaned the sand bed so as to take pictures to identify any issues, all help is very welcome.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

That could be just regular algae. What size tank is this, and what do you have for a cleanup crew?

 

[Leonardstdr]

That could be just regular algae. What size tank is this, and what do you have for a cleanup crew?

This is a Fluval Evo 13.5, I currently have 6 snails and 2 hermit crabs as well as a cleaner shrimp.

 

[Reefer Matt Verified Media Partner]

This is a Fluval Evo 13.5, I currently have 6 snails and 2 hermit crabs as well as a cleaner shrimp.

A few more snails may help. I like to have reef safe urchins like pincushion or tuxedo too. Have you tested your water recently?

 

[Leonardstdr]

A few more snails may help. I like to have reef safe urchins like pincushion or tuxedo too. Have you tested your water recently?

Yes I tested today, nitrites and ammonia at 0, nitrates around 5-10 ppm, alk 9.4, ph 8.2-8.3, salinity 1.025-1.026