Newbie problem

Puppy · Nov 17, 2015

I've noticed this brown stuff growing more on my sand. Not sure what it is or how to get rid of it. New tank 5months and it's a 46 gallon bow front. One power head and just added a marineland 350 bio wheel. I'm guessing to much lighting causing this but I really don't know

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johnny4491 · Nov 17, 2015

What I been told is that the tank is young and over time when it matures it will go away because I'm going through the same thing and my tank is a little over a year old

NanaReefer · Nov 17, 2015

Possible Diatoms. What is your source of water?

Puppy · Nov 17, 2015

I have a ro/di set up. I usually let water run through it for a good 10 minutes before I collect any water as its only used for top off and when i do water change. And I do 5 gallon every Sunday and a 25% change once a month.

melypr1985 · Nov 17, 2015

diatoms. Ride it out, keep up with your maintenance.

Lenny_S · Nov 17, 2015

melypr1985 said:
diatoms. Ride it out, keep up with your maintenance.

+1... Diatoms, totally normal at this stage in your tank. They are just feeding on whatever silicates you may have. They'll go away on their own in a few weeks, maybe less.

pondman · Nov 17, 2015

Just keep up on your tank maintenance maybe also cut back your lighting cycle a few hours a day and you will see a difference in no time

NanaReefer · Nov 17, 2015

IMO I'd lighten up on the water changes a bit. Like 5g bi-weekly unless of course you have a massive bio-load?

Oceansize · Nov 17, 2015

Yup: diatoms. That's normal for a new-ish tank. Sounds like you've got a good water change regimen, so not much benefit could be had from increasing it. I accelerated the removal of diatoms by adding a clean-up crew (CUC), consisting of hermit crabs, three or four different varieties of snails, etc.