Rust colored dust on sand? ID

[Coxey81]

Anyone have any idea what this is?

At first I thought if might be ground up TDO Chromoboost pellets, cause they are pretty much the same color and I feed them daily. But this seems to be spreading, although very slowly.

It does always seem to pop up in areas the pellets/food tends to land. And vacuuming usually gets rid of it. But just curious what it is.

Thanks!

 

[rhostam]

Diatoms. It may get worse before it gets better depending many things.

I originally said dinos, but I was mistaken.

 

[DrZoidburg]

Yes beginning of the ugly bits.

 

[Coxey81]

Dinoflagellates aka “dinos.” It may get worse before it gets better depending many things.

I thought dinos usually popped up when your nutrients were low?

Mine are high, trying to get them lowered. NO3 usually between 15-20 ppm.

PO4 - 0.25ppm

 

[jfoahs04]

Newish tank? Most likely diatoms. They’re pretty standard in a new system. Just keep doing what you’re doing and they should come and go over the course of a week or so.

 

[rhostam]

I thought dinos usually popped up when your nutrients were low?

Mine are high, trying to get them lowered. NO3 usually between 15-20 ppm.

PO4 - 0.25ppm

My bad!! I meant diatoms. I’ll delete the original comment so at to not misinform others!

 

[Coxey81]

Newish tank? Most likely diatoms. They’re pretty standard in a new system. Just keep doing what you’re doing and they should come and go over the course of a week or so.

Yeah, 6 months used. I got it two months ago.

These patches have showed up several times since I got it. But I vacuum and they go aways for a week or so and don't really become noticeable until I'm about to vacuum again.

 

[Coxey81]

My bad!! I meant diatoms. I’ll delete the original comment so at to not misinform others!

Ok, that makes more sense.

 

[Coxey81]

My bad!! I meant diatoms. I’ll delete the original comment so at to not misinform others!

Yes, this looks just like it. Thanks

 

[Coxey81]

I added new dry sand when I moved the tank two months ago... so probably reintroduced silicates then with it.

 

[Lavey29]

I added new dry sand when I moved the tank two months ago... so probably reintroduced silicates then with it.

Siphoning the sand can release more silicate also into the water column. If you don't have corals yet you can minimize the diatoms phase with minimal light use or just let it runnits course for some weeks.

 

[Coxey81]

Siphoning the sand can release more silicate also into the water column. If you don't have corals yet you can minimize the diatoms phase with minimal light use or just let it runnits course for some weeks.

I only have the lights on 5 hours a day, no corals yet... it's pretty minimal as it is. That pic is about all there is in the tank. And it's built up over the last 10 days.

I figure I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and it'll eventually go away right?

I have a 6 stage rodi and my tds is zero.

 

[DrZoidburg]

I figure I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and it'll eventually go away right?

They should go away when everything balances out.

 

[Lavey29]

I only have the lights on 5 hours a day, no corals yet... it's pretty minimal as it is. That pic is about all there is in the tank. And it's built up over the last 10 days.

I figure I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and it'll eventually go away right?

I have a 6 stage rodi and my tds is zero.

Did you rinse the new sand prior? I didn't soak mine just dumped it straight in so I had an extended diatom phase. It's not a big deal. Just focus on your parameters.

 

[Coxey81]

Did you rinse the new sand prior? I didn't soak mine just dumped it straight in so I had an extended diatom phase. It's not a big deal. Just focus on your parameters.

Yes. I rinsed it several times until it would go clear within a couple of minutes. But it was pretty cheap dry sand from petco. All I had time to buy before the tank move.

 

[DrZoidburg]

Just wait for all the other fun stuff to come.

 

[Coxey81]

Just wait for all the other fun stuff to come.

Well, I got some chaeto going to help bring my nutrients down... but had some Hair algae pop up in my fuge (not much) but cleaned it out.

I'm pretty sure my tang has kept it at bay in the DT. Lol.

I've cut feeding into at least 1/3 of what I was doing the first month. And still feel like I may be feeding too much the more I read.

The NO3 and PO4 finally seems to be stable though and not rising.

 

[Lavey29]

If you don't have corals then you need the fuge and water changes to balance parameters in a stabil level. Once you start adding corals they will need your nutrients in the water so you need to be sure the fuge doesn't outcompete their needs.

 

[DrZoidburg]

Well, I got some chaeto going to help bring my nutrients down... but had some Hair algae pop up in my fuge (not much) but cleaned it out.

I'm pretty sure my tang has kept it at bay in the DT. Lol.

I've cut feeding into at least 1/3 of what I was doing the first month. And still feel like I may be feeding too much the more I read.

The NO3 and PO4 finally seems to be stable though and not rising.

Expect more hair algae. If the levels stay that way for a while, and only algae growing in sump. As long as every thing is stable. Add stuff to display levels should go down and compete with sump. Maybe some inverts too. I like taking urchins from display to sump back and forth.

 

[Coxey81]

If you don't have corals then you need the fuge and water changes to balance parameters in a stabil level. Once you start adding corals they will need your nutrients in the water so you need to be sure the fuge doesn't outcompete their needs.

Thanks, yeah, that's what I've come to understand. I'm tinkering with how long I leave my fuge light on to control my nutrient export. Stared with 6 hours and have it running about 10 now which seems to have it decently balanced... for now.

I plan to start adding corals and more fish next year... so I figure it will change.... and always be changing... always trying to find a balance.