Web-Like Substance

[trevorstratton1]

Hey everyone, I’m a beginner who is cycling a 30 gallon tank with live rock and sand. This white/clear web-like substance took over the tank overnight. I cleaned it up, but then realized I should take a few photos and ask what it was. It was completely dominant before I cleaned it up. Thick and hanging from all parts of the aquarium high and low. Hopefully you can help me identify it and determine how to solve such a problem. Thanks!

 

[GillMeister]

I don't know what that is but rest assured you are going to see all sorts of ugliness in your tank until it stabilizes. That process, honestly, takes a couple years or more. You'll see diatoms, film algae, hair algae, slime algae, and maybe bubble algae and bryopsis if you're not careful. Hydroids, cyano, dinos, and all other varieties of unwanted things will take hold in your tank at some point. The key will be to control what caused the outbreak in the first place and keep a healthy clean up crew stocked to maintain it.

Patience.

 

[trevorstratton1]

I don't know what that is but rest assured you are going to see all sorts of ugliness in your tank until it stabilizes. That process, honestly, takes a couple years or more. You'll see diatoms, film algae, hair algae, slime algae, and maybe bubble algae and bryopsis if you're not careful. Hydroids, cyano, dinos, and all other varieties of unwanted things will take hold in your tank at some point. The key will be to control what caused the outbreak in the first place and keep a healthy clean up crew stocked to maintain it.

Patience.

Thanks very much for the information. I was mainly concerned it could potentially be vermetid snails that hitchhiked their way into the take via the live rock. However, seeing that you don't view it as a special concern, I will remain patient as things run their course. Thanks again!

All the best,
Trevor

 

[mdb_talon]

Thanks very much for the information. I was mainly concerned it could potentially be vermetid snails that hitchhiked their way into the take via the live rock. However, seeing that you don't view it as a special concern, I will remain patient as things run their course. Thanks again!

All the best,
Trevor

Patience is good, but dont let that hold you back from learning. While new tanks often go through some ugly phases that dont need action the majority of the things the previous poster mentioned are an indication of an issue that you should work to resolve

I cant say with certainty what this stuff is in your pic, but my best guess is a bacterial bloom of some sort. Are you rowing anything(nopox, vodka, bottled bacteria, etc)?

 

[\m/reefsnmetal\m/]

For what its worth I see what looks like a vermetid shell on the rock in the 3rd pic, but that is not what those webs are from. As far as the webs are concerned, did you use any water clarifying additives? I've seen web like material in my tank when first getting started using that biomagnet stuff. Siphoning and mechanical filtration cleared it up. But like Gillmeister said, you will see tons of ugliness over the next few months as the tank matures.

 

[trevorstratton1]

Patience is good, but dont let that hold you back from learning. While new tanks often go through some ugly phases that dont need action the majority of the things the previous poster mentioned are an indication of an issue that you should work to resolve

I cant say with certainty what this stuff is in your pic, but my best guess is a bacterial bloom of some sort. Are you rowing anything(nopox, vodka, bottled bacteria, etc)?

Thanks for the input here. I am certainly remaining diligent with the education aspect of things.

And yes, I put some bottled bacteria and magnetic clarifier in on the very first day, but haven't done anything sense. Today is day 4.

Thanks!

 

[trevorstratton1]

For what its worth I see what looks like a vermetid shell on the rock in the 3rd pic, but that is not what those webs are from. As far as the webs are concerned, did you use any water clarifying additives? I've seen web like material in my tank when first getting started using that biomagnet stuff. Siphoning and mechanical filtration cleared it up. But like Gillmeister said, you will see tons of ugliness over the next few months as the tank matures.

I did add a packet of the magnetic water clarifying additive that came with the sand on the first day. Perhaps that has something to do with it. I appreciate the input.

Thank you!

 

[GillMeister]

Thanks very much for the information. I was mainly concerned it could potentially be vermetid snails that hitchhiked their way into the take via the live rock. However, seeing that you don't view it as a special concern, I will remain patient as things run their course. Thanks again!

All the best,
Trevor

Ahhh,vermetids! You wouldn't have those quite yet, but you will someday. It's another thing that I had to deal with at one point. I tried bumble bee snails and they barely made a dent in the population. Eventually they just sort of died off and now they're just little bumps under the coralline.

Patience.

 

[trevorstratton1]

Ahhh,vermetids! You wouldn't have those quite yet, but you will someday. It's another thing that I had to deal with at one point. I tried bumble bee snails and they barely made a dent in the population. Eventually they just sort of died off and now they're just little bumps under the coralline.

Patience.

I agree, I don't think it's a vermetid problem. And, I sure don't look forward to the day that they are the cause of such a problem. Regardless, thanks for the help!

 

[attiland]

It is bacterial suff. No Vermetid invited.
I wouldn’t bother with it yet. It will go as fast as it has came.

 

[trevorstratton1]

It is bacterial suff. No Vermetid invited.
I wouldn’t bother with it yet. It will go as fast as it has came.

Wonderful, thanks for the input.

Much appreciated!