What is this stuff?

[Dustinryan2010]

Brown growth that has small amount of movement, growing on my Caribsea dry rock. Tank is a little over a month old. Thought it was diatoms but these are darker brown and don’t blow away when flow is directed. Tried blowing it off the rocks but it’s pretty attached. There are also little green hair like sprouts of algae here and there, but very isolated. They resemble tiny little ferns but I don’t believe it to be Bryopsis, they’re much more delicate and finer, very tiny as well. Maybe the start of GHA? I don’t know really. Mainly concerned about the brown growth on the rocks, wasn’t there this morning and was accelerated by the lights being on today. Whatever it is, has been sucking my phosphates up, I’ve been manually dosing keeping them around 0.01-0.03 making sure they don’t bottom out. Nitrates have held pretty steady between 10-20.

 

[Dustinryan2010]

These pictures are much better and show the color more accurately. Has a slight flowy movement with the current, hair like not slime like.

 

[Hitman]

GHA and bryopsis. Just some of the ugly stages.

 

[Dustinryan2010]

GHA and bryopsis. Just some of the ugly stages.

That’s a relief, I was worried this brown stuff was dino’s, but they would have bubbles present as well as be easy to blow off the rockwork, correct?

 

[Hitman]

That’s a relief, I was worried this brown stuff was dino’s, but they would have bubbles present as well as be easy to blow off the rockwork, correct?

Correct. Your in that stage that makes you go OMG what happened! Lol We have all been there and done that. Just take your time and let your tank mature, you’ll see several stages some may get really bad but they will work themself out. If the algae get bad just manually remove it the best you can or get some tangs to keep it in check. If your tank is big enough I recommend getting a tang or two now as they will help you keep the algae to a minimum. BRS did a great video on which tangs work better then others.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...with-a-purpose-the-brs-wwv-system-ep19-brstv/

 

[Dustinryan2010]

Correct. Your in that stage that makes you go OMG what happened! Lol We have all been there and done that. Just take your time and let your tank mature, you’ll see several stages some may get really bad but they will work themself out. If the algae get bad just manually remove it the best you can or get some tangs to keep it in check. If your tank is big enough I recommend getting a tang or two now as they will help you keep the algae to a minimum. BRS did a great video on which tangs work better then others.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...with-a-purpose-the-brs-wwv-system-ep19-brstv/

Thanks man! I wish! This is a Nuvo 30 gallon long. I’d LOVE a tang but think I may be a little undersized on my tank requirements. Going to get some more snails and hermits this week though

 

[Mjrenz]

Thanks man! I wish! This is a Nuvo 30 gallon long. I’d LOVE a tang but think I may be a little undersized on my tank requirements. Going to get some more snails and hermits this week though

Definitely don't get a tang, even a small one will outgrow a 30 gallon in a few months. Good luck!

 

[Dustinryan2010]

Definitely don't get a tang, even a small one will outgrow a 30 gallon in a few months. Good luck!

Yeah I definitely don’t have the room, or a place to take the fish to when it did outgrow the tank. Do you think a dwarf angel of some type may be a good alternative? I want something besides just clowns and gobies this go around.

 

[Hitman]

A Flame Angel would live well in that size, with that said I don’t recall seeing mine eat algae off the rocks much

 

[RJinPV]

A Coral Beauty angel would fit in that size and mine is always picking at algae. I like trochus snails and have seen my mexican turbos take care of GHA. I have mixed reviews on hermits. One caution on clean up crew is that if you get too many then some will die and create nutrients that can feed algae.

 

[acbaldwin]

Blennies will chomp on the algae all day long, great additions in a 30g IMO.