Brown Stuff on Rocks and Sand

[7237689918]

Hi.

I have been seeing brown "stuff" on my rock and sand for the past 2 weeks or so. And it seems to be slowly getting worse. I didn't realize until recently that PO4 was zero, if that is part of the issue. Not sure how that occurred as I haven't dosed NoPox for that long and not a high dosage. But it was 0 and tested with a Hanna and RS test kit.

Is this just new tank issues or something else?

Some particulars.

- The tank is about 3 months old.

- RS Reefer 170
- Skimmer.
- No other mechanical filtration.
- I have 2 clowns, 1 blenny, 10 or so various snails, and 3 corals.
- Tank params:
- ALK: 8.5
- CA: 425
- Mag: 1450
- Nitrate: 10 (was 50 for a good while)
- Always use RO/DI for top off and get the SW from LFS (trustworthy).
- P04 (.03).
- Note: was zero until this past weekend and I dosed it up to that and checking daily.

Dosing:
- NoPox for the past 3 weeks or so with a break for 5 days. I have only been dosing 1-2ML/day.
- Using to reduce NO3.
- Also cut back feeding to 1/day and stir the sand up 2/week.

Water Changes:
10-20% weekly.

I'm not sure about the pic but it is a rust/dark brown color. It does blow off the rock so it's not attached.

 

[Tiger Brown]

Sounds like Diatoms which is a common algae for a new tank.

 

[7237689918]

Thank you!

Anything particular to do or just let it runs its' course?

 

[Tiger Brown]

They are just a phase of the new tank process, which at 3 months you are definitely still going through. If it really bothers you clean it up, but honestly it is a common case of the uglies as the reefers say that we all go through. I usually get the brown first, then the green, then sometimes the red cyano, which I always clean up as I can't stand it. Then after a year things even out and strike a balance.