Established tank with brown gunk

[LordClownFish]

I have a tank that has some brown gunk (see photos)

This tank uses TM pro reef and has had issues with everything under the sun. Parameters are stable and I think that's what's the most annoying here. I use RODI water with a 0ppm reading, Chemipure elite and Purigen. The rear is running a refugium.

To me these look like diatoms but it can't be, I have a tank right next to it that uses the same RODI filter and it has very small trace diatoms that are nothing like what this tank is experiencing. The most obnoxious part is the other clear tank literally just has a HOB filter and 2 powerhead and it's clean as can be. The tank stays spotless with white sand, I don't understand why this biocube can't get over the brown sand.

I am running a UV and an Ozone in this biocube and this crap won't go away, tank is about 9 months. It's just crazy the cheap HOB is running like a champ.

I also cycled the biocube WITH sand, I added sand in the other tank after a fishless bare bottom cycle and it's been so headache free. I will never cycle a tank with sand again I think that's the issue, or me not QTing coral has introduced something nasty I'm unaware of. I always coral RX but that's obviously not in place of a good QT.

Idk I think I need some help.

 

[AydenLincoln]

It looks like Cyanobacteria to me. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/cont...oV4khyo9C8FgGNX7Dm9WrXa7FITrUglgaAjkhEALw_wcB

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Do you have a fts photo we can see (one with white lights)

 

[LordClownFish]

It looks like Cyanobacteria to me. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/content/post/red-slime-how-to-prevent-and-remove-cyanobacteria?utm_term=&utm_campaign=EL+|+EXP_Conversion_Search+|+DSA>+RLSA+Global&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&hsa_acc=7373341438&hsa_cam=843440857&hsa_grp=41971741854&hsa_ad=563944866636&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=aud-1952256890547:dsa-295317350131&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_LZB9tqZSKNLCTWcWJUrxvAmTJQ&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1um-BhDtARIsABjU5x6xKdsTz6e4GVcLiwluCcBoV4khyo9C8FgGNX7Dm9WrXa7FITrUglgaAjkhEALw_wcB

I was thinking that, but it should be gone with the ozone and UV.. makes me think it's not bacterial

 

[JTP424]

Dynos or cyano.
Even if your parameters are the same as your other tank could be lack of flow etc.

 

[LordClownFish]

Do you have a fts photo we can see (one with white lights)

I run little white light, I think FTS is full tank shot but I have no idea so here's some more photos

Nitrates are dropping, but they were not until I turned on the refugium light for 24/7 usage, they are currently at 8.1 ppm. Phosphate is at 0.02 and ALK is at 7.6

 

[LordClownFish]

Dynos or cyano.
Even if your parameters are the same as your other tank could be lack of flow etc.

It has a 130 gallon wavemaker, if anything this tank has too much flow? It runs on low

 

[LordClownFish]

This Tank with 2 power heads, a HOB filter and has clean white sand... I have used the same tools up until about a month ago but I don't think whatever is in the biocube can spread easy? Do I need a microscope lol

View attachment 4051492

 

[BryanM]

I run little white light, I think FTS is full tank shot but I have no idea so here's some more photos

Nitrates are dropping, but they were not until I turned on the refugium light for 24/7 usage, they are currently at 8.1 ppm. Phosphate is at 0.02 and ALK is at 7.6

Does this go away at night when the lights go out?

I'm battling dinos right now, and yours looks like mine, though you need a microscope to ID properly.

 

[LordClownFish]

Does this go away at night when the lights go out?

I'm battling dinos right now, and yours looks like mine, though you need a microscope to ID properly.

Couple things with it, you can squirt it into oblivion with a turkey baster for it to come back literally 5 minutes later (not as severe but visible, with a full outbreak by next day)

It does seem to be light correlated. (lighter spots disappearing at night with heavy spots looking much lighter at night but not fully disappearing) I'm running ozone and UV so whatever is resistant to those two things seems to be a culprit.

I also wonder if it could be multiple things.

How do we feel about this microscope?

Amazon product ASIN B07QB79SN6

 

[reeftankdude]

Buffet for emerald crabs and turbo snails.

 

[BryanM]

Couple things with it, you can squirt it into oblivion with a turkey baster for it to come back literally 5 minutes later (not as severe but visible, with a full outbreak by next day)

It does seem to be light correlated. (lighter spots disappearing at night with heavy spots looking much lighter at night but not fully disappearing) I'm running ozone and UV so whatever is resistant to those two things seems to be a culprit.

I also wonder if it could be multiple things.

How do we feel about this microscope?

Amazon product ASIN B07QB79SN6

My understanding of dinos, even though UV will kill the ones that go in to the water column at night, is they'll just keep coming back if your nutrients are non existent or something else out competes for them.

I cured them once, managed to bottom our phosphates a 2nd time, and they are back with the strength of a god right now. Maybe they'll be better by the weekend.

 

[Maize & Blue]

Watch BRS TV series I wrecked my tank!