Live rock turning brown
 

Noticed this gradually over about a week now. All the rock not encrusted with coraline is turning brown. This is a new reef setup with cured LR. Is this normal and or can I be doing something to combat this? Pics added

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...o/IMG_0349.jpg
starting to form spots on the sandbed
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...o/IMG_0348.jpg
On the rock... sorry cam was out of focus a bit

Got any pics?

If it's a new set up it could be diatoms which will be a normal part of your cycle.

bump

looks like diatoms. a form of algae. I think this is normal during cycling

how long does it take to go away and is there anything I can do to hurry up the process? I'm not thrilled by the prospect of it overwhelming the coraline algae.....

Its a natural progression in a new tank. It will go away on its own and will not hurt the coraline. I added a few turbo snails when my tank was cycling and they helped hurry the process along.

You could try increasing the flow in your tank as well so your skimmer has a better chance at skimming them out as well. As said it will take it's course as your tank cycles!

get some mexican turbo snails they will help speed up the progress

Are you using tap water or RO water? Tap tends to add silicates, which will increase the bloom.

RO/DI water

well, won't be around long then. Not sure snails will help...although they eat it, I'm not sure they digest it and it just comes right out the other end again. Diatoms are just the entrance into reefs and the first of many things to try your patience.

too true, I agree.

But a few snails can't hurt.....

2 weeks with cured rock......

Parameters in check.....

Time to add a few maybe?

id add some

Nope, won't hurt at all. Won't help much, but you're gonna want them soon anyway, might as well add them now. Be aware that turbos knock things over.

but clean the fastest

ime

Well, if you're experience says I'm wrong, then I guess I'm wrong. My turbos musta been sick ;)

lol!!!!!!!! mayb mine were just on steroids... time to get some drug testing done:mrgreen:

oh and i didnt say you were wrong..mine knock stuff down all the time but clean like a damn!

I got some from J&L that weren't Turbo's but another large snail that Rene(?) sold me that work like crazy but don't knock over as much and when they end up on their backs they can get back over not like Turbos....once on their back they don't get righted well. For the life of me I can't remember what they were but they are great...kind of pretty too.......just my 2 cents..I'd add some now if your water is stable! At least then you have something to stare into the tank and see! We all know you're doin it! (we all did it too!)