Salinity 1.026
Nitrate 0
Phosphate bounces from 0 to < .02
PH 8.2
Alk 10
Calcium 440
Mag 1500
I use RODI water, 0 TDS.
Tank Age: 6 Months.
So this stuff has been in my substrate for awhile now, it was brown, but now is green. Substrate gets plenty of flow. I've had to adjust it a few times to keep it from blowing around. Grains of the substrate move now and then with the flow if I watch.
At first I assumed it was Diatoms. I don't have a microscope to confirm. Do they turn green like this? It is not easily cleanable and does not come off when I vacuum it. In fact it causes the substrate to clump up in the areas it is attached to. Lately, I've been going in and just stirring it up a long with weekly vacuuming. I've tried removing some of the substrate to clean it, but this stuff does not float in the water and just mixes in with the substrate. It's almost as if it is stained on the substrate.
I just want to make sure this is something I should wait out, and not need to take any immediate action on it. It is definitely much much lighter in the mornings and brightens up after a few hours of the lights being on.
Most corals are doing very well, and coraline is taking off at a pretty good pace now. I do have a few different types of Zoa in the tank and they have not fully opened in about a month now. Previously they were fully extending. The CUC and tangs seem to keep them pretty clean. I do not see any algae growth on them or on their bases. No spots and it doesn't look like anything is eating them. It could be from lack of nutrients, but they should be getting plenty. I use DIY food that includes a little bit of reef roids and other fine particle foods along with bigger stuff for the fish. Only reason I bring this up is the two could be related, or it could just be a coincidence.
Thanks!
Nitrate 0
Phosphate bounces from 0 to < .02
PH 8.2
Alk 10
Calcium 440
Mag 1500
I use RODI water, 0 TDS.
Tank Age: 6 Months.
So this stuff has been in my substrate for awhile now, it was brown, but now is green. Substrate gets plenty of flow. I've had to adjust it a few times to keep it from blowing around. Grains of the substrate move now and then with the flow if I watch.
At first I assumed it was Diatoms. I don't have a microscope to confirm. Do they turn green like this? It is not easily cleanable and does not come off when I vacuum it. In fact it causes the substrate to clump up in the areas it is attached to. Lately, I've been going in and just stirring it up a long with weekly vacuuming. I've tried removing some of the substrate to clean it, but this stuff does not float in the water and just mixes in with the substrate. It's almost as if it is stained on the substrate.
I just want to make sure this is something I should wait out, and not need to take any immediate action on it. It is definitely much much lighter in the mornings and brightens up after a few hours of the lights being on.
Most corals are doing very well, and coraline is taking off at a pretty good pace now. I do have a few different types of Zoa in the tank and they have not fully opened in about a month now. Previously they were fully extending. The CUC and tangs seem to keep them pretty clean. I do not see any algae growth on them or on their bases. No spots and it doesn't look like anything is eating them. It could be from lack of nutrients, but they should be getting plenty. I use DIY food that includes a little bit of reef roids and other fine particle foods along with bigger stuff for the fish. Only reason I bring this up is the two could be related, or it could just be a coincidence.
Thanks!