Background:
Tank approx 8 months old
Testing nitrates and phosphates every 2-3 days. Nitrates average between 7-5. Phosphate have always read zero. Using Hannah to test (not ULN just regular Phosphate). Attached pictures of what is growing all over my rocks. When disturbed it acts “dusty” and easily comes off. Doesn’t have any bubbles. Not slimy appearance either. Tank inhabitants (yellow tang, hippo tang, foxface, algae Blenny, asterea snails) won’t touch it. Tested RODI and tank water for silicates using Seachem silicate test. Both registered zero. I turned off radions and only running reefbrites at 10% and they don’t seem to change based on lighting. I tried blowing off and siphoning into filter sock and return water back to tank. When it is disturbed and I sock has a very distinct almost sweet “smell”. By the time I cleaned up and put equipment away, rocks were completely covered again. I tried the coffee filter test. After an hour, they seemed to try to regroup. Although, it could just be they settled to the bottom of glass. Not really sure if I’m looking at the results correctly. Been dosing neophos and microbacter7 thinking it was Dino’s. Still running skimmer but running it very dry. Just trying to keep ph up without stripping more phosphates. Did increase feeding but hasn’t made a difference in phosphates. Anyone know what this might be?
Tank approx 8 months old
Testing nitrates and phosphates every 2-3 days. Nitrates average between 7-5. Phosphate have always read zero. Using Hannah to test (not ULN just regular Phosphate). Attached pictures of what is growing all over my rocks. When disturbed it acts “dusty” and easily comes off. Doesn’t have any bubbles. Not slimy appearance either. Tank inhabitants (yellow tang, hippo tang, foxface, algae Blenny, asterea snails) won’t touch it. Tested RODI and tank water for silicates using Seachem silicate test. Both registered zero. I turned off radions and only running reefbrites at 10% and they don’t seem to change based on lighting. I tried blowing off and siphoning into filter sock and return water back to tank. When it is disturbed and I sock has a very distinct almost sweet “smell”. By the time I cleaned up and put equipment away, rocks were completely covered again. I tried the coffee filter test. After an hour, they seemed to try to regroup. Although, it could just be they settled to the bottom of glass. Not really sure if I’m looking at the results correctly. Been dosing neophos and microbacter7 thinking it was Dino’s. Still running skimmer but running it very dry. Just trying to keep ph up without stripping more phosphates. Did increase feeding but hasn’t made a difference in phosphates. Anyone know what this might be?