SWFT
Community Member
Set up a relatively new system, waterbox 105.4. Cycled using algebarn starter kit. Went smoothly, ammonia and nitrites dropped to zero as expected. Added a two clowns as starter fish.
I expected new tank syndrome but not white flaky type of algae. Or could it be bacterial this early? This is my second tank so I was careful to make sure my mechanical and biological filtration is good.
Every time I shut of my main pump to change the water and then turn it back on, I get this flaky algae type of stuff all over the tank. I noticed it’s coming from the two nozzles but I can’t pinpoint where it’s accumulating. I checked the pump and pump end of the hose and there is nothing slimy growing. Nozzles look clean as well with nothing growing on them. I’m stumped where it could be coming from. My sump is also clean. I inspected the return chamber of the sump and did not notice anything slimy or anything coated on the glass. Same for the rest of the sump. It appears right as soon as I turn the pump on. I’m suspecting it’s in the return piping?
My reefmat 500 is working as it should so it’s catching anything coming into sump but it’s polluting my tank and takes about an hour or two to settle down. Rock is clean. DT glass is clean. I don’t see anything in the DT, just normal brown stage on sand that’s about to clear up.
I’m a bit stumped about this white flaky stuff this early in a tank. I have UV coming early next week to see if it will help.
Skimmer is working as it should. Current nitrates are around 20ppm.
Any thoughts? What could it be?
I expected new tank syndrome but not white flaky type of algae. Or could it be bacterial this early? This is my second tank so I was careful to make sure my mechanical and biological filtration is good.
Every time I shut of my main pump to change the water and then turn it back on, I get this flaky algae type of stuff all over the tank. I noticed it’s coming from the two nozzles but I can’t pinpoint where it’s accumulating. I checked the pump and pump end of the hose and there is nothing slimy growing. Nozzles look clean as well with nothing growing on them. I’m stumped where it could be coming from. My sump is also clean. I inspected the return chamber of the sump and did not notice anything slimy or anything coated on the glass. Same for the rest of the sump. It appears right as soon as I turn the pump on. I’m suspecting it’s in the return piping?
My reefmat 500 is working as it should so it’s catching anything coming into sump but it’s polluting my tank and takes about an hour or two to settle down. Rock is clean. DT glass is clean. I don’t see anything in the DT, just normal brown stage on sand that’s about to clear up.
I’m a bit stumped about this white flaky stuff this early in a tank. I have UV coming early next week to see if it will help.
Skimmer is working as it should. Current nitrates are around 20ppm.
Any thoughts? What could it be?
