I’ve noticed my newly mixed saltwater having some brown “stuff” in it lately. Tried rinsing and wiping away the brown build up on the walls of the container (nfs brute can), but it came back after a couple mixes. The last water change I did on my 55 g seemed to tick off my Duncan and hammer which is really why I’m here, I want to avoid any damage! They were fine after a day and no fish showed signs of distress but I’d still like to discuss!
main concerns/questions: why the brown “stuff”? Is it harmful? Can I prevent it? Any idea why my Duncan and hammer reacted poorly to my last water change?
so! Here’s some info:
first, I use instant ocean sea salt or reef crystals (been back and forth as I got buckets of each when buying equipment). home RODI system test 0 TDS. I have mixed with an air pump in the past, (very vigorous mixing!) however I’m using a powerhead right now. The water smells fine and is not discolored when in a clear plastic pitcher. Salt is definitely dissolved. This particular batch pictured below, has been mixing for 7 days. Typically I mix and use within 48 hours, however I wanted to see if longer mixing affected this at all!
55 g stocked with 2 clowns, 1 banggai, and 1 gold head goby. Mixed corals (including the Duncan and hammer I mentioned). 5 months old.
Nitrate 20 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
pH 8.0
Ammonia 0
O2 6
KH 11.6
Temp 77.7
Salinity 1.026
Calcium 537
Mg 1580
Phosphates .25
Silicate .25
130g stocked with 2 clowns, scopas tang, purple tang, peppermint shrimp, fighting conch. Mixed corals. 3 months old.
Nitrate 3 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
pH 7.8
Ammonia 0
O2 7
KH 8.9
Temp 79.4
Salinity 1.026
Calcium 572
My 1680
Phosphates 0
Silicate 0
newly mixed saltwater
Nitrates 0 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
pH 8.0
Ammonia 0
O2 7
KH 12.5
Temp 77.3
Salinity 1.026
Calcium 510
Mg 174
Phosphates 0
Silicate 0
main concerns/questions: why the brown “stuff”? Is it harmful? Can I prevent it? Any idea why my Duncan and hammer reacted poorly to my last water change?
so! Here’s some info:
first, I use instant ocean sea salt or reef crystals (been back and forth as I got buckets of each when buying equipment). home RODI system test 0 TDS. I have mixed with an air pump in the past, (very vigorous mixing!) however I’m using a powerhead right now. The water smells fine and is not discolored when in a clear plastic pitcher. Salt is definitely dissolved. This particular batch pictured below, has been mixing for 7 days. Typically I mix and use within 48 hours, however I wanted to see if longer mixing affected this at all!
55 g stocked with 2 clowns, 1 banggai, and 1 gold head goby. Mixed corals (including the Duncan and hammer I mentioned). 5 months old.
Nitrate 20 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
pH 8.0
Ammonia 0
O2 6
KH 11.6
Temp 77.7
Salinity 1.026
Calcium 537
Mg 1580
Phosphates .25
Silicate .25
130g stocked with 2 clowns, scopas tang, purple tang, peppermint shrimp, fighting conch. Mixed corals. 3 months old.
Nitrate 3 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
pH 7.8
Ammonia 0
O2 7
KH 8.9
Temp 79.4
Salinity 1.026
Calcium 572
My 1680
Phosphates 0
Silicate 0
newly mixed saltwater
Nitrates 0 ppm
Nitrite 0 ppm
pH 8.0
Ammonia 0
O2 7
KH 12.5
Temp 77.3
Salinity 1.026
Calcium 510
Mg 174
Phosphates 0
Silicate 0