gray fuzzy stuff on live rocks

[sicklids]

is this detritus? algae? im not sure what it is but its ugly! what can i get to clean this stuff up? my camera sucks or else i would post pics of it. its all over the top of my rocks. if i pick up the rocks and shake them it will come off

 

[dustin_P74]

could be detritus

 

[sicklids]

would bristle worms eat this stuff? i dont have any, but i did think about adding some. if not what else could i put in there to eat it? snails are out of the question due to the puffer and trigger.

 

[ccCapt]

Hard to say without a pic, but if it covers the top of the rock and shakes off, my guess is cyanobacteria. I don't know of any algae you can just shake off rocks.

 

[Jojo1628]

I think is some kind of algae, I had the same thing earlier, but my turbos clear them within few days and they never came back...snails are your best bet...

 

[sicklids]

well, snails become prey in my tank, so i dont know what im gonna do at this point. heres a pic, you can kinda see it in this one

 

[cthegame]

its hard to tell but my guess would be cyano.

 

[sicklids]

so what do i do about it?

 

[simpleman]

Add more flow. How much circulation do you have?

 

[sicklids]

i only have one powerhead in the 55, that makes sense that i need more flow! i got a real cheap powerhead at that so i probably need more powerheads for sure!

there isnt anything that will eat this stuff though? i mean i know snails do, but they wont make it long in my tank. if i add more flow, then all this crap will be just flowing around in my tank.

 

[dustin_P74]

if i add more flow, then all this crap will be just flowing around in my tank.

and thats where an overflow comes in

 

[yote]

Thats kinda the point of having good flow inside the tank.To keep crap from settling out.If detritus settles on the rock and sand,then your filter and skimmer cant remove it.

 

[sicklids]

i dont have a overflow nor a skimmer at this point, got one ordered, but it on back order. all i have is a hob filter for freshwater. but i guess that would work too huh

 

[dustin_P74]

not very effectively

 

[yote]

i dont have a overflow nor a skimmer at this point, got one ordered, but it on back order. all i have is a hob filter for freshwater. but i guess that would work too huh

Better than whats on it now.
When I started this hobby,I kept my 30 for nearly a year with only an emperor 400 for a filter.
Another thing that will help,When you do a water change,siphon out as much of the crap as you can.

 

[sicklids]

alright, thanks guys! gotta do a water change today so i will be sure to do that! its so dangerous sticking a hand in my tank! 2 lions, a foxface, and a longspine urchin! not to mention the eel!!! fun for me!!!!!

 

[yote]

alright, thanks guys! gotta do a water change today so i will be sure to do that! its so dangerous sticking a hand in my tank! 2 lions, a foxface, and a longspine urchin! not to mention the eel!!! fun for me!!!!!

Its the foxface you gotta watch out for.:shock:

 

[Piggy]

I would siphon the stuff out. Plus add another powerhead.

 

[Piggy]

Its the foxface you gotta watch out for.:shock:

My foxface is a sweety. He'll eat out of my hand.

 

[yote]

Mine would to Piggy.It loved to nibble the hairs on my arms.But thats also what kept getting me stung by him.Too easy to get against those spines.