Please Help! Mystery Outbreak covering all my rock!

LiquidAquariums · 02/15/2016, 07:14 AM

Hi.

I've been having an issue with this 300G SW tank in a commercial location that I maintain. I've never had this before and anyone I've asked in the hobby including the LFS don't have an answer. Please help me eliminate this and finish creating a beautiful reef! See attached picture:

LiquidAquariums · 02/15/2016, 07:25 AM

Close up

Dkuhlmann · 02/15/2016, 07:26 AM

What is a full list of parameters

Reefstarter2 · 02/15/2016, 07:34 AM

I don'tknow the name of it but have seen it before . A foxface Lo will eat it and it doesn't go away easy . Lots of water changes , manual removal and the fish I suggested should get it in a few months . tough luck . hope you get a better answer

LiquidAquariums · 02/15/2016, 07:37 AM

I will check again today but last week there were traces of nitrates, 0 ammonia, salinity 1.025, ph 7.5, running a Vertex Alpha 250 and Ecotech accessory equipment.

LiquidAquariums · 02/15/2016, 07:39 AM

I don't usually test for much more than those parameters.

LiquidAquariums · 02/15/2016, 07:41 AM

It's kind of a rubbery bubbly type of thing. Frustrating as it started to show after adding Reefer Stability a couple months ago. Covering all coralline algae and looks terrible.

Dkuhlmann · 02/15/2016, 08:10 AM

You need to also test for Mg, Ca and Alk. I've also seen this before but don't remember what it was nor the outcome.

LiquidAquariums · 02/15/2016, 08:17 AM

I will test everything again today and report back later with a current photo as well

Dkuhlmann · 02/15/2016, 09:39 AM

My reason for doing the testing is that something is fueling that growth, at least with the tests you can eliminate from there what is good and what isn't.

Is there any kind of dosing going on in this tank?

my300reef · 02/15/2016, 09:56 AM

Is there any form of phosphate removal (reactor) ? What were the phosphates before this broke out?

LiquidAquariums · 02/15/2016, 10:05 AM

There have never been any phosphates. No dosing. The tank is 6 months old, no reactor

moatdaddy · 02/15/2016, 12:41 PM

you using tap water? is there a sump? how are you exporting fish poop and excess food?

fishchef · 02/15/2016, 12:45 PM

Actually hard to see. Does it look like a polyp?

BigCountry74 · 02/15/2016, 01:08 PM

Cotton Candy algae?

LiquidAquariums · 02/15/2016, 08:13 PM

I have a 45G sump with a Vertex Alpha 250, filter socks, only RO water

LiquidAquariums · 02/15/2016, 09:00 PM

There has been some issues with cloudiness over the past few months and I have been adding this Stability. It works well to remove the cloudiness with in a day or two completely, but I also feel like thats when I started seeing this brown stuff on the rocks. I guess you could say I have been dosing it on and off every couple weeks to control the cloudiness which also is a mystery at this point.

chilli_reef · 02/15/2016, 10:08 PM

Google live rock fungus.

LiquidAquariums · 02/15/2016, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chilli_reef

Google live rock fungus.

Sorry, Googled it but couldn't find a match...

LiquidAquariums · 02/15/2016, 11:07 PM

Ok, here are the current parameters:

Salinity - 1.026
Ammonia - 0
Nitrates - 0
pH - 8
Calc - 430
Alk - 6

The more I think about it, I am thinking the issue may come from bacteria from Stability causing this bond to the rocks. But what I don't understand is, where is all the de-nitrifying bacteria coming from? Hopefully there are more answers out there!

Dkuhlmann · 02/16/2016, 04:32 AM

LOL I asked earlier if you were dosing anything and you said no.

Also need to see Mg, I think the tanks that had a similar problem to this one had very low Mg.

Yes I do think the Stability could be in part or completely your problem.

LiquidAquariums · 02/17/2016, 06:40 AM

I will post Mg results later today

Flippers4pups · 02/17/2016, 06:57 AM

Had same thing, just not as bad. Dosed algaefix and it cleared up.

LiquidAquariums · 02/17/2016, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flippers4pups

Had same thing, just not as bad. Dosed algaefix and it cleared up.

How long did it take to clear up?

Greatwhitetang · 02/17/2016, 07:06 PM

Magnesium.. If this is low and your alk is low .. Ide think its from the bacterial dosing in this environment. @ 6 months with all that rock your tank should be plenty cycled. What salt are you using seen similar symptoms from bad salt as well

02/15/2016, 07:26 AM	#3
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	What is a full list of parameters __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

02/15/2016, 08:10 AM	#8
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	You need to also test for Mg, Ca and Alk. I've also seen this before but don't remember what it was nor the outcome. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

02/15/2016, 09:39 AM	#10
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	My reason for doing the testing is that something is fueling that growth, at least with the tests you can eliminate from there what is good and what isn't. Is there any kind of dosing going on in this tank? __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

02/15/2016, 01:08 PM	#15
BigCountry74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,761	Cotton Candy algae? __________________ 135g mixed reef (retired) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815 Current 40g reef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483250 Current Tank Info: 40g bare bottom reef

02/15/2016, 08:13 PM	#16
LiquidAquariums Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Regina, SK, CAN Posts: 52	I have a 45G sump with a Vertex Alpha 250, filter socks, only RO water Last edited by LiquidAquariums; 02/15/2016 at 08:54 PM.

02/15/2016, 07:34 AM	#4
Reefstarter2 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 295	I don'tknow the name of it but have seen it before . A foxface Lo will eat it and it doesn't go away easy . Lots of water changes , manual removal and the fish I suggested should get it in a few months . tough luck . hope you get a better answer

02/15/2016, 07:37 AM	#5
LiquidAquariums Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Regina, SK, CAN Posts: 52	I will check again today but last week there were traces of nitrates, 0 ammonia, salinity 1.025, ph 7.5, running a Vertex Alpha 250 and Ecotech accessory equipment.

02/15/2016, 07:39 AM	#6
LiquidAquariums Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Regina, SK, CAN Posts: 52	I don't usually test for much more than those parameters.

02/15/2016, 07:41 AM	#7
LiquidAquariums Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Regina, SK, CAN Posts: 52	It's kind of a rubbery bubbly type of thing. Frustrating as it started to show after adding Reefer Stability a couple months ago. Covering all coralline algae and looks terrible.

02/15/2016, 08:17 AM	#9
LiquidAquariums Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Regina, SK, CAN Posts: 52	I will test everything again today and report back later with a current photo as well

02/15/2016, 09:56 AM	#11
my300reef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Dallas, GA Posts: 26	Is there any form of phosphate removal (reactor) ? What were the phosphates before this broke out?

02/15/2016, 10:05 AM	#12
LiquidAquariums Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Regina, SK, CAN Posts: 52	There have never been any phosphates. No dosing. The tank is 6 months old, no reactor

02/15/2016, 12:41 PM	#13
moatdaddy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Panama City beach florida Posts: 848	you using tap water? is there a sump? how are you exporting fish poop and excess food?

02/15/2016, 12:45 PM	#14
fishchef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,222	Actually hard to see. Does it look like a polyp?

02/15/2016, 09:00 PM	#17
LiquidAquariums Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Regina, SK, CAN Posts: 52	There has been some issues with cloudiness over the past few months and I have been adding this Stability. It works well to remove the cloudiness with in a day or two completely, but I also feel like thats when I started seeing this brown stuff on the rocks. I guess you could say I have been dosing it on and off every couple weeks to control the cloudiness which also is a mystery at this point.

02/15/2016, 10:08 PM	#18
chilli_reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Chillicothe Ohio Posts: 468	Google live rock fungus. __________________ "But did you die !" Current Tank Info: 75g nondrilled reef.

02/15/2016, 11:07 PM	#20
LiquidAquariums Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Regina, SK, CAN Posts: 52	Ok, here are the current parameters: Salinity - 1.026 Ammonia - 0 Nitrates - 0 pH - 8 Calc - 430 Alk - 6 The more I think about it, I am thinking the issue may come from bacteria from Stability causing this bond to the rocks. But what I don't understand is, where is all the de-nitrifying bacteria coming from? Hopefully there are more answers out there!

02/16/2016, 04:32 AM	#21
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	LOL I asked earlier if you were dosing anything and you said no. Also need to see Mg, I think the tanks that had a similar problem to this one had very low Mg. Yes I do think the Stability could be in part or completely your problem. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

02/17/2016, 06:40 AM	#22
LiquidAquariums Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Regina, SK, CAN Posts: 52	I will post Mg results later today

02/17/2016, 06:57 AM	#23
Flippers4pups Home made abyss Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lake Saint Louis, MO Posts: 2,047	Had same thing, just not as bad. Dosed algaefix and it cleared up. __________________ Don Reefing since 1993 Current Tank info: 125 gallon DT , 125 gallon basement sump. Rw 15 & Rw 8. Panworld 150ps return. Reef Octopus 150 skimmer, 3 165w mars aqua led.

02/17/2016, 07:06 PM	#25
Greatwhitetang Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: AKron, OH Posts: 22	Magnesium.. If this is low and your alk is low .. Ide think its from the bacterial dosing in this environment. @ 6 months with all that rock your tank should be plenty cycled. What salt are you using seen similar symptoms from bad salt as well