Why Did My Live Rock turn Brown?

[Reef ~ Freak]

With in the last few weeks, most of the live rock in my tank has turned brown. Any ideas?

[HORTON16]

algae?

[amcarrig]

Sounds like either diatoms or dinoflagellates. Does the brown stuff look dusty or snotty? Is this a new tank?

[Reef ~ Freak]

The tank is about 4 months old. I'm not sure if it is algae or not. I added a coral beauty and a six line wrasse about a month ago, and then in the last few weeks it's started to develop. If it is algae, what is the best way to treat?

[Marty]

Originally Posted by Reef ~ Freak

The tank is about 4 months old. I'm not sure if it is algae or not. I added a coral beauty and a six line wrasse about a month ago, and then in the last few weeks it's started to develop. If it is algae, what is the best way to treat?

Water changes, smaller feedings, more flow, hermits, snails. All these will help. :O)

[HORTON16]

yea my tank had an algae break out and the mexican turbos took care of it an a day or two

[Reef ~ Freak]

it does look kinda of dusty....and the reason i became concerned is that my clown fish have been acting peculiar by swimming really low and in the same place, compared to swimming all over like normal....and also by coral beauty, who is still acting fine, it seems like the algae is sticking to her, like a light dusting of it, she also seems to eat it by picking at the rock.....is that typical? I have 2 snails, and a coral banded shrimp. Would a hermit and the shrimp be ok together?

[Marty]

2 snails isn't enougth for a 90. I use about 1 snail per 5 gallons. Same with hermits. They pick over my tank. If you lose a few the food supply should balance out a bit for them.

[mattgeezer]

are your lights on for too long?

[feixjai]

Make sure you test your topoff water also. Sometimes people find that their topoff water has phosphates in it