Live rocks "died"?!

Fab The Fish · 02/20/2017, 02:44 PM

Hi I am pretty new to the hobby. I have got a 14g biocube to start off. I got everything set up for 2 months now, I have 1 clownfish, a coral frag and a anemone. I added dry rock to my tank but put live rock in my filter and I put some stuff in the tank to make it live. After 3 weeks the rocks started doing good and turning brownish with stuff for my crabs and snails to eat etc. but then it stopped, the rock went back to whiteish color and my live rocks did too! What happened?? Did I do something that made it all stop growing or is this normal? Plz help me!

Thanks Fab

mcgyvr · 02/20/2017, 02:46 PM

100% Normal..
The brown is "diatoms" which are very common in a new tank and will disappear fairly quickly as the excessive silicates are consumed by the diatoms..
Once the silicates are gone the diatoms have no food and as such die out..

Typically then you will start to get green film/hair algae.. then even some cyano bacteria..
Its all normal as the tank is "maturing" and provided you keep nutrients (nitrates/phosphates) low they will go away too..

stelliofleondis · 02/20/2017, 02:47 PM

Ur tank will cycle from white to brown to green to purple just the stages of the algae

Fab The Fish · 02/20/2017, 02:49 PM

Fewf!

I was worried that my crabs and snails would have nothing to eat and die!

mcgyvr · 02/20/2017, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fab The Fish

Fewf!

I was worried that my crabs and snails would have nothing to eat and die!

Thats always a possibility still.. But not too likely on a new tank from a newbie

Sk8r · 02/20/2017, 04:54 PM

Set your parameters to what I have in my sig line and hold them there 24/7. It will make things a lot easier.

ericarenee · 02/20/2017, 05:01 PM

I AGREE With everyone above and will add it appears your doing quite well..

Welcome to Reef Central

Fab The Fish · 02/20/2017, 06:50 PM

Wow! Thank all of you for the help I wasn't expecting so much advice! This forum is quite helpful

!!

Braves95 · 02/20/2017, 07:08 PM

When it comes to your CUC I would add slowly so the food source is not depleted. For example a lot of the suggestions are 1 hermit per gallon...this is maybe true for an established tank but not a new one. Otherwise you will quickly notice a lot of empty shells.

02/20/2017, 02:44 PM	#1
Fab The Fish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 6	Live rocks "died"?! Hi I am pretty new to the hobby. I have got a 14g biocube to start off. I got everything set up for 2 months now, I have 1 clownfish, a coral frag and a anemone. I added dry rock to my tank but put live rock in my filter and I put some stuff in the tank to make it live. After 3 weeks the rocks started doing good and turning brownish with stuff for my crabs and snails to eat etc. but then it stopped, the rock went back to whiteish color and my live rocks did too! What happened?? Did I do something that made it all stop growing or is this normal? Plz help me! Thanks Fab

02/20/2017, 02:46 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	100% Normal.. The brown is "diatoms" which are very common in a new tank and will disappear fairly quickly as the excessive silicates are consumed by the diatoms.. Once the silicates are gone the diatoms have no food and as such die out.. Typically then you will start to get green film/hair algae.. then even some cyano bacteria.. Its all normal as the tank is "maturing" and provided you keep nutrients (nitrates/phosphates) low they will go away too.. __________________ Who me?

02/20/2017, 02:47 PM	#3
stelliofleondis Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 118	Ur tank will cycle from white to brown to green to purple just the stages of the algae __________________ 75 Gal DT, 30 gal sump happy to say this is only my first tank soon they will be wall to wall! When life gives you aiptasia feed your copperband with it...

02/20/2017, 04:54 PM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Set your parameters to what I have in my sig line and hold them there 24/7. It will make things a lot easier. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/20/2017, 05:01 PM	#7
ericarenee Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Louisville Kentucky Posts: 3,110	I AGREE With everyone above and will add it appears your doing quite well.. Welcome to Reef Central __________________ 240+G Mixed BB Reef tank.. 350 G Marine Pond. And the expensive stuff that runs it. Chic's are for Chic's You silly men Go Fishing or something... Current Tank Info: 240= gal Reef /550 Gallon Saltwater pond 72 G Bay front Tropical aquarium

02/20/2017, 02:49 PM	#4
Fab The Fish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 6	Fewf! I was worried that my crabs and snails would have nothing to eat and die!

02/20/2017, 06:50 PM	#8
Fab The Fish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 6	Wow! Thank all of you for the help I wasn't expecting so much advice! This forum is quite helpful !!

02/20/2017, 07:08 PM	#9
Braves95 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: N.E. Florida Posts: 55	When it comes to your CUC I would add slowly so the food source is not depleted. For example a lot of the suggestions are 1 hermit per gallon...this is maybe true for an established tank but not a new one. Otherwise you will quickly notice a lot of empty shells.