Rock turning brown color?

[rsvale112]

Hey MR,

So I have a 220 gallon Fish only with one nem, the tank is two months old, and I have only 4 fish in it that I put in only the week ago. But my rock is turning a weird brown color, from what I've looked up I've read it's harmless and is natural with maturing of the tank. I figured it might have to do with phosphates. Tested the water, phosphates are on the high end, everything else was almost perfect. Any ideas??

 

[al0ha]

its going thru the cycle. its perfectly normal....regular water changes w r/o water and it will disappear over time

 

[rsvale112]

Cool Thanks

 

[fishman1069]

Thats called diatoms. As the post above states, its normal for a newer system

 

[tunicata]

Yeah, a diatom bloom.

Did you set up this 220 using water and rock from an established system? Or had you let the tank cycle out for some months prior to aadding the fish and nem?

I am just asking because my first tank set up used a ton of established water and also cured for like 2-3 months and I didn't go through the bloom (and after that I added fish).

My second tank I rushed a bit and it was only when I added in fish that I got the bloom.

 

[Imbarrie]

Are you using RODI?
Where are the phosphates coming from?
Did everything cycle completely?

Nems do not like phosphate, if it gets worse you may notice it affecting the extension of the tentacles.

 

[rsvale112]

I can't get my ro/di to work. So I've been using tap but I treat the water in buckets before pouring into the tank. And I didn't use any water or rock from an established system. I used live sand though, and used bio digest to help cycle the tank.

 

[Deepseabeauti]

Why wont your RO/DI work. Was the best investment I ever bought for my tank. I did use a tap water condition before buying mine though. I have to admit that I was constantly fighting high PO4. After RO/DI it dropped drastically.

 

[rsvale112]

It's hard to describe, and I wasn't the original owner to it though so I'm not sure how it works. If I can't get this one to work I might as well get another.

 

[Imbarrie]

What manufacturer is it?
You should be able to get a schematic of it and make sure it is set up correctly.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

Youve been using tap water get tgat rodi working or buy a new one

 

[Awibrandy]

What happened to your ro/di? It use to work. Have you changed the filters, and the membrane since?

 

[rsvale112]

What happened to your ro/di? It use to work. Have you changed the filters, and the membrane since?

That was probably the only time I saw it working. I can't get the off off at all to change the membrane. I've brought it into my LFS and even they couldn't get it off.

 

[Awibrandy]

Can you post a pic of the "off" you are talking about?

 

[rsvale112]

Lol I meant to say filters. I can't unscrew them to change the membranes.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

Use channel locks....

 

[rsvale112]

Tried, even with that I couldn't get them off.

 

[Widdy]

Try soaking the end cap of the membrane canister in hot water first.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

Yea boil some water and hold the endcap side suspended in water. Im pretty sure you know not to let the plastic touch the metal lol

 

[Awibrandy]

T, mine get a little hard to twist every now, and again. I'll see if I can make it out to you sometime soon. I'll txt you, send me a pm with your availability times.