ID please

[mixedreef89]

ID please. It's whiteish brown. Growing on top of my powerhead. Fungus?

 

[Oxylebius]

It may be fungal or a bacterial mat. Sometimes these grow on the back of rocks and you will never know it is there, so it really isn't something to worry about.

Or it may possibly be Chrysophytes, a marine silicate based algae, which if it has become a problem within your aquarium, reducing the amount of dissolved silicates and other nutrients will help to reduce it or at least keep it from dominating the aquarium.

Since it is on a powerhead, you can easily take the powerhead out of the tank and clean it off.

 

[mixedreef89]

So how do silicates get introduced into the tank?. Tank has been running for about a year.

 

[NanaReefer]

Silicates are in EVERYTHING! Sand, plastic, glass, water just to name a few. Old RO/DI filters, new pump added, water storage containers, new dry uncured rock added. If you've done any of these, can cause a Diatom bloom. Even disturbing your SB can cause one.

 

[frisbee]

So how do silicates get introduced into the tank?. Tank has been running for about a year.

Check this out.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/1/aafeature1

HTH.

 

[mixedreef89]

Thanks for the link. I have cleaned my tank to the best of my ability. Time will tell.