hi i need ur help!!

Question
hello i should set up a salt water tank about a month ago, i brought the live coral rocks already, and i already had a regular filter. i haven't brought the protein skimmer or the fishes as yet but will do so soon. But on the bottom of the tank on the sand some kind of dark brown substance is forming, can you please let me know what i can do to fix that? Is it because the tank does not have the protein skimmer?

Answer
Hello Noresa,

I assume you bought LIVE ROCK, not coral rocks.  (not sure what coral rocks are, maybe dead skeletons??)

Also, there is no such thing as a 'regular' filter or for that matter, REGULAR anything... most everything is unique...

if you mean 'cannister' filter. then ok... but most reef tanks use a 'sump/refugium' setup instead of a cannister filter... if you have a cannister filter, you will need to clean it weekly, or bi-weekly, and replace the sponges evey two months... and dont use the bio balls/beads)

as for the brown stuff on the bottom, I would like to get the water parameters from you, and more info about your setup..

what type of lightng do you have, and how long is it on..  What is the average temperature duringhte day, and night...

What is the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels???

What is the salinity?

What type of maintenance do you do?  Water top off???/ Water changes??? etc...

As for your stuff, I believe it may have to do with your tank being newer, and or maybe new lights or bulbs...

It may als  be realated to the average temperature is actually higher during the summer then winter, so your tank maybe a bit warmern tehn normal...

but wiothhout the specific info, I may not be able to help you further then this...

Please let me know ans we can carry on from there.


good luck, bill