babypimpin
11-21-2004, 5:42 AM
Hey guys, I recently changed from a old tank to a new tank...and i moved all my rocks, shells from my old tank to my new tank...this new tanks been set up for about 3 weeks to a month now...and the rock/slate shells are becoming oxidized...at least i think its oxidized...its just turning into a rusty color....why is that?? I had my old tank for about 11 months and i never had this problem with the rocks turning color in that tank...
what could be causing this discolouration...and is it harmful for the fish? what could i do to prevent it?
thanks guys
Nick
victimizati0n
11-21-2004, 8:30 AM
it could be red algae.
If the tank in a different place than the old one?
Blinky
11-21-2004, 10:19 AM
A little story about dangerous rocks:
I bought some gravel from a strange little LFS once - I'd gone looking at several stores and couldn't find the colour of natural gravel I wanted, and happened on this place by chance. The gravel looked sort of beige, but on close inspection it was a whitish colour with fine brown streaks.
I set the tank up, cycled, put the fish in, and they started to die, one by one - water parameters were good (NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 5-10, PO4 0.25), with regular water changes, the fish were compatible and the tank wasn't overstocked. I lost most of the fish over the course of about six months. They'd just get sickly, and then die - no diseases, just sickly. If I hadn't had a very healthy second tank, I would have assumed I was just no good at this hobby any more and probably quit - any fish I got to replace those that had died, also died. I nearly lost my mind!
Eventually I realized it must be something in the tank, and moved the remaining fish into my 45g. I decided to tear down the 20g and see what I could find - when I took out the gravel, there was rust all over the bottom of the aquarium. The bottom glass was covered in it! I couldn't believe my eyes, until I took a very close look at the gravel, and saw that much of what had been on the bottom was rusty.
The tank and the gravel went out to the curb (I couldn't get the rust off the bottom without a jackhammer, and really didn't want to keep the little chamber of death in my house anyway). I set up my old 10g with gravel from a big, reputable store, cycled it, and the fish are doing great.
The moral of my little rant: I know very little about rocks, but if you see rust, I suggest you remove that rock from your tank right away.
On the other hand, it could be algae - if you can remove it with your hand and it's slimy, it's just algae.
Slappy*McFish
11-21-2004, 2:46 PM
Yeah, I'm thinking it's brown algae/diatoms. It should come right off.
babypimpin
11-21-2004, 5:54 PM
how do i get rid of it if its brown algae/diatoms? should i just leave it? or do i just wipe them off...
thanks