What is this

[Dstyles]

What is this brown/beige stuff on my LR and should I be overly concerned?   To me it looks like some sort of debris but don't know?  Any help would be appreciated.

[ohioreef]

Looks like a build up of debris. Have you tried squirting it with a turkey baster or fanning your hand near it to see if it blows off?

[Dstyles]

Yes.  It will blow and/or rub off.  Is it harmful? What can I do to get rid of it and stop it?

[ohioreef]

Yes.  It will blow and/or rub off.  Is it harmful? What can I do to get rid of it and stop it?

Adjust your flow so it blows the debris off the rock.

[Dstyles]

I read up on the Dinoflagellates and it doesn't have the same characteristics.  But to be safe I am going to try the specific cures the article calls for.  First and foremost, I will set up my phosband reactor as soon as I get from work tomorrow.  If I didn't have to get up at 4 in the morning, I'd be working on it now.  I will also begin to raise my PH which is currently at 8.2.  I checked around 4 oclock today.  I heard someone say it is always something with this saltwater!  Everyone told me this hobby was much more work than cichlids but it is still much more rewarding too! LL, I am going to try to beat it.

[larrynews]

are you talking about the stiff that looks like dirty cotton balls if so i have that in mine for 5 years usually on the bottom of the rocks out of the light, never noticed it doing anything to the tank. i would not get all worked up over it, but thats just me

[lazylivin]

Here is the article on Dinoflagellates

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-11/rhf/index.php

[MechanicalEngineer]

That's not dinoflagellates, but setting up a phosban reactor probably won't hurt.  How are your nitrates and phosphates testing?  Looks like a form of algae with debris on it.  

[ohioreef]

are you talking about the stiff that looks like dirty cotton balls

Those are probably sponges. Very good to have!

[Dstyles]

That's not dinoflagellates, but setting up a phosban reactor probably won't hurt.  How are your nitrates and phosphates testing?  Looks like a form of algae with debris on it.  

Nitrates are great just tested 0.  I do not have a test kit for phosphates will be getting one tomorrow from LFS.  It does look like dirty cotton balls, yes. 

[Bigmoo]

I agree with the build up of detrius and the like. I used to have a lot of it as well, just knock it off.

[Dstyles]

are you talking about the stiff that looks like dirty cotton balls if so i have that in mine for 5 years usually on the bottom of the rocks out of the light, never noticed it doing anything to the tank. i would not get all worked up over it, but thats just me

It is on the back of the rocks but I have noticed a few little spots are now on the fron of one or two rocks.  I am going to adjust my flow and do the other stuff I talked about earlier to see what happnes.  You know us newbies or shall I say me, when I see something out of the ordinary, looking a little bit different, I start to get paranoid.  I don't want everything I have to crash and die.  I haven't been around the block much in this hobby. 

[larrynews]

i understands i made may mistakes when i started and still do, but i do redirect my flow every now and then, probably more than i should when i see build up of debris or stuff like that. but if the water is testing ok i wont panic, not yet there will be times for that...j/k

[Dstyles]

i understands i made may mistakes when i started and still do, but i do redirect my flow every now and then, probably more than i should when i see build up of debris or stuff like that. but if the water is testing ok i wont panic, not yet there will be times for that...j/k

Yep, water tests fine and I certainly anticpate my share of foul ups!  Thanks for the info.  Thanks to all who weighed in.  And If anyone else has some more info, please, keep it coming.  Thanks again.