Re: Ceramic Rings(Mr Aqua) turning almost dark brown/black

**Guo89** · 29th Mar 2013, 03:34

Hi bros, I was just wondering if anyone of you have experience this before:

- ceramic rings having patches of dark brown/black stuffs growing on it to the extent the ceramic ring is almost dark in color instead of white(Mr aqua ceramic rings).

It looks as if the some kind of moulds are growing on it. At the same time, i noticed the surface of water have cloudy/white films forming. I'm not sure if it is some kind of biofilm or not but am sure that it is certainly not oil.

Those white stuffs, if water surface is agitated, will break into many pieces and 'fly' around the tank. I'm just wondering if this has got to do with the brown/black stuffs growing on the ceramic rings?

**stormhawk** · 2nd Apr 2013, 01:28

If you have white film forming, it is from excess proteins in the water along with bacteria feeding on that film. The use of a surface skimmer and more frequent water changes should eliminate this issue.

Black and brown patches on your ceramic rings is a normal occurrence as they show that your media is mature or still in the stages of maturing. These are created by algae and bacteria. After a long time in use, most ceramic rings do not retain their original colors.

**Guo89** · 2nd Apr 2013, 18:49

Hi StormHawk, thanks for the info bro. What puzzles me is the film, which is said to be protein or oils produced by the plants, don't go away even after water changes. They will still form again few hours later after water change. Which is why i'm wondering if the ceramic rings has got to do with it. But seems like not since you said its a sign that they are matured/still maturing.

As for the livestocks, they(low grade crs,tiger shrimp and sakura) will sometimes die for unknown reasons. Meaning, they don't die after a water change or after addition of ferts, they just die off without anything being done when the parameters do not show any changes.

**Draka** · 2nd Apr 2013, 20:14

Is the tank heavily planted with low surface agitation? If surface of tank is constantly covered with a film and there is high livestock/plant sometimes there will be pH drop from accumulation of carbon dioxide during the night. That fluctuation could stress shrimp into dying even when parameters seem normal during the day.

**stormhawk** · 3rd Apr 2013, 00:30

If you are dosing the tank, check for the presence of copper or aluminium in your fertiliser, which will cause deaths to your inverts, especially sensitive shrimp.

I used to have this protein film in a smaller tank, which basically meant that I had poor filtration and inadequate water circulation and surface agitation for that particular tank. It was not a CO2 dosed tank, just a simple gravel bottom with Java moss for breeding my fish. You might want to look into those areas first, just in case. Here's a link for you, that explains very simply what this surface "scum" actually is:

http://www.aquariumalgae.blogspot.sg/

Snails love this film though, especially those Physa and Ramshorn snails.

**Guo89** · 3rd Apr 2013, 00:36

Hi Draka, its a 1ft nano tank. There is no Co2 injection, only excel. As for plants, there is the HC, nana, christmas moss andNymphoides aquatica('banana' plant) . The filter used is a HOB filter which i think generates alot of surface agitation, but the film doesnt go away.

Thanks for bringing up the point of ph fluctuation, i guess it might be the reason for the mysterious deaths. Is there any way i can solve this problem? Re-plant the whole tank?

**Guo89** · 3rd Apr 2013, 00:45

Hi bro Stormhawk, thanks for the link, it is an interesting site. I will try to look into those areas first and see what happens. I think for such a small tank, there should be adequate circulation. As for dosing of ferts, i only use excel daily, and tetra flora pride(once a week). This particular tank is infested with BBA as i didnt dose excel for a period of time due to busy schedule and i think the light is strong for such small tank(aquazonic 2x T5, i think 7w each? )

**Guo89** · 3rd Apr 2013, 00:57

IMG-20130403-WA0001.jpg
Tank after water change.

. IMG-20130402-WA0000.jpg
The layer of film.

**Draka** · 3rd Apr 2013, 05:12

Hmm the dosage of excel seems to me to potentially be the problem. I've always found the recommended dosage to kill off a few shrimp now and then. By the way I meant carbon dioxide accumulation from the lifestock and plants alone, since that's trapped by the layer and without photosynthesis is just going to accumulate and bring down the pH. Hope this helps!