Adding Coraline Algae before Ugly phase

[pochitafish]

As the title says, I’m thinking if it would work to add Coraline Algae to my tank before the “Ugly phase” can kick in, my tank has been going on for about a month and a half now, let me know why this would not work or what would you recommend or any extra tips, I’ve been expecting the ugly phase since I added my first fish(green chromis) around the first week of August on the third, I currently have 1 Halloween hermit and 5 Nassarius snails and have added copepods, my Ammonia is <.25(as low as my IPA test kit goes) and my nitrites are 0 and nitrates are around the 20ppm and Ph is constant 8

 

[smitten with ocean life]

#reefsquad

 

[dvgyfresh]

Coralline algae loves stability , if you have not hit the ugly phase yet I would hold off, maybe add some snails/ hermits with coraline all over the shell. I also have had success just asking for extra coraline scraped from tank in your local lfs, no need to spend $ to get it

 

[tbrown]

Adding coralline won't necessarily skip the ugly phase. After the ugly phase is over you can consider adding some more, but as mentioned above, buy a coral frag with coralline on the plug or a rock that has some or ask someone to scrape some to donate to your tank.

 

[pochitafish]

Coralline algae loves stability , if you have not hit the ugly phase yet I would hold off, maybe add some snails/ hermits with coraline all over the shell. I also have had success just asking for extra coraline scraped from tank in your local lfs, no need to spend $ to get it

Okay thank you, will try that out! :)

 

[CBonito]

I thought I was a smooth criminal last year when my ugly phase didn't start for a while...then I put corals in and it started! There is no way to get around it. The ugly phase hides in wait peeking around the corner waiting for you to make one expensive dummy move and that's when it strikes. Put a torch head in there for bait...ugly phases love them.

 

[W31Olds]

I added some of that bottled Coralline after 2 months or so and it did not propagate even though I had maybe 50 lbs of gulf live rock.

 

[CBonito]

I added some of that bottled Coralline after 2 months or so and it did not propagate even though I had maybe 50 lbs of gulf live rock.

Yeah, I tried 2 bottles of that stuff...I didn't even get the lousy tshirt.
I think we got Kool Aided...

 

[Red_Beard]

I tried this approach, the coraline in a bottle from arc reef, i used 1 pink and 1 purple. I did get a few spots of coraline started, but it did not do anything to prevent the uglies. The new tank is not stabile enough really for it to be able to out compete the other stuff at that stage.

 

[CBonito]

I tried this approach, the coraline in a bottle from arc reef, i used 1 pink and 1 purple. I did get a few spots of coraline started, but it did not do anything to prevent the uglies. The new tank is not stabile enough really for it to be able to out compete the other stuff at that stage.

I've just made it a practice to not throw bottles of stuff in my tank anymore. I can make my own "deionized water" too you know!

I have it in the weirs of my overflow and on my returns. It only seems to like certain tanks with certain lighting anyway and back before all this stuff in a bottle appeared, I had more of it on everything than ever before.

I remember compact flourescents. Coralline loved those bulbs.

 

[pochitafish]

I thought I was a smooth criminal last year when my ugly phase didn't start for a while...then I put corals in and it started! There is no way to get around it. The ugly phase hides in wait peeking around the corner waiting for you to make one expensive dummy move and that's when it strikes. Put a torch head in there for bait...ugly phases love them.

Just got home from work and I had my flow pump off overnight and while I was at work to let my newly added Rock Nem to settle in, and I think what you said couldn’t have been more true, after inspecting my tank I noticed these Brown/Orange Spots on my rock, although I thought diatoms are mainly brown but these look kind of orange? Unless since the color of the rock is messing with it :p First pic was from 2 weeks ago, second was right now

 

[dvgyfresh]

Just got home from work and I had my flow pump off overnight and while I was at work to let my newly added Rock Nem to settle in, and I think what you said couldn’t have been more true, after inspecting my tank I noticed these Brown/Orange Spots on my rock, although I thought diatoms are mainly brown but these look kind of orange? Unless since the color of the rock is messing with it :p First pic was from 2 weeks ago, second was right now

It will get uglier, don’t panic it’s a right of passage lol just take things slow don’t overreact and remember the uglies is a phase

 

[CBonito]

It will get uglier, don’t panic it’s a right of passage lol just take things slow don’t overreact and remember the uglies is a phase

Exactly.

 

[reefpanda]

As what the others have mentioned, don't worry about the ugly stages. Once everything is established and stable, the coraline algae will come naturally and most importantly, have fun with the tank

 

[W31Olds]

I've got some of those brownish patches in my Tank also. They appear brown under blue lighting but are probably some sort of cyano.

 

[X-37B]

Get a couple small rocks from the lfs that have Coralline on them.
Scraping work well also.
The more coralline in the system to begin with the faster it wil spread in your system.
You will see it appear on the back wall or powerheads first.
Once it starts to spot you know your system is ready for coral.
Live rock starts avoid 90% of the uglies as opposed to dead rock starts.

 

[BryanM]

As the title says, I’m thinking if it would work to add Coraline Algae to my tank before the “Ugly phase” can kick in, my tank has been going on for about a month and a half now, let me know why this would not work or what would you recommend or any extra tips, I’ve been expecting the ugly phase since I added my first fish(green chromis) around the first week of August on the third, I currently have 1 Halloween hermit and 5 Nassarius snails and have added copepods, my Ammonia is <.25(as low as my IPA test kit goes) and my nitrites are 0 and nitrates are around the 20ppm and Ph is constant 8

I think the only reliable way to short cut the ugly phase is starting tanks with ocean live rock.

 

[X-37B]

I think the only reliable way to short cut the ugly phase is starting tanks with ocean live rock.

Yes exactly. As a reference I started my old 120 with 50/50 live and caribsea. The caribsea rock got the uglies not the live rock.

 

[tbrown]

I think the only reliable way to short cut the ugly phase is starting tanks with ocean live rock.

Yes exactly. As a reference I started my old 120 with 50/50 live and caribsea. The caribsea rock got the uglies not the live rock.

Using live rock and/or live sand, using water from an existing/established system, using media from an established/existing system helps get the nitrogen cycle jump started and will typically skip most (if not all) of the ugly phase.

 

[Reef Puncher]

Okay thank you, will try that out!

He is right, it wont skip the ugly stage but i always always recommend to add corraline because once your tank is stabilizing, the corraline will help keep dino's away. in my tank, whereever corraline is, dino isnt. diatoms are better to have than dino too, so keep those nutrients high and light low during and pre, ugly stage. **** i would even encourage diatoms during this stage by adding silicates. anything is better than dino explosions.