Diatoms? Ugly phase?

[jdivz87]

What’s up fam!

Not sure if a diatom blood or whatnot but never had an ugly phase like this?

Tank fully cycled after 2 months (waited longer to add) 3/16

Ideas? Suggestions please and thank you

 

[Jekyl]

Just the tip of the iceberg. My uglies didn't even really get going until around month 6.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Get some good CUC! Some sand sifters for sure. Also get some copepods

 

[Dan_P]

What’s up fam!

Not sure if a diatom blood or whatnot but never had an ugly phase like this?

Tank fully cycled after 2 months (waited longer to add) 3/16

Ideas? Suggestions please and thank you

Maybe if we called the “uglies” the “algae biome phase” they would feel better about it. Then there would be new fad products to feed and nurture it.

Anyway, all new surfaces develop a visible algae biofilm. What grows on it is influenced by abiotic stuff like light intensity, water flow, nutrition levels and biotic stuff like what microorganisms are introduced. There is a stochastic effect, like birth and death, that adds an element of chance to the process of biofilm development. Generally, things start out orderly, organic film deposit, bacteria growth, diatom growth, but soon the number of possible development trajectories become innumerable and the “uglies” take off in many directions and starting at different times. There are many ideas out there about what to do. Give them a try.

 

[Lavey29]

Looks like normal new tank diatoms to me. Should go away in a few weeks.