www.reef2reef.com
www.reef2reef.com
Thank you so much!!!! I’ll be sure I check that out!! So far it only seems to grow in the glass and sand, it’s like brownish red but just cleaning the glass and it goes away for a couple days then starts growing again! Thank you for the advice!!!Welcome to Reef2Reef!
#WelcometoR2R
Your tank looks very good, minus the ugly algae
This is nothing unusual. If your tank is relatively new, this is likely diatoms that tend to run their course on their own, and in a short period of time they will no longer be an issue. They consume silicates in the water, and once the silicates are depleted, the diatoms will die out
You may then see some brown, stringy dinoflagellate algae, in fact you may have some already, it's difficult to tell from pics. Dinos are a bit more of a stubborn pest, but they too often just run their course and go away, though it takes much longer (many (sometime very many!) months) for that to happen. For that reason, reefers do take steps to counter the dinos.
There's more than one species of dinoflagellate algae that we see in tanks, and the "best" or maybe the most precise way to treat them is to first identify what you're dealing with under a microscope. You don't need a laboratory quality, scanning electron microscope, many reefers literally use a $30 kid's toy microscope. Hold your phone's camera up to the eyepiece for surprisingly good pictures that you can then post here on R2R for confirmation of what critter you're dealing with. If you have more money to throw at this purchase, decent Chinese made microscopes from brands like AmScope and Swift can be had for the $100-$300+ range, depending on what features you want. You don't need ultra high power 'scopes for reefing purposes at all.
All that said, there are some basic steps you can do to help with Dino's, things us cavemen did before we had things like microscopes for aquarium use
Dino's tend to pop up when nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) bottom out (go to zero or very near it), so it can be a good idea to monitor and if needed adjust the concentration of these parameters so that they are both above zero for sure. Additionally, manually siphon out what you can, and increase flow. There are some clean up crew critters that can help with Dino's and other algae too.
Here's a great post form the late @Miami Reef on dinoflagellate control:
Beating Dinoflagellates: A Complete Guide
I'd like to give my perspective on how I approach dinoflagellates in reef tanks. They can be challenging to treat and release a lot of toxins. I personally dealt with dinos several times in the past, so I've gained a lot of hands-on experience. I've done a lot of research on them, too. Here's...
Here's Randy Holmes-Farley's target ranges for nutrients including N&P if it's helpful too:
Article: Thoughts on Nutrient Target Ranges
Folks confused by all the different opinions on nutrient target ranges might want to check out this new article. I do not eliminate the confusion. I just give a detailed rundown of why it exists for logical reasons...
I hope that helps; good luck!
My advice is JUST LOOK AWAY LOL. It’s tough to get past the ugly stage because you’re constantly wondering if you’re doing something wrong but you just gotta remember that the darkest nights come before the brightest days. It’s a long journey and once you get through this ugly stage you’ll be having lots of fun dealing with tons of other quirks and problems lolHello! I am pretty new to the saltwater hobby! I have two freshwater tanks that run almost completely natural with little intervention on my part! I’ve been super nervous to start saltwater but have finally done it! My tanks been cycling for a couple months and then March 14th I got my first fish and corals! Well now it’s going through a pretty bad ugly stage and was wondering if anyone could provide any advice for how to manage it?
Thank you! I have a power head in one side and the my hob on the other! Should I get another one? And currently I have a shrimp, two clowns and then 4 hermits! What other clean up crew would you recommend? I was to get a sand sifter of some kind!
My advice is JUST LOOK AWAY LOL. It’s tough to get past the ugly stage because you’re constantly wondering if you’re doing something wrong but you just gotta remember that the darkest nights come before the brightest days. It’s a long journey and once you get through this ugly stage you’ll be having lots of fun dealing with tons of other quirks and problems lol
Omg that’s is terrible!!! I feel so bad when it starts to look bad!! But I mean you aren’t wrong it is easier to ignore it!
oh, i shoudl add i have a LOT of flow, doesn't seem to matter. i have 4 returns all using the random flow nozzle, and two grye, i had them on alternate, then read random would be better to keep alga from forming. maybe works for others, i saw no difference. but what the flow does do is help get the debris i blast loose into the socks for removal.
It’s crazy!!! I just cleaned it yesterday and it’s crazyyyyy how fast it comes back hahah! I just keep watching my fish and my corals to make sure they all look good! I’m so nervous of any of them dying!! I think my Xenia is gone but some people have told me it is just closed up but it hasn’t opened in like two weeks!
didn't know you had one, patience is the key, keep up with 10% water change, bi weekly until your parameters stabilize
i have not figured out a pattern yet, i've not been cleaning all the glass either, mostly just the front. thinking that leaving some it will help it run its course, but i'm not sure. if that will help or just wishful thinking. if the glass get full cyano, then i scrape that off as nothing is eating it.
