Ugly phase 7th week

fazendas

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 15, 2025
Messages
30
Reaction score
14
Location
Amadora
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My aquarium has reached 7 weeks and without major warning, the glass, sand, and rocks are all brown/green. I scrape the glass in the morning and by the afternoon it’s covered again.

I suppose it’s official that the ugly phase has arrived.
Is this the ideal time to add copepods and a clean-up crew (CUC)?
Besides that, should I do anything else? Or is it just a matter of being patient and letting the aquarium follow its natural course?
 
OP
OP
F

fazendas

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 15, 2025
Messages
30
Reaction score
14
Location
Amadora
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm doing 1 water change weekly (10%), since the cycle ended, so since the 4th/5th week. Last one was Sunday.
I only test nitrates for now, which are between 2–5 ppm.

Pictures in attachment.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20260120_135644.jpg
    IMG_20260120_135644.jpg
    127.7 KB · Views: 27
  • IMG_20260120_135651.jpg
    IMG_20260120_135651.jpg
    198.2 KB · Views: 22
  • IMG_20260120_181245.jpg
    IMG_20260120_181245.jpg
    85.9 KB · Views: 20
  • IMG_20260120_181250.jpg
    IMG_20260120_181250.jpg
    133.5 KB · Views: 28

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT AMOUNT OF LIVE ROCK AND SAND SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED FOR OPTIMAL BIODIVERSITY/FILTRATION?

  • 100% live rock + bagged sand

    Votes: 34 26.4%
  • 100% dry rock + 100% live sand

    Votes: 45 34.9%
  • 50/50 live/dry rock, 50/50 live/bagged sand

    Votes: 29 22.5%
  • 75% live rock, 25% live sand

    Votes: 11 8.5%
  • 25% live rock, 75% live sand

    Votes: 10 7.8%
Back
Top