Ugly Stage?

[Kurtzy16]

Hey Reefers!

So my tank has officially been cycled for about a week and a half after a 3.5 week cycle. I have 4 snails that are super active, my Banggai Cardinal (Tortellini) who seems to be thriving and eating well. My GSP and Zoa are opening with the light..: Today I came home and my sand looked like this (photo below)

Is this just part of it all or is my tank and Tortellini in trouble? My Hanna checkers are all in the mail but my API tests are all a.ok.

Any help / wise words appreciated!

 

[Isaac Alves]

I don't see a photo?

 

[Kurtzy16]

I don't see a photo?

I don’t know why they’re not uploading… going to try to add them from my computer… incoming

 

[sgdnycct]

Hey Reefers!

So my tank has officially been cycled for about a week and a half after a 3.5 week cycle. I have 4 snails that are super active, my Banggai Cardinal (Tortellini) who seems to be thriving and eating well. My GSP and Zoa are opening with the light..: Today I came home and my sand looked like this (photo below)

Is this just part of it all or is my tank and Tortellini in trouble? My Hanna checkers are all in the mail but my API tests are all a.ok.

Any help / wise words appreciated!

Can’t tell clearly from the photo could be diatom algae or dinoflagellates. What’s your chemistry and nutrient export method? Knowing this might give a clue. I would suggest not to panic. I’ve seen a lot of folks go crazy with supplements, water changes and equipment chasing fixes. Most of this is tank evolution over time.

That’s said, with the questions answered we could start to putting together a picture.

 

[Just John]

Don't worry. IMO this is the starting to get ugly phase, lol. It's probably going to get uglier before it gets better, but we all have had to deal with it.

 

[Kurtzy16]

Hey Reefers!

So my tank has officially been cycled for about a week and a half after a 3.5 week cycle. I have 4 snails that are super active, my Banggai Cardinal (Tortellini) who seems to be thriving and eating well. My GSP and Zoa are opening with the light..: Today I came home and my sand looked like this (photo below)

Is this just part of it all or is my tank and Tortellini in trouble? My Hanna checkers are all in the mail but my API tests are all a.ok.

Any help / wise words appreciated!

Can’t tell clearly from the photo could be diatom algae or dinoflagellates. What’s your chemistry and nutrient export method? Knowing this might give a clue. I would suggest not to panic. I’ve seen a lot of folks go crazy with supplements, water changes and equipment chasing fixes. Most of this is tank evolution over time.

That’s said, with the questions answered we could start to putting together a picture.

Simple system. Stock skimmer + NanoMat + weekly water changes. No dosing. Light bioload…. I recently added a rock island for my GSP

 

[PointerReefs]

Likely just Diatoms, will sort itself out. Just continue good Husbandry and all should be well.

 

[malacoda]

It's part of it all.

And it's only the beginning...

These are the two most helpful, wise words I can give you...

Patience and cool-headedness.

In the weeks and months ahead you will also very likely experience some degree of nuisance algae(s) develop on the rocks as well.

It's normal.

Your microbiome ( e.g. nutrients, beneficial bacteria (not just the nitrifying bacteria), etc.) will need time to find it's balance.

Until it does, some uglies will pop up. Then, as it begins to find balance, the uglies should begin to fade away.

If any of the uglies take hold very aggressively — as in begin to totally overwhelm, the tank — you may need to take steps to knock them back until your biome does find it's balance...

But fairly often, simple patience pays off most — as in:

• Don't intervene unless you really, really need to
• Don't panic react — calmness and a solid, thought-out plan pay off in dividends
• Research and think over any advice you get ... or reactive steps you feel inclined to take ... very, very well before implementing them
  • E.g. Immediately acting on forum suggestions that don't include clear thought, concise details, or enough context can cause more harm than good ... so relax, think things through thoroughly, then react with a plan (i.e. despite their helpful intentions, many suggestions are given merely because they were simply read/heard somewhere else, and aren't backed by actual experience. No bueno.)
• Only try/change one thing at a time — and keep a journal of the results. Otherwise you'll just blindly chase your tail

From the pics, it looks like your rock is mostly, maybe even all, dry rock...

Just be aware that this will likely mean a more trying, and longer lasting, ugly stage.

Just be patient ... and calm and thoughtful in any steps you take for it ... and you'll do just fine.

 

[sgdnycct]

Hey Reefers!

So my tank has officially been cycled for about a week and a half after a 3.5 week cycle. I have 4 snails that are super active, my Banggai Cardinal (Tortellini) who seems to be thriving and eating well. My GSP and Zoa are opening with the light..: Today I came home and my sand looked like this (photo below)

Is this just part of it all or is my tank and Tortellini in trouble? My Hanna checkers are all in the mail but my API tests are all a.ok.

Any help / wise words appreciated!

Can’t tell clearly from the photo could be diatom algae or dinoflagellates. What’s your chemistry and nutrient export method? Knowing this might give a clue. I would suggest not to panic. I’ve seen a lot of folks go crazy with supplements, water changes and equipment chasing fixes. Most of this is tank evolution over time.

That’s said, with the questions answered we could start to putting together a picture.

Simple system. Stock skimmer + NanoMat + weekly water changes. No dosing. Light bioload…. I recently added a rock island for my GSP

What percent water changes and what at your parameters?

 

[Just John]

It's part of it all.

And it's only the beginning...

These are the two most helpful, wise words I can give you...

Patience and cool-headedness.

In the weeks and months ahead you will also very likely experience some degree of nuisance algae(s) develop on the rocks as well.

It's normal.

Your microbiome ( e.g. nutrients, beneficial bacteria (not just the nitrifying bacteria), etc.) will need time to find it's balance.

Until it does, some uglies will pop up. Then, as it begins to find balance, the uglies should begin to fade away.

If any of the uglies take hold very aggressively — as in begin to totally overwhelm, the tank — you may need to take steps to knock them back until your biome does find it's balance...

But fairly often, simple patience pays off most — as in:

• Don't intervene unless you really, really need to
• Don't panic react — calmness and a solid, thought-out plan pay off in dividends
• Research and think over any advice you get ... or reactive steps you feel inclined to take ... very, very wellbefore implementing them
  • E.g. Immediately acting on forum suggestions that don't include clear thought, concise details, or enough context can cause more harm than good ... so relax, think things through thoroughly, then react with a plan (i.e. despite their helpful intentions, many suggestions are given merely because they were simply read/heard somewhere else, and aren't backed by actual experience. No bueno.)
• Only try/change one thing at a time — and keep a journal of the results. Otherwise you'll just blindly chase your tail

From the pics, it looks like your rock is mostly, maybe even all, dry rock...

Just be aware that this will likely mean a more trying, and longer lasting, ugly stage.

Just be patient ... and calm and thoughtful in any steps you take for it ... and you'll do just fine.

Patience...I hate that one

 

[Reefering1]

The 1st signs of life.. much more to come.

 

[Kurtzy16]

It's part of it all.

And it's only the beginning...

These are the two most helpful, wise words I can give you...

Patience and cool-headedness.

In the weeks and months ahead you will also very likely experience some degree of nuisance algae(s) develop on the rocks as well.

It's normal.

Your microbiome ( e.g. nutrients, beneficial bacteria (not just the nitrifying bacteria), etc.) will need time to find it's balance.

Until it does, some uglies will pop up. Then, as it begins to find balance, the uglies should begin to fade away.

If any of the uglies take hold very aggressively — as in begin to totally overwhelm, the tank — you may need to take steps to knock them back until your biome does find it's balance...

But fairly often, simple patience pays off most — as in:

• Don't intervene unless you really, really need to
• Don't panic react — calmness and a solid, thought-out plan pay off in dividends
• Research and think over any advice you get ... or reactive steps you feel inclined to take ... very, very wellbefore implementing them
  • E.g. Immediately acting on forum suggestions that don't include clear thought, concise details, or enough context can cause more harm than good ... so relax, think things through thoroughly, then react with a plan (i.e. despite their helpful intentions, many suggestions are given merely because they were simply read/heard somewhere else, and aren't backed by actual experience. No bueno.)
• Only try/change one thing at a time — and keep a journal of the results. Otherwise you'll just blindly chase your tail

From the pics, it looks like your rock is mostly, maybe even all, dry rock...

Just be aware that this will likely mean a more trying, and longer lasting, ugly stage.

Just be patient ... and calm and thoughtful in any steps you take for it ... and you'll do just fine.

Patience...I hate that one

Patience…. Everything seems to want to test it lately luckily Tortellini and his space are therapeutic minus the ugly sand

 

[Kurtzy16]

The 1st signs of life.. much more to come.

Life i can deal with! to much more to come! Thank you!!

 

[malacoda]

Patience...I hate that one

Yah, it is the easiest ... and yet, the hardest ... action of all.