20 Reef Tank

[NicksTanks223]

I just set up my first saltwater tank about 2 and 1/2 weeks ago and so far there is brown algae or a brown substance all over the rocks and the glass. I run the light for about 10 hours a day. When I went to the fish store yesterday they tested my water and they said my all my levels were 0 and it was time to add fish to start off the growth and cycle. They said I could add 1 or 2 clownfish so that’s what I did. I added 2 clownfish and they have been doing great for about 15 hours. Is there anything I did wrong? Also how long should I run the lights and does it matter what colors I run them?

 

[Ron Reefman]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

You haven't done anything wrong. The brown you see are diatoms, a kind of algae. It has a bloom in all new tanks. After some period of time it will use up it's food source and will become MUCH slower growing and almost go away.

Rather than having your LFS (Local Fish Store) test your water, you should consider buying test kits. Given where you are in the process, get ammonia and nitrate (don't worry about the nitrite kit).

For now, it really doesn't matter much how long or what color you run your lights. The fish really don't care too much. But when you get that first coral you'll want to run more blue than white. Corals have an algae that live inside the coral polyps called zooxanthellae and the do photosynthesis using the blue spectrum light. That photosynthesis feeds the algae and the coral polyp as well.

You should share more info about what you are using for filtration and lighting. That way people here can offer better help.

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

I just set up my first saltwater tank about 2 and 1/2 weeks ago and so far there is brown algae or a brown substance all over the rocks and the glass. I run the light for about 10 hours a day. When I went to the fish store yesterday they tested my water and they said my all my levels were 0 and it was time to add fish to start off the growth and cycle. They said I could add 1 or 2 clownfish so that’s what I did. I added 2 clownfish and they have been doing great for about 15 hours. Is there anything I did wrong? Also how long should I run the lights and does it matter what colors I run them?

You did not do anything wrong at all, and I’m glad that you’re being responsible about the start of your new tank. Did you use any bacteria to help the tank cycle faster? I only ask because 2 and a half weeks seems like a fast cycle. I would also recommend that you get your own test kits so that you don’t have to rely on your lfs. Once you get corals lighting spectrum and length will matter, but for now, they are not very important. Once you get corals, you will want to run blues very high and whites lower. If you wouldn’t mind telling us what light you have, we can give you more in depth advice.
Welcome to reef2reef btw! You may want to stop by the greeting forum.

 

[FindingPonyo]

I just set up my first saltwater tank about 2 and 1/2 weeks ago and so far there is brown algae or a brown substance all over the rocks and the glass. I run the light for about 10 hours a day. When I went to the fish store yesterday they tested my water and they said my all my levels were 0 and it was time to add fish to start off the growth and cycle. They said I could add 1 or 2 clownfish so that’s what I did. I added 2 clownfish and they have been doing great for about 15 hours. Is there anything I did wrong? Also how long should I run the lights and does it matter what colors I run them?

For coral, you should buy only a coral light, and I would recommend colors like off white or bright yellow during the day, and maybe blue or purple as the night comes. When you go to bed, you should turn the light off. Even coral need a break from light. And no, clownfish don’t really NEED light, but it doesn’t matter the color as long as it isn’t too flashy and my stress the fish. Along with fish, turn the light off at night

 

[NicksTanks223]

You did not do anything wrong at all, and I’m glad that you’re being responsible about the start of your new tank. Did you use any bacteria to help the tank cycle faster? I only ask because 2 and a half weeks seems like a fast cycle. I would also recommend that you get your own test kits so that you don’t have to rely on your lfs. Once you get corals lighting spectrum and length will matter, but for now, they are not very important. Once you get corals, you will want to run blues very high and whites lower. If you wouldn’t mind telling us what light you have, we can give you more in depth advice.
Welcome to reef2reef btw! You may want to stop by the greeting forum.

Yes I added some turbo start. I forgot what brand it was. I also do have a test kit I got from amazon. I believe it was a API Saltwater Test kit. I just took a sample because they recommended taking it in just for them to guarantee my water was ready.

 

[TheShrimpNibbler]

Yes I added some turbo start. I forgot what brand it was. I also do have a test kit I got from amazon. I believe it was a API Saltwater Test kit. I just took a sample because they recommended taking it in just for them to guarantee my water was ready.

Sounds like you’re on top of things. Just make sure to double check the lfs with your own test kit.

 

[NicksTanks223]

I do already have a API Saltwater Test Kit that I got on amazon. The reason I brought a water sample into the store was because they recommended me to so that they can guarantee that my water was ready since I am new to saltwater. My lighting is just the light that the tank came with. It’s the JBJ 20g Cubey Tank and it has a big LED light built in. It has blue, red, off-white, bright white, and a different white color. My filtration is also the things it came with, 3 sponge filter pads for mechanical, mesh bag of carbon, a mesh bag full of ceramics, and I put in a handful of macro algae into the filter as well. I then have my heater in there as well set at 78°. Overall temperature in the tank is at about 79°-80° because the lid traps heat in and also the light puts out some heat.

 

[FindingPonyo]

I do already have a API Saltwater Test Kit that I got on amazon. The reason I brought a water sample into the store was because they recommended me to so that they can guarantee that my water was ready since I am new to saltwater. My lighting is just the light that the tank came with. It’s the JBJ 20g Cubey Tank and it has a big LED light built in. It has blue, red, off-white, bright white, and a different white color. My filtration is also the things it came with, 3 sponge filter pads for mechanical, mesh bag of carbon, a mesh bag full of ceramics, and I put in a handful of macro algae into the filter as well. I then have my heater in there as well set at 78°. Overall temperature in the tank is at about 79°-80° because the lid traps heat in and also the light puts out some heat.

LED isn’t meant for coral, you need a special coral light

 

[Ron Reefman]

LED isn’t meant for coral, you need a special coral light

@FindingPonyo WHAT
What do you mean but that statement? LEDs grow coral just fine. The OP's fixture even has multiple colors of leds.

 

[FindingPonyo]

@FindingPonyo WHAT
What do you mean but that statement? LEDs grow coral just fine. The OP's fixture even has multiple colors of leds.

It is used for coral growth, but in order to grow coral properly, make sure it is a light SPECIALIZED for coral