Dirty tank!!

[aythatguy26]

Saltyfilmfolks my tank is 3.5 months old. You say the ugly phase will pass but it has done nothing but gotten worse!!

I do 25% water changes every two weeks. I do not over feed. The lights are on timers.

I feed frozen mysis shrimp.
But I do not pre wash the mysis.

Could that little bit of frozen food cause the tank to be so nasty?

I haven't added any livestock in a good while.

Hate to say it but it's getting me to the point of selling the tank.

Which I have over $1200 in this 29 gallon Biocube.
I wouldn't be able to get half of what I have in it.
Which makes me not want to get rid of it.

Anyone's advice is appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

 

[Vincent100]

How many fish do you have and what types
Do you know your no3 and po4 levels
When you say ugly do you mean algae

Also I'll call in @saltyfilmfolks for you

 

[Flippers4pups]

Yes, "ugly tank" faze can take up to a year to get better. My current build was like every tank I've ever set up, first year is tuff and "ugly". But don't get discouraged, we all go through this, just takes time and patience.

So, We need current your water parameters and current livestock list. A picture would be nice as well.

Hang in there!

 

[aythatguy26]

I have 2 osc clowns 1 Bangaii cardinal 1 skunk cleaner shrimp, some hermets and snails.

Kenya tree (sm)
pulsing Xenia (sm)
Zoanthids (sm)


Now before anyone says I stocked too much too soon, I started this tank with real sea water, live sand, and all live rock. The live rock was transferred from the store to the tank underwater (to help with any die off). I tested it daily for a month and a half. Never registered any nitrates. Tested with multiple test kits.

I had a very tiny cycle if any. However my rocks are clean (that I can tell) The glass and sandbed are filthy. Cyano and diatoms I'm guessing.

But all of the fish seem to be happy. My clowns were the same size when I got them about a month ago, and one has already become female and grown a lot. The Bangaii from I can tell is female. Haven't had any issues between the fish. The skunk cleaner shrimp is my favorite. His personality is awesome. He is never shy and loves to be watched. I can't stick my hand in the tank without him lunging from the other side of the tank to my hand. I've had him the longest.


Here's a few pics with different lighting

Both blue and white

White only

Blue only

 

[aythatguy26]

I also run a protein skimmer too

 

[aythatguy26]

Also the right side glass is very dirty because I don't clean it off that often to help feed the snails. But the front glass and left glass I try to keep clean

 

[Tyreef2016]

If a real cycle never occurred the addition of fish and such will end up creating a new Cycle I'm pretty sure.

also my first year in my biocube looked way worse! keep at it.

 

[aythatguy26]

Your right but I did ghost feed the tank a few times and got slight amounts of ammonia and went away. Never gained any nitrates though.

 

[aythatguy26]

Sorry I edited my original post. I meant never registered any nitrates.

 

[aythatguy26]

The beginning of it all.

From day 1, to adding a velvet damsel (that I kept for about a month then purchased a gsp frag and he decided to nip and kill the frag so I took him back and got the clowns

 

[Vincent100]

Your not over stocked , tank doesn't look that bad ,I say the same as Tyreef keep at it and you will come through it
When I first started my first tank my cyano was everywhere on my sand bed
Stick at it and you will be fine

 

[Flippers4pups]

Actually looks pretty good, considering it's a young tank. Stay up on your maintenance and feed just enough that they eat most, if not all you give them within a couple minutes. Twice a day is fine.
Syphon out the cyano during water changes helps. Use RO/DI water for top off/ making saltwater and reducing your photo period a little may help as well.

Mods, can we move this to "reef discussion" or "new to the hobby" so we can more responses?

 

[ReeferMaddness843]

I'm just gonna beat the horse here. It's really not in bad shape. Looks good for a young tank. Stick with it and it'll pay off. Mine just hit the year mark in October, and there were a couple times prior to that I felt I had enough. Just stuck with it and now see the fruits of my labor. Learn to love it. It will pay off.

 

[aythatguy26]

I may have them on too long.

My blue light is on from 9am-9pm
White is on from 11am-7pm
Moonlight is on from 9pm-12am
Lights out from 12am-9am

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

3.5 months old

I currently have a 1 year old and 2 year old. The one year old is actually a transfer so kinda 3. the 2 year old, so is 8 years in that math. SO your tank is just a wee bern yet.
I wrote that with out looking.
first peek, that green on the rocks is about to become purple corraline algae. once it establishes, itll suck up more nutrients, helping the power of the bio filter.
its time for more coral.
ill read now.

And thank you for calling me out, Im honestly complimented.

How many fish do you have and what types
Do you know your no3 and po4 levels
When you say ugly do you mean algae

Also I'll call in @saltyfilmfolks for you

THX

 

[aythatguy26]

I've noticed some lime green algea on my powerhead. Is that too Coraline algea?

I've had my eye on some frogspawn and hammer corals at the lfs

Which would you recommend?

 

[zaekor]

My tank was extremely ugly for a long time (Since Feb 2016 when I started the tank) until about a month ago. It takes a while for everything to settle and for you to get a hang of the reef tank style, especially since I came from freshwater experience.

 

[aythatguy26]

Off topic


Just going back through my pics and this is what I got rid of to start my reef.



125 Gallon

Got some shubunkin Goldfish out of my parents pond I built them and put them in the 125 gallon I purchased bran new three weeks prior.

This is the koi pond I built for them
1600 Gallons

Started with a few small Goldfish, a couple large Goldfish, and three small koi

Here is now a year later

 

[Flippers4pups]

Off topic


Just going back through my pics and this is what I got rid of to start my reef.



125 Gallon

Got some shubunkin Goldfish out of my parents pond I built them and put them in the 125 gallon I purchased bran new three weeks prior.

This is the koi pond I built for them
1600 Gallons

Started with a few small Goldfish, a couple large Goldfish, and three small koi

Here is now a year later

You definitely have the skills. Very nice koi pond! Bravo!

 

[aythatguy26]

Thank you! I've had fish growing up and also bred and raised exotic parrots.

I had plenty of time to come up with ideas for a pond and when I got the chance I made it a reality.