Help with "Uglies"????

Hurley009 · Jul 12, 2014

My tank I being taken over by this light brown powder looking algae on my sand bed.... I'm assuming it's the uglies stage??
anything I can do?!
It's only like barely 2 months old.

NanaReefer · Jul 12, 2014

You could blow it around a little. It'll go away on it's own

Hurley009 · Jul 12, 2014

But I Pretty much have to let it have its way?

NanaReefer · Jul 13, 2014

Until those lil buggers have used up all the silicates an die....yes

neddog · Jul 13, 2014

NanaReefer said:
You could blow it around a little. It'll go away on it's own

+1 just means your on your way to getting your tank cycled its the diatom bloom they will die off and go away

neddog · Jul 13, 2014

Hurley009 said:
My tank I being taken over by this light brown powder looking algae on my sand bed.... I'm assuming it's the uglies stage??
anything I can do?!
It's only like barely 2 months old.

2 months in I just noticed that part. Is this the first time this has happened? Usually the diatom die off happened in the first 2 to 3 weeks. I wonder If you've done something to restart your cycle? Added any new Rock? Maybe did a large water change? It just seems really late for a diatom die off. Can you post some pictures maybe a short description of your tank and what you've done during the cycling period?

Hurley009 · Jul 13, 2014

I did add 20 lbs of live rock that I was finally able to but. I also moved after my first month of own this tank, so after removing most the water, what was on the sand bed pretty much cleaned itself off and it was like new sand.

45 gallon
Ai hydra led lighting
6-7 hrs light daily
Has a protein skimmer
2 circulation pumps (850 gph each)
1 torch
1 Pandora palps (sp)
1 green duncan
1 clown fish
1 cleaner shrimp
1 lawnmower blenny
1 fancy stripped starfish
1 turbo snail
1 emerald crab
Live sand bed

Nitrate nitrite - 0
Ammonia 0
PH 8
Calcium 560 (can seem to get to go down)
Water hardness 9
Salinity .025

Hurley009 · Jul 13, 2014

this is the best way to see the stuff I'm talking about (lights off)

Hurley009 · Jul 13, 2014

Oh and during the move, when I removed all the wster, I poured the same water back in and did a 5 gallon water change.

MikeAndrews · Jul 13, 2014

Add some turbo snails

Hurley009 · Jul 13, 2014

How many?

NanaReefer · Jul 13, 2014

Definitely Diatoms

most likely caused by the new rock & the move. No worries, it will go away eventually.

Hurley009 · Jul 13, 2014

So it's not the Uglies?

Hurley009 · Jul 13, 2014

And I just leave it and keep cleaning the sides?

fishroomlady · Jul 13, 2014

I would blow it with a turkey baster so filters can take it out but that's me.

neddog · Jul 13, 2014

It seems alright I would just fan it up with something like fishroomlady says and let the filters take care of it. But no reason to worry. You just started a mini cycle with the rock I think.