Is this dinos?
- Thread starter PghReef
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ChrisRD
Active Member
I would say both...dinos yes, part of new tank uglies...yes. 
I wouldn't be too alarmed yet...just siphon off what you can during water changes, make sure water parameters are in a good range, etc.
If you're using GFO or something that would create a nutrient imbalance (i.e. bottoming out your phosphates while you still have nitrates) that certainly won't help the issue. Might be best to discontinue that for a while so nutrients can re-balance and competing algaes can take hold.
Also...I like the purple monti...looks like some recent growth on that.
I wouldn't be too alarmed yet...just siphon off what you can during water changes, make sure water parameters are in a good range, etc.
If you're using GFO or something that would create a nutrient imbalance (i.e. bottoming out your phosphates while you still have nitrates) that certainly won't help the issue. Might be best to discontinue that for a while so nutrients can re-balance and competing algaes can take hold.
Also...I like the purple monti...looks like some recent growth on that.
PghReef
Well-Known Member
Thanks I only run carbon in a hob filter. No gfo, no skimming, no carbon dosing. Nitrates are reading somewhere between 0 and 5 on API, I need a better nitrate kit as my salifert ones expired. Phosphates did dip to 0 but are back to .03 with the hanna checker. I am still battling dialing in the alk levels causing some instability.I would say both...dinos yes, part of new tank uglies...yes.
I wouldn't be too alarmed yet...just siphon off what you can during water changes, make sure water parameters are in a good range, etc.
If you're using GFO or something that would create a nutrient imbalance (i.e. bottoming out your phosphates while you still have nitrates) that certainly won't help the issue. Might be best to discontinue that for a while so nutrients can re-balance and competing algaes can take hold.
Also...I like the purple monti...looks like some recent growth on that.
It's actually a birds of paradise birdnest not a monti, but thank you it seems to bending well.
dansreef
Well-Known Member
Looks like continued uglies for a new tank. How long has it been running...and how big? I wouldn't worry about the nitrate or phosphate levels... at this point. What do you have in the tank fish wise..?
As suggested above... I would siphon out what you can... and have prepared water ready... replace what you siphon out to get any of the slimy crud out.... I wouldn't do much more. Since your tank seems pretty new... you will need to be patient as uglies will ebb and flow over several months.
As suggested above... I would siphon out what you can... and have prepared water ready... replace what you siphon out to get any of the slimy crud out.... I wouldn't do much more. Since your tank seems pretty new... you will need to be patient as uglies will ebb and flow over several months.
PghReef
Well-Known Member
The tank is 46 gallons, only been set up since end of February. The rock is pukani brs that was soaked in bleach, vinager, and rodi before being cycled in a dark rubbermaid for a year. I have 2 clowns and a baby blue hippo in the along with the cuc of various snails and hermits. I expected the tank to cycle through the ugly stages quicker as the rock has been in saltwater for a year. Bacteria wise it has as my nitrates are practically nothing but I guess being so bare and not exposed to light it still has to establish the algae and other life forms?
I'm pretty sure the tank is healthy as I have pods everywhere!! I have been feeding heavy to try and get nitrates up a little but maybe should cut back. Even in the day I see them covering the glass. The snails ans hermits are also all doing well and I know they are usually the first victims if something in the water isn't right.
dansreef
Well-Known Member
Quick Question.... what do you mean the rock was cycled for a year in a dark rubber maid? Was the rock supporting life? Was it part of another system? How would it be cycled?
The whole idea behind "cycling" rock is to have denitrifying bacteria establish themselves in the porous rock. This is done by introducing bacteria while at the same time amounts of ammonia. This takes time.... usually. Yes...there are solutions that people are using to rapidly cycle tanks. If your rock was immersed in salt water...for a year, that in and of itself won't mean that it is cycled. Was there a source of ammonia to keep the denitrifying bacteria thriving? Was the temp kept consistent to the environment it is in now? Was there circulation required for the bacteria? ....etc... most likely this new environment is different than it was in the rubber maid for a year.
I don't mean to preach. I have rushed into putting livestock in a couple of tanks over the years myself. It can have disastrous results. I have lost fish and corals....when if I had just been more patient...things would have gone more smoothly. Your tanks environment is very young... The more time you give it to mature, the better. If you are comfortable with the denitrifying bacteria and the cycle.... I would still go slowly. Introduce the fish over a period of days not hours... Measure your ammonia and nitrites as they are toxic to fish and coral alike. If you see an elevation of either, above zero... slow down. I have seen people replace an amount of rock in an established tank only to see a mini-cycle happen. Why? The population of bacteria changes and can't keep up then with the source of ammonia.
Good Luck. Be patient. Your tank is going through the uglies stages. This will continue regardless of whether you had cycled rock or not. It is a process of your tank finding itself. It takes time. Go Slow!
The whole idea behind "cycling" rock is to have denitrifying bacteria establish themselves in the porous rock. This is done by introducing bacteria while at the same time amounts of ammonia. This takes time.... usually. Yes...there are solutions that people are using to rapidly cycle tanks. If your rock was immersed in salt water...for a year, that in and of itself won't mean that it is cycled. Was there a source of ammonia to keep the denitrifying bacteria thriving? Was the temp kept consistent to the environment it is in now? Was there circulation required for the bacteria? ....etc... most likely this new environment is different than it was in the rubber maid for a year.
I don't mean to preach. I have rushed into putting livestock in a couple of tanks over the years myself. It can have disastrous results. I have lost fish and corals....when if I had just been more patient...things would have gone more smoothly. Your tanks environment is very young... The more time you give it to mature, the better. If you are comfortable with the denitrifying bacteria and the cycle.... I would still go slowly. Introduce the fish over a period of days not hours... Measure your ammonia and nitrites as they are toxic to fish and coral alike. If you see an elevation of either, above zero... slow down. I have seen people replace an amount of rock in an established tank only to see a mini-cycle happen. Why? The population of bacteria changes and can't keep up then with the source of ammonia.
Good Luck. Be patient. Your tank is going through the uglies stages. This will continue regardless of whether you had cycled rock or not. It is a process of your tank finding itself. It takes time. Go Slow!
PghReef
Well-Known Member
The rock was from a 50/50 new and from a tank I broke down that was covered in aiptasia. I cleaned and dried before placing in a rubbermaid. I had it sit in 15 gallons saltwater with a heater set to 80 and a return pump cranked up providing good flow. I added some bottled bacteria and pure ammonia then tested like you would a tank. I ghost fed occasionly after the ammonia dropped to 0, took about 2 months, and did a few 100% water changes to help lower nitrates and phosphates. I set up the new tank, put the cycled rock in with clean dry sand, and let it run for a week. After testing after a week all numbers were 0 so I transferred by clowns from the temporary tank I had them in. Fed them and tester after a week and numbers were still good so I started adding corals.
The only thing really missing was light as it was a covered rubbermaid in the basement . I know it isn't the same as it doesnt get a biofilm and the various algaes and other lifeforms. Was hoping the corals would bring a lot of that in on their skeletons
