Just curious!!!

[Janna-Leigh]

Ok guys.... I’ve had my tank since July 11th, approximately 7 weeks. And nothing seems to be happening... my levels have been the same for about 3 weeks now.

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates btw 7-11
Salinity 1.025
Alkalinity bounces btw 10.9-11.5

everyone that sees my tank says it looks new and it should have had gone through an ugly phase already such as hair algae, etc but nothing.
What am I doing wrong?

 

[Sleeping Giant]

Looks great, might be time to get some corals

 

[Auqaman]

Have you turned your lights on?

 

[DungSl1nger]

My tank has been up since Feb, it has not gone through the ugly stage yet but I have coralline alge coming in. I did get some green hair algae though. I wouldn’t stress it as long a parameters are in line

 

[Janna-Leigh]

Yes

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Lights being off is the reason you havnt had your uglies. Clean up crew and lights being on (and adding coral) will put the tank in 2nd gear

 

[stanleo]

Every tank is different. How did you cycle the tank? Fish in or fishless?

It looks like you are getting diatoms on the two outside rocks, which is normal. See how the top is getting a different shade than the bottom? Just give it more time. What are your lights and how long are they on for?

 

[terraincognita]

Ok guys.... I’ve had my tank since July 11th, approximately 7 weeks. And nothing seems to be happening... my levels have been the same for about 3 weeks now.

Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates btw 7-11
Salinity 1.025
Alkalinity bounces btw 10.9-11.5

everyone that sees my tank says it looks new and it should have had gone through an ugly phase already such as hair algae, etc but nothing.
What am I doing wrong?

Absolutely nothing.

You cycled and missed it. <3.

You have 3 fish in there already.

Not sure what you're waiting for! Except for grass to grow... literally *ba dum ba ch*

P.s. dont change anything just because you add coral. Dont suddenly feed more, change your schedules, change your maintenance. IME. for your first 10 corals, just act like they're not even there. and you'll be just fine. (That being said I imagine you're only starting with some LPS and Sofites)

 

[SPR1968]

Most tanks go through an ugly stage, but you don’t have to, I didn’t with my new large system because I took measures and avoided it

You may have got lucky by doing nothing but I think I can maybe see a few diatoms on the rocks, although the picture isn’t clear.

If you want to avoid hair algae and other issues, keep your phosphate level very low at around 0.03ppm or less

 

[terraincognita]

Most tanks go through an ugly stage, but you don’t have to, I didn’t with my new large system because I took measures and avoided it

You may have got lucky by doing nothing but I think I can maybe see a few diatoms on the rocks, although the picture isn’t clear.

If you want to avoid hair algae and other issues, keep your phosphate level very low at around 0.03ppm or less

+1

IME adding corals will beat off those small little algae patches as they out rank them for nutrients.

 

[Janna-Leigh]

Most tanks go through an ugly stage, but you don’t have to, I didn’t with my new large system because I took measures and avoided it

You may have got lucky by doing nothing but I think I can maybe see a few diatoms on the rocks, although the picture isn’t clear.

If you want to avoid hair algae and other issues, keep your phosphate level very low at around 0.03ppm or less

 

[Janna-Leigh]

7 fish In total
2 clown
1 lawnmower blenny
1 diamond Goby
1 fire fish
1 coral beauty
1 multi color angel
2 cleaner shrimp
2 harlequin shrimp
2 hermit crabs
And all my snail keep dying

 

[stanleo]

Yeah that is diatoms. One of the first stages so you are on your way. I wouldn't change anything you are doing.

How are you feeding the harlequin shrimp?

 

[Janna-Leigh]

Chocolate Starfish

 

[stanleo]

7 fish In total
2 clown
1 lawnmower blenny
1 diamond Goby
1 fire fish
1 coral beauty
1 multi color angel
2 cleaner shrimp
2 harlequin shrimp
2 hermit crabs
And all my snail keep dying

That is a lot of fish in a new tank. Watch your parameters like a hawk. The snails keep dying because they don't have enough to eat. Don't add anymore till you start getting green algae.

 

[SPR1968]

Yes that looks like diatoms forming.

As far as clean up crew, I would leave them out for a while because they won’t have much to eat, although depending on what you have they may help clear up the diatoms for you.

 

[Janna-Leigh]

Yes I know. I was given some really bad advise at the beginning of this process by my LPS and my son in law and I have been checking my parameters on average every three days... lol. I have treated 3 times with live bacteria, as well as a whole bottle of stability following dosage instructions. Lol. Been trying to do everything not to loose these fish. I have had them all since day 3 after setting tank up.

 

[TheDuude]

As stated above continue to monitor your nitrate levels and if you start to see a spike you might want to start a weekly maintenance dose of bacteria ( fritz, dr tims, MB7, ) to keep your levels in check while the tank matures. IME when using the bottled bacterias you can skip the "ugly phase" or at least keep them very manageable. Do keep up your water change routine.

 

[Janna-Leigh]

My levels have not changed at all in three weeks.

 

[Janna-Leigh]

I keep live bacteria in my fridge.