Multiple issues...

[Logan A.]

So I got two oscelaris clown fish four days ago they refuse to eat the food I give them omega one marine flakes with garlic. Will they just over time give in and eat it? The fish look to be very healthy. At the same time I bought an orchids dotty back and it has burried itself under a rock and not been seen since. Next ever since I started fishless cycling the tank this brown stuff has appeared all over my rocks is it good bad what?

 

[Crabs McJones]

So I got two oscelaris clown fish four days ago they refuse to eat the food I give them omega one marine flakes with garlic. Will they just over time give in and eat it? The fish look to be very healthy. At the same time I bought an orchids dotty back and it has burried itself under a rock and not been seen since. Next ever since I started fishless cycling the tank this brown stuff has appeared all over my rocks is it good bad what?

Sounds perfectly normal. Your clowns are most likely stressed from the move. If they continue to not eat try frozen mysis shrimp. The algae is also perfectly normal algae cycle as the tank matures. You'll see a bunch of different algaes come and go and alot of different colors in the coming months.

 

[EmdeReef]

Assuming the fish are healthy, they may not start eating the food you offer. You may have to try other stuff.

When did you start cycling and has your tank cycled?

The brown stuff is probably diatoms, not bad but can bother some corals etc. a close picture would help.

 

[Logan A.]

Sounds perfectly normal. Your clowns are most likely stressed from the move. If they continue to not eat try frozen mysis shrimp. The algae is also perfectly normal algae cycle as the tank matures. You'll see a bunch of different algaes come and go and alot of different colors in the coming months.

Thank you so much for the quick response!

 

[Tautog]

Your tank is still cycling? How old? What’s your chemistry? Ph ? Ammonia? Nitrites? Nitrates? The brown is algae from too much food or too much light. High nitrates cause algae issues, water changes lower nitrates. Hang in there!

 

[Mikedawg]

You might find this article on what to expect when cycling useful: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycling-an-aquarium.306554/

 

[Logan A.]

Assuming the fish are healthy, they may not start eating the food you offer. You may have to try other stuff.

When did you start cycling and has your tank cycled?
The brown stuff is probably diatoms, not bad but can bother some corals etc. a close picture would help.

I thought the tank had cycled after about a week and a half. Here are a few closer pics sorry phone camera isn't the best.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I thought the tank had cycled after about a week and a half. Here are a few closer pics sorry phone camera isn't the best.

Do you know what all your water parameters are

 

[Logan A.]

Do you know what all your water parameters are

Give me five min and you and I will both know

 

[Logan A.]

Do you know what all your water parameters are

Here are the results!

 

[laverda]

Your tank has not cycled at all yet. You should have zero Antonia and nitrite if it had cycled. Both are toxic to fish and inverts. You need to reduce them as fast as practical before you lose your fish. You need to do a large water change. Then add some of the bacteria cycle starters, such are Dr Tim’s. Keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite. When your ammonia goes down the the nitrite will increase and then drop. That is when your cycle is done. Nitrate is unimportant at the moment. Do not add any more fish until your tank is done cycling! Good luck.

 

[Neo Jeo]

You can add Garlic like Garlic Extreme to your food. It will help with fish and help them to eat.

 

[Ashish Patel]

based on your pictures it looks like your tank has cycled since you have nitrate present and other levels are 0. Did you use shrimp or some bacteria such as biospira from instant ocean? I added my 2 clownfish about 2 weeks after starting my tank but used shrimp and made sure the ammonia and nitrite rose and fall.

 

[Logan A.]

Your tank has not cycled at all yet. You should have zero Antonia and nitrite if it had cycled. Both are toxic to fish and inverts. You need to reduce them as fast as practical before you lose your fish. You need to do a large water change. Then add some of the bacteria cycle starters, such are Dr Tim’s. Keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite. When your ammonia goes down the the nitrite will increase and then drop. That is when your cycle is done. Nitrate is unimportant at the moment. Do not add any more fish until your tank is done cycling! Good luck.

...are you blind? I clearly provided pictures showing my ammonia and nitrite levels to be at 0. Nitrate levels are at about 20 ppm. The tank has obviously cycled. But rest assured I'll do all in my power to follow your advice...?

 

[Tautog]

Relax........this is all normal. Your rocks and glass will get brown, but don’t worry it’s nothing a CUC can’t handle. As far as your fish not eating dry? Correct? Try some frozen mysis shrimp or brine shrimp. Some of the wild fish I collect take awhile to get comfortable and eat. Live brine shrimp work wonders. Don’t keep feeding if their not eating. Wait a day or 2 before feeding again, and then only a small amount, wait a few hours, then feed again. If your fish still aren’t aggressive while eating, don’t feed the second feeding, but wait 2 more days before feeding again. Most fish can’t resist Live brine shrimp.

...are you blind? I clearly provided pictures showing my ammonia and nitrite levels to be at 0. Nitrate levels are at about 20 ppm. The tank has obviously cycled. But rest assured I'll do all in my power to follow your advice...?

 

[Logan A.]

based on your pictures it looks like your tank has cycled since you have nitrate present and other levels are 0. Did you use shrimp or some bacteria such as biospira from instant ocean? I added my 2 clownfish about 2 weeks after starting my tank but used shrimp and made sure the ammonia and nitrite rose and fall.

I used seachem stability. I've used it many times before and it seems to work very well and very quickly. I had thought of doing the whole piece of shrimp thing but the ammonia stinks too bad. I've read that if you want to cycle your tank in a couple of days you can add your bacteria starter and ammonium at levels to make that parameter read 20 ppm but it is very difficult to distill properly to get such levels.

 

[Logan A.]

Relax........this is all normal. Your rocks and glass will get brown, but don’t worry it’s nothing a CUC can’t handle. As far as your fish not eating dry? Correct? Try some frozen mysis shrimp or brine shrimp. Some of the wild fish I collect take awhile to get comfortable and eat. Live brine shrimp work wonders. Don’t keep feeding if their not eating. Wait a day or 2 before feeding again, and then only a small amount, wait a few hours, then feed again. If your fish still aren’t aggressive while eating, don’t feed the second feeding, but wait 2 more days before feeding again. Most fish can’t resist Live brine shrimp.

What does CUC stand for?

 

[40B Knasty]

What does CUC stand for?

Clean Up Crew.
Look to get some nassarias snails. Make sure they are not Whelks snails. Both these snails are sold to turn over your sand and clean it.
If you are having trouble with diatoms. 1 fighting conch.
A couple astrea and trochus snails will be good for the glass and rocks.
Don't over load the CUC. Find a balance that works for your tank.
These are all reef safe.
If you hear clicking on your tank at night. That is the trochus snail switching from one side of the glass to the other.
Pick these up after a month.

 

[laverda]

...are you blind? I clearly provided pictures showing my ammonia and nitrite levels to be at 0. Nitrate levels are at about 20 ppm. The tank has obviously cycled. But rest assured I'll do all in my power to follow your advice...?

Apparently I must have been drinking, but I don’t drink. I don’t why I thought you had ammonia an nitrite. Excuse me.

 

[Rscott]

Any updates? curious to hear how your making out