New Reefer here and need some advice!

Droberts0724 · Jun 5, 2019

Hi, I'm new to this reef community and just started my tank 2 months ago. I'm at the ugly phase currently and am trying desperately to manage all my algae/bacteria (cyno) in my tank. Not sure how to manage my first real out break. Let me start by telling everyone what I'm working with. I have a 32 gallon Biocube with Intank upgrade filter media and refugium with seeded macroalgae. I still have the stock lighting and filter that came with the tank. The flow seems good and I also have added a UV light and kept the skimmer that came with the Biocube package. I use Phosguard and filter floss and PC elite in the 2nd chamber of the tank and the refugium right next to it. The 1st chamber is the heater and skimmer. I have 2 clowns, a fire gobie, a WM gobie, a cardinalfish and a dottie back. My cleaner crew consists of 11 hermits, 8 snails, 1 crab and 2 shrimp (my pistol shrimp bonded with my WMG) I recently added 3 coral. They all love the day light too so it's hard to just cut the lights. I have a Gonipora, Acan and Hydnophora and everything in my tank is very happy. My numbers are all stable except my PH has been about 8.0 but everything else is good. Any advice is glady appreciated!

Retro Reefer · Jun 5, 2019

Biocubes are great tanks! Be sure to start a build thread in members tanks section of the forum.

Lovemyreef2015 · Jun 5, 2019

Peace River · Jun 5, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!!

You'll have your tank and all of your fish beautiful in no time! Just keep reading, asking questions, and engaging with this amazing community!

Jake_the_reefer · Jun 5, 2019

To deal with my algae outbreak I added phosphorus removing media, added extra polyester floss and turned up my skimmer. My tank was 100% brown to crystal clear in 2 days

Irishman · Jun 5, 2019

It’s they life cycle of the aquarium. Good husbandry will have it go away in time.

Billldg · Jun 5, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!! As far a the ugly stage algae, their really isn't a whole lot u can do, you can clean the sand and blow off the rock, but ultimately it eventually go's away by itself. You can add pods to help.

hdsoftail1065 · Jun 5, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!!

DarthSimon · Jun 5, 2019

Best advice is keep doing what you are doing. Sounds like you are on the right track. The uglies will eventually subside.
It sounds like you are starting with some corals. As your corals grow, and you add more and more I would consider monitoring Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium. Hanna test kits would be a good place to start. Your corals will consume these elements as they grow. Water changes will add elements back in, but sometimes that isn't enough. Many of us will supplement these elements by dosing them. Though I use a Calcium Reactor, and have mostly SPS corals, most start by using some form of 2 Part Dosing. ESV 2 Part Bionic is a good start.

What kind of Light does your BioCube have? T5 or LED?

Welcome to R2R!

Crabs McJones · Jun 5, 2019

Welcome to R2R! Honestly I wouldn't mess with it until your tank fully matures, and by then your algae issues will likely go away on their own

#WelcometoR2R

Antics · Jun 5, 2019

Welcome to R2R!

Skynyrd Fish · Jun 5, 2019

Welcome to r2r! Looking good so far.

mike werner · Jun 5, 2019

welcome

Droberts0724 · Jun 5, 2019

Billldg said:
Welcome to R2R!!! As far a the ugly stage algae, their really isn't a whole lot u can do, you can clean the sand and blow off the rock, but ultimately it eventually go's away by itself. You can add pods to help.

Yes I seeded my macroalgae with pods too. My tank is definitely a work in progress and your advice is appreciated!

KrisReef · Jun 5, 2019

Looks like you are off to a good start.

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Droberts0724 · Jun 5, 2019

DarthSimon said:
Best advice is keep doing what you are doing. Sounds like you are on the right track. The uglies will eventually subside.
It sounds like you are starting with some corals. As your corals grow, and you add more and more I would consider monitoring Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium. Hanna test kits would be a good place to start. Your corals will consume these elements as they grow. Water changes will add elements back in, but sometimes that isn't enough. Many of us will supplement these elements by dosing them. Though I use a Calcium Reactor, and have mostly SPS corals, most start by using some form of 2 Part Dosing. ESV 2 Part Bionic is a good start.

What kind of Light does your BioCube have? T5 or LED?

Welcome to R2R!

LED I believe. I have started monitoring my magnesium and calcium levels since my LFS had advised me to do so. My calcium is about 440 and my magnesium was 1500 2 days ago. My PH is still a bit low so I am adding reef buffer as directed. I also purchased the kit to dose my tank if necessary. I also use red sea salt brand because my LFS said it is good for corals since it has added magnesium and calcium in the salt. Thank you for your great advice!

ScottR · Jun 5, 2019

It’s a young tank and it happens. Looks like you have diatoms which are normal in a new tank. They go away after. Few months. I wouldn’t start playing with chemicals or anything. I wouldn’t try to fight it too much. Just take care of it as you normally would: monitoring parameters, water changes, not over/under feeding.

Welcome to R2R! Keep reading and asking.

Droberts0724 · Jun 5, 2019

Thanks everyone for the great advice and

ScottR said:
It’s a young tank and it happens. Looks like you have diatoms which are normal in a new tank. They go away after. Few months. I wouldn’t start playing with chemicals or anything. I wouldn’t try to fight it too much. Just take care of it as you normally would: monitoring parameters, water changes, not over/under feeding.

Welcome to R2R! Keep reading and asking.

Thank you! I will just keep doing what I'm doing. Basically water changes and some good old fashioned reef cleaning of the rock and sand bed. Thanks again for the warm welcome!!

DarthSimon · Jun 5, 2019

Droberts0724 said:
LED I believe. I have started monitoring my magnesium and calcium levels since my LFS had advised me to do so. My calcium is about 440 and my magnesium was 1500 2 days ago. My PH is still a bit low so I am adding reef buffer as directed. I also purchased the kit to dose my tank if necessary. I also use red sea salt brand because my LFS said it is good for corals since it has added magnesium and calcium in the salt. Thank you for your great advice!

Awesome!!! Alk is a must, try adding that into your regimen. Keep your alk stable, and your corals will love you!!!