New tank uglies or problem?

[K.miller]

Its been a long time since i have set up a new tank. I was wondering if what i have going on is jsut part of the new tank uglies that i can wait out or something i need to get a hold of now. The tank is a 120 and has been set up for a little over 2 months. Nitrates and phosphates have been testing at 0 with salifert kits and have been for a while now. Fish list so far is a pair of clowns an evansi anthias a coral beauty and an algae blenny. Last week i added a 37 bow front display refugium. I have some Ulva in there and some gracilaria and 3 mangroves. Macros aren't growing but they aren't dieing either. Any insight would be much appreciated

 

[Idoc]

Hard to tell exactly by a picture, but that could be Chrysophytes by the appearance.

 

[DesertReefT4r]

I would call that dry rock uglies. Seeing a lot of this weird algae in newer tanks started with dry rock. I think its due to the lack of bacterial, algae and micro fauna life on rock dry rock. Seeding the tank with either live rock, live sand or coral frags from a mature system and time seem to be the best way to get past this stage. Frags from mature systems will slowly bring in all the good bactiera and critters that will seed the tank over time. Expect 9 months to 2 years for a tank started with dry rock to become stable and reach that maturity of real live rock. I would recommend increasing no3 and po4 to lo2 but detectable levels, regular water changes with quality salt mix and 0 TDS RODI, manual removeal to the algae with the water changes a good clean up crew and patience to ride it out.

 

[K.miller]

I forgot to mention i do have a clean up crew in there also. It consists of 35 Dwarf Ceriths,10 Nassarius vibex,16 Nerites. The Nerites do eat this stuff a little bit but i have to take them off the glass and put them on the rocks every night.

 

[K.miller]

Whats the best way to go about raising no3 and po4? Ive always battled lowering it not raising it in the past. Add more fish (which i plan to do anyway once the budget allows it)? Feed the ones i have more? Or actually use some kind of additive?

 

[Tft12]

Whats the best way to go about raising no3 and po4? Ive always battled lowering it not raising it in the past. Add more fish (which i plan to do anyway once the budget allows it)? Feed the ones i have more? Or actually use some kind of additive?

Adding more fish, feed the fish more heavily, or adding nitrate and phosphate directly. My system is overstocked with fish and they are already feed extremely heavily. When I'm low on nitrate or phosphate I add them directly using solutions that I prepared from sodium nitrate or potassium phosphate. I bought each of those powders from LoudWolf.

 

[K.miller]

I will definetly start feeding more and maybe see what the LFS has this weekend. Im just wondering if my levels are really low or if the no3 and po4 are just getting used up quickly and therefore not showing up on the tests.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Whats the best way to go about raising no3 and po4? Ive always battled lowering it not raising it in the past. Add more fish (which i plan to do anyway once the budget allows it)? Feed the ones i have more? Or actually use some kind of additive?

I would say just new tank uglies. Having a refugium on line is counterproductive to increasing n&p and IMO your tank is to young to be running one anyway.

 

[Tft12]

With lots of algae growing on the rocks most people would say that a zero reading on nutrient tests is not really an accurate picture of the nutrient situation in the tank. I don't know what's growing on your rocks though. I should have answered more completely on the nutrient raising - I was just answering the question of how to raise. You're system is only 2 months old and has a lot of something growing in it. I don't think you need to worry about raising nutrient levels. Just let it go through its phases would be my suggestion.

 

[K.miller]

Yeah thats pretty much been my plan. Knock on wood it doesnt really seem to be getting worse it just kinda is what it is. Ive just been trying to get things that eat it and see if i can ride it out. I really just wanted to make sure its not something i wont be able to wait out and will get out of control without some kind of big intervention