Show it off, O'natural!

[12gallonsofhex]

Let's not be embarrassed, or wait a year to post our newer tank pics. Turn down the blue/green light, leave on the 'white' lights and share your ugly stage. It's normal, it's natural, and we all go through it. Maybe others wont freak out and overreact to the normal ugly stage if we share our ugly!

 

[Retro Reefer]

Nice! Is that the two little fishy’s “stacks” rock

 

[12gallonsofhex]

Lol, thanks. It is 'Marco Rock' that my lfs had on sale. This is the 3rd ugly stage they have gone through. First was diatoms, second looked like dinos but unconfirmed, and this may be green cyanobacteria? Shortening light schedule and adding a different kind of bacteria to hopefully out compete it.

 

[Robb1414]

Well mine just started....early stages of the first "ugly"....

 

[12gallonsofhex]

Nice flame Angel. It's looking good!

 

[JoshH]

I must say I'm loving this thread and hope it gets some traction. So many of us panic over algae issues and we sometimes forget that it is natural and will happen no matter what we do. We might as well embrace and enjoy the natural look

 

[12gallonsofhex]

I must say I'm loving this thread and hope it gets some traction. So many of us panic over algae issues and we sometimes forget that it is natural and will happen no matter what we do. We might as well embrace and enjoy the natural look

Me too. My first reaction is to want to do something about the perceived problem, but thanks to Reef2reef and Reef News Network and BRS and Melevs reef and Reef dudes and countless other successful reefers I know to keep the parameters stable, keep up on maintenance and let the tank mature. I hope this thread encourages other new reefers to stay the course and enjoy the journey.

 

[Robb1414]

So....it's crazy what a few days can do! Here are a few updated pics of my ugly first stage. Do I need to be concerned with the sand? Should I be doing something about it? All of my water parameters are perfect.

 

[fish farmer]

Keep up on those water changes and add a CUC once in a while...

Not new tank uglies by any means, more like mid life crisis in year 2012...

 

[Schnizzle]

Ha! I wish I saw this yesterday. This was mid cleaning day last week. I have to scrub down 1” GHA off the rocks every week and pick out anything on the sandbed that it can attach itself too.

 

[12gallonsofhex]

So....it's crazy what a few days can do! Here are a few updated pics of my ugly first stage. Do I need to be concerned with the sand? Should I be doing something about it? All of my water parameters are perfect.

It looks like the early stage of the diatom algae bloom that my tank went through right after the cycle. It got a lot worse than that so I decreased the light output and added a couple of Trochus snails. It did its thing and eventually died out. I got a huge pod explosion durring the bloom. Unfortunately their are not as many now.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Always a favorite " UGLY " Pic - Not mine by any means

 

[Jamo7]

Here’s mine. Started down the saltwater road in November! With a sick toadstool. (Doing better though)

 

[FishyFish]

Awesome idea! This thread will be really encouraging for noobs like me. I just finished cleaning what I think was the first cyano bloom from mine but now i kinda wish I'd taken pictures first.

 

[Ratsinmyhead]

Following and will be posting pics tomorrow. Tank is only 2 months old and it’s not horrid but it is ugly.

 

[Ratsinmyhead]

This was week 3 before a cleaning. Looking a lot better now but the brown has turned to green

 

[Jon Fishman]

 

[Jon Fishman]

doh! dupe

 

[BOWHUNTER4250]

Cant turn off all my blues but this is only 1 ( sorry ) new 300 DD finally up and running for 2 weeks now super stoked to get this filled with sticks !

 

[vetteguy53081]

Cant turn off all my blues but this is only 1 ( sorry ) new 300 DD finally up and running for 2 weeks now super stoked to get this filled with sticks !

Nice start