Once I started two nanos at the same time. Nearly identical setups -other than lighting and sand. One was beautiful, the other never left the ugly. Nine months in I took down the lagging tank. It also just depends on what kinda uglies you are having. Some things can be remedied others have "longer lasting" issues. An infestation of aptasia, flatworms, and an algae that has some sort of anchoring system and you are into the uglies for a longer haul.
What do you got goin' on?? In your first year they should come and go. Things like coraline algae help a lot with keeping other algae off the rocks.
I have some coralline growing, although most of my rock is covered in cyano/dinos. I also have a very small amount of bubble algae in my DT but I grow it profusely in my sump (I pull out handfuls of it every week or two). I have a black spiney urchin, which are known to chomp on coralline, although I've not seen him do it.
My corals are generally not in great shape. I have some zoos, a torch and a riccordia that are petty healthy. I also have two rock flower anemones that seem very happy.
Other corals that I've attempted (favias, acroporas, green slimers, some zoas, etc.) are dead or dying.
The bottom line is....UGLINESS
I am very careful about regular water changes (20% every other week). I used to do them weekly but my nitrates and phosphorous were zero, so I'm trying to decrease my nutrient export.
My water parameters are as follows:
Salinity 1.0126
Alk 11.0
Calcium 525
Nitrates 3
Phosphorous 17
Nitrite 0
Ammonia 0
Mg 1500
I dose BRS 2 part, Mg, Red Sea Coral Colors. I'd say my parameters are pretty stable because I use an Apex and am very careful to follow my maintenance schedule. I'll post some pictures later.
I think anything in the first year or so is part of maturing a tank.
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