Ugly phase or maybe just high phosphates??

[SalinityNoob]

Hi, everyone. I have posted a few times and I am rather new. But here’s what I have for you guys today!

I have some ugly stage. The tank is some 70 or so days old since I added two clowns. I started with only two clowns and have added 10 snails, 1 cleaner shrimp, a Pom Pom crab, one Halloween hermit and one tiger conch. I had an early stage of brown that went away quickly after adding inverts. Not sure that made the difference to be honest.

Now it’s getting green on my rock work and my sand bed has quite a bit of brown growing. My phosphates using the Marine Master Multiparameter Photometer are showing 0.58. I believe I read this to be high.

I try not to over feed, and I change filter socks every few days. I don’t use a skimmer as the one that came with the tank didn’t work. I do use an IM filter caddy with the traditional caddy inserts for water clarity and phosphate assistance.

Should I just watch the tank and see the ugly phase through? Is there a better alternative to just standing by idle? Should I do a water change or even add chemipure blue?

Thanks!

Chris

 

[peterhos]

Hi There My new 50g tank is 9 months old and still quite green, although the brown phase has faded. I have added a few more snails than you, have lowered the lights a little, tried not to overfeed, and with phosphates down to 0.09 - 0.15 the green is also fading gradually day by day. So, maybe buy half a dozen snails of different types per week and see how the green fares. Luckily I have no hair algae.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

the phosphate is very high. Did you start the tank with dry white rocks? Dry rocks can store phosphate, so it is possible they are leaching phosphate back into your water. You will need some kind of phosphate remover, phosguard and rowaphos are the more popular ones.

At 3 months old, your tank is getting into the "uglies", or "new tank syndrome", its very normal, we've all had to fight algae. Controlling and removing nitrates and phosphate, and manually scrubbing rocks during water changes are the most effective ways to fight algae.

 

[kevgib67]

What are your phosphates and how are you testing? Can you provide a picture of your tank?

 

[kevgib67]

If you mean green like this, it goes away on its own.

 

[Doctorgori]

^^^^ that’s VERY normal, I would not give that a second thought ….
BTW, I’ll stick my neck out here and suggest the following testing regime:
phos: 2x weekly …. I do use GFO at 1/2 the recommended dosage on top off with Phosphat E or equiv
I’d Test 2-3X week for alk but I dont see many corals so perhaps not….coraline on the glass would be a good sign

 

[Jekyl]

70 days in is only scratching the surface of the ugly phase. Mine didn't really get going until around month 6. All of it is normal and supposed to happen.

 

[SalinityNoob]

I bought the rocks from BRS. So they were dry and maybe live at some point in time.

the phosphate is very high. Did you start the tank with dry white rocks? Dry rocks can store phosphate, so it is possible they are leaching phosphate back into your water. You will need some kind of phosphate remover, phosguard and rowaphos are the more popular ones.

At 3 months old, your tank is getting into the "uglies", or "new tank syndrome", it’s very normal, we've all had to fight algae. Controlling and removing nitrates and phosphate, and manually scrubbing rocks during water changes are the most effective ways to fight algae.

 

[SalinityNoob]

What are your phosphates and how are you testing? Can you provide a picture of your tank?

Phosphate number is mentioned in my original post as is what I’m using to test.

 

[SalinityNoob]

Hi There My new 50g tank is 9 months old and still quite green, although the brown phase has faded. I have added a few more snails than you, have lowered the lights a little, tried not to overfeed, and with phosphates down to 0.09 - 0.15 the green is also fading gradually day by day. So, maybe buy half a dozen snails of different types per week and see how the green fares. Luckily I have no hair algae.

Thanks. I’ll look into more snails and some kind of phosphate control.