What is it

[PGriff]

I started cycling my tank on March 23rd using Dr. Tims. It's threw the cycle already. Nitrites and ammonia spiked the nitrates spiked, I've done the water change about 10 days ago. I've been waiting till the 3rd to put in my first fish ( pair of Midnight clowns ). I Noticed this in the last few days growing on the sand ( Bahama Oolight ) CaribSea. I was hoping someone can tell me what it is and if it's still safe to put the clowns in? Here are my water parameters as of yesterday.

ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10 I was going to do a water change just before putting them in.
ph 8.0
Temp 76.3

let me know if there is anything else you need to know.

 

[PGriff]

those were a little dar so I turned the white up on the light, maybe this helps?

 

[PGriff]

those were a little dar so I turned the white up on the light, maybe this helps?

 

[Softhammer]

I got news for you bud, your tank cycling has yet to begin. White= devoid of life. Take it slow with stocking. Those spots do look like the beginnings of cyanobacteria. Not a bad thing, everyone goes through it. It’s the true cycle beginning.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Not sure exactly what you are referring to. The brown spots? They may be diatoms growing if your done with the cycle. They will form at some point during initial stages. They will eat any silicate from the sand. Once the finish off the silicate they will die off.

If that’s not what you referring to , sorry. Let us know.

 

[Lukas75]

You have a ways to go cycle wise. Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank, but if the tank is processing ammonia then it should be fine to add the fish. With that clean rock and clean sand you are probably in for an ugly phase and this could be it starting. It's very hard to tell from the pictures but could be cyano. I wouldn't worry too much about it. I would just ride it out for now.

 

[Lukas75]

Not sure exactly what you are referring to. The brown spots? They may be diatoms growing if your done with the cycle. They will form at some point during initial stages. They will eat any silicate from the sand. Once the finish off the silicate they will die off.

If that’s not what you referring to , sorry. Let us know.

I forgot about the diatom phase. +1

 

[RIreefGuy]

Hi. What size tank do u have? How much rock etc? The cycle isn't a one time event it's a constant thing in your tank. I agree with adding things slowly. By doing so it allows your beneficial bacteria to grow in parallel with your bio load. I agree that your have completed the first step in the cycle but its def wise to take everything slow in this hobby =)

 

[PGriff]

Not sure exactly what you are referring to. The brown spots? They may be diatoms growing if your done with the cycle. They will form at some point during initial stages. They will eat any silicate from the sand. Once the finish off the silicate they will die off.

If that’s not what you referring to ,

sorry. Let us know.

Yeah, that's what I was referring to. They are a little lite shades of brown and it just started showing up on the otherwise white sand about 3 days ago. This is my fist tank so I wasn't sure if this is normal or if it will hurt the fish?

 

[RIreefGuy]

Looks like some algea. Fish will be fine

 

[Lukas75]

Yeah, that's what I was referring to. They are a little lite shades of brown and it just started showing up on the otherwise white sand about 3 days ago. This is my fist tank so I wasn't sure if this is normal or if it will hurt the fish?

If it looks like dust it's diatoms and that is completely normal at this point. If it's brown and slimy it's dinos which is worse, but I doubt it is.

 

[PGriff]

Hi. What size tank do u have? How much rock etc? The cycle isn't a one time event it's a constant thing in your tank. I agree with adding things slowly. By doing so it allows your beneficial bacteria to grow in parallel with your bio load. I agree that your have completed the first step in the cycle but its def wise to take everything slow in this hobby =)

Believe me when i say i am learning the SLOW part in this. LOL I've never been good at patience and i am learning them every day. lol

It's a 40 breeder with a 20 sump. I was planning on putting the 2 clowns in and adding so Chateo to the refugium at the same time. Hope that'll work? Nitrates are currently at 10 but i was planning on doing a water change just before putting them in.

 

[PGriff]

If it looks like dust it's diatoms and that is completely normal at this point. If it's brown and slimy it's dinos which is worse, but I doubt it is.

without having touched it,it looks like a dust spot from outside the tank?

 

[Lukas75]

It sounds like you are on the right path and it's just the diatom phase. I would say you're good to add the fish and crank up the fuge .

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Dude or dudette, you are doing great.

Don’t worry about nitrates at 10. Just key in on major ones. Salinity, temp. Be doubly sure you saw ammoni spike and go away. The biggest threat to fish in new tank is the ammonia. Nitrite and nitrate are not toxic at the levels we usually see. Ammonia gets an issue at .2, at 2 ppm it is toxic.

It should be ok to add a fish and clean up crew slowly. New tank really will only support a few inverts food wise. Most likely it is diatoms, I would not expect Dino at this stage, although never be 100%.

But yes, take up a secondary hobby to keep you occupied while you let your tank become a tank

 

[RIreefGuy]

Good luck and keep us posted. Let's see some pics of the new guys when u add em

 

[PGriff]

Dude or dudette, you are doing great.

Don’t worry about nitrates at 10. Just key in on major ones. Salinity, temp. Be doubly sure you saw ammoni spike and go away. The biggest threat to fish in new tank is the ammonia. Nitrite and nitrate are not toxic at the levels we usually see. Ammonia gets an issue at .2, at 2 ppm it is toxic.

It should be ok to add a fish and clean up crew slowly. New tank really will only support a few inverts food wise. Most likely it is diatoms, I would not expect Dino at this stage, although never be 100%.

But yes, take up a secondary hobby to keep you occupied while you let your tank become a tank

Using that API kit. those colors can be close, but yes, ammonia spiked between 2.0 and 4.0 the nitrites followed between 1.0 to 2.0 nitrate spiked around 40ppm I waited a few days and checked it, and the nitrates started coming down a little, ( may have been the color chart.) but that's when I did the water change, That was like 10 days ago. Then about 3 days ago, BOOM, these brown spots showed up. lol This is my first salt tank and everything has gone together really well to this point and when I saw them I wasn't sure what they are. I feel better knowing it's normal.

.....and Dude lol

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Love it,

First thing I would recommend is getting a few better test kits. I like api for basics, but we will need to get more accurate kits as you move along. Salifert are good and not super expensive. Going forward you will want to be sure to keep and eye on salinity (do you have an ATO, or need one if not sure) . Temp is always a big one, heaters for cold and chiller if it gates crazy hot. Or keep the house at a confrotable level. Ph going forward, alkalinity, then when getting ready for coral we need to move to calcium, mag and few other tests.

Keep an eye on the sand and rocks, should blanket a lot, then boom gone.

Keep posting questions, dude