What is this algae?

[sir_rogue]

Hey! I recently picked up a currently running biocube 14g. The guy I bought it from didn't have time to maintain a small tank. I've started to do daily water changes 50% and daily water parameters. I've been able to see a few concerning things in the tank. Below I've attached photos of a brown soft coral looking thing. And also I have brown algae looking stuff on the sand bed and also on the sides of the tank. I'm not sure what is it. But was hoping somebody here has dealt with it. I'm going to change out the current sand bed with new sand and might even get new live rock just for a better *fresh start* any info would gratefully be appreciated!

 

[Ludders]

Your brown soft coral looks like aiptasia and it's a pest we all try and irradicate or avoid. The brown on your substrate looks like diatoms and your tank has probably kicked off a cycle by the looks of it.

Did you get it from him as it is now? With water, rock and sand?

 

[Coralfuture]

Your brown soft coral looks like aiptasia and it's a pest we all try and eradicate or avoid. The brown on your substrate looks like diatoms and your tank has probably kicked off a cycle by the looks of it.

Did you get it from him as it is now? With water, rock and sand?

+1
The coral is aptasia
Your tank is cycling and it will help to actually stop the water changes to let the nitrogen cycle complete
I wouldn't bother with all new rock and substrate just because its not going to help or hurt anything that much.
The aptasia I wouldn't worry too much about either as mentioned above its a pest but its also hard to eradicate due to the fact that if 1 cell of its body survives it will multiply.
I have a 14gal bio cube and I haven't done a water change in that tank in 6 months maybe....its my neglect tank but even still the crabs and corals in there don't seem to mind.

 

[sir_rogue]

Your brown soft coral looks like aiptasia and it's a pest we all try and irradicate or avoid. The brown on your substrate looks like diatoms and your tank has probably kicked off a cycle by the looks of it.

Did you get it from him as it is now? With water, rock and sand?

Yeah I bought it with two clownfish, sand rock and filter intact. When I had picked the tank up it was working 100%,

Also could I dry out the rock and kill the aiptasia?

Also also I'll post parameters later on!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Personally , I’d the aptasia aren’t bad. I’d test the phosphates and then just let it be.

IMO , what you’re seeing is is just a bit of ugly phase. Most likely it’ll pass.

Decent cured aged live rock is a good foundation to build on.

 

[Ludders]

Okay, stop changing the water, just drop to a weekly 10% maintenance water change from now on.

Start to build up a clean up crew and you can try and kill the aptasia off with kalkwasser. I would try and get rid of it, as it does sting stuff like zoas and it's fairly ugly. It can also grow large, I joke with my mate that he's trying to get his to host his clown fish it's getting that large

 

[sir_rogue]

Okay, stop changing the water, just drop to a weekly 10% maintenance water change from now on.

Start to build up a clean up crew and you can try and kill the aptasia off with kalkwasser. I would try and get rid of it, as it does sting stuff like zoas and it's fairly ugly. It can also grow large, I joke with my mate that he's trying to get his to host his clown fish it's getting that large

10-4, yeah I'm new to saltwater and decided to jump on offer up and found a sweet deal on this tank. Only con is this tank is use to being maintained a certain way, my mentality was ether attack with water changes and monitor or start brand new and keep filter intact so I could recycle. The benefit is that everything is ready to go and it's just diagnosing as I go along. The previous owner said its been up for a year now. He had a few coral but sold those separatly. Thanks for the info

 

[sir_rogue]

Personally , I’d the aptasia aren’t bad. I’d test the phosphates and then just let it be.

IMO , what you’re seeing is is just a bit of ugly phase. Most likely it’ll pass.

Decent cured aged live rock is a good foundation to build on.

"Most likely" this uncertiny worries me. [emoji23]

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

"Most likely" this uncertiny worries me. [emoji23]

Lol.
Welcome to Reefing.

 

[Ludders]

"most likey" means we're more than likely right, but can't guarantee it. All tanks go through varying degrees of ebs and flows of "uglies" you can control stuff, but you'll still be experiencing and learning new things this time next year.

 

[CindyKz]

No_guarantees_in_this_hobby,for_sure.

 

[Coralfuture]

Now we wait for cyano bacteria stage or learning....