What is this on my frogspawn?

Sarah1990 · Apr 21, 2020

I had velvet in my tank so it's been fallow for just over 2 weeks, in that time I've got a massive amount of algae as I hadn't yet needed a cleanup crew.
I've noticed today my corals look unhappy and I've noticed something on the base of the frogspawn. Any idea what this is and how to deal with it? I'm starting to think I should just shut the tank down at this point

Mikedawg · Apr 21, 2020

Pineapple sponge and clove polyp. Leave the harmless sponges alone and scrape off polyp if you don't like the way it looks or are concerned about spread. Doubt if these are causing coral problems.

Sarah1990 · Apr 21, 2020

Mikedawg said:
Pineapple sponge and clove polyp. Leave the harmless sponges alone and scrape off polyp

Which is which please?

Hannahrain · Apr 21, 2020

Pineapple sponge in the first and 3rd pics, the 2nd pic is some kind of clove polyps maybe. You have something else there too, maybe some other kind of sponge. Pineapple sponges went away on their own in my tank. Wait for more experienced answers before you make any changes though. Good Luck

Sarah1990 · Apr 21, 2020

Hannahrain said:
Pineapple sponge in the first and 3rd pics, the 2nd pic is some kind of clove polyps maybe. You have something else there too, maybe some other kind of sponge. Pineapple sponges went away on their own in my tank. Wait for more experienced answers before you make any changes though. Good Luck

Oh I see yes, I should have said the 2nd picture is my pulsing xenia which has started looking extremely sorry for itself and looks like it's being eaten but the only thing in the tank at the moment is a pistol shrimp

Mikedawg · Apr 21, 2020

Ah, yep Xenia and hopefully it will recover soon. Are you happy with water parameters?

Sarah1990 · Apr 21, 2020

Mikedawg said:
Ah, yep Xenia and hopefully it will recover soon. Are you happy with water parameters?

I'm testing now, salinity is a little high due to evaporation, I am making some RODI now

Mikedawg · Apr 21, 2020

Sarah1990 said:
I'm testing now, salinity is a little high due to evaporation, I am making some RODI now

Good luck and don't give up; we all learn from experiencing difficulty

Sarah1990 · Apr 21, 2020

Mikedawg said:
Good luck and don't give up; we all learn from experiencing difficulty

Thank you.
I don't want to add a clean up crew as it would restart the fallow period from scratch and also my watchman goby is in the QT so I couldn't QT them anyway.
Will cleaning of the rocks and glass be fine until I can get sorted with a CUC?

Mikedawg · Apr 21, 2020

Sarah1990 said:
Thank you.
I don't want to add a clean up crew as it would restart the fallow period from scratch and also my watchman goby is in the QT so I couldn't QT them anyway.
Will cleaning of the rocks and glass be fine until I can get sorted with a CUC?

I didn't see a "massive" amount of algae; tank looked relatively clean, almost in ugly stage. Without knowing more, I would clean glass, syphon off rocks and test/monitor nitrate and phosphate to better control algae. Many problems are solved through stability as you know.

Sarah1990 · Apr 23, 2020

Mikedawg said:
I didn't see a "massive" amount of algae; tank looked relatively clean, almost in ugly stage. Without knowing more, I would clean glass, syphon off rocks and test/monitor nitrate and phosphate to better control algae. Many problems are solved through stability as you know.

It's mainly the stuff on the sand that I want to get rid of but if I siphon it it's just back in a day or two.
I tested the water and found
ammonia 0.4ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 20ppm
PH about 8.1
so I'm making water for a water change, should I add bacteria?
I cant work out this alkalinity test at all, do you know how it should be done maybe? I don't have a test for phosphate so I will order one

badluckman · Apr 23, 2020

Never used that kit, but the instructions seem pretty clear. Add 5ml of tankwater to container with drops on the side. Draw alk reagent into pipette and drop 1 drop, swirl 10 seconds and check color - if blue, repeat 1 drop 10 sec swirl and look. Once the clor becomes green you read the amount of drops that are below the waterline and you have your KH.

If you start with 10ml instead of 5ml water I'm guessing the accuracy is higher but requires more reagent. You'll also have to divide the amount of drops indicated on the side of the container by 2 to get the correct KH.

homer1475 · Apr 23, 2020

Looks like a new tank with the new tank uglies(diatoms in your case). They typically burn themselves out as the silicates in the new sand gets used up.

Your going to go through quite a bit of algae in this early stage of your tank. I would hate to say it, but if that little bit of diatoms are making you consider if you want to tear the tank down, you might as well do it. It's only going to get way worse before it gets better.

Honestly, the ocean is full of algae, no way you can keep it out of your tank. Get used to it, you'll always have some sort of algae growing. If you don't, your tank is not healthy.

FWIW, when people take pictures of their tanks for forums, magazine articles, etc, they clean the sandbed and glas so the reef looks pristine. But go look at those tanks when no ones around, they have algae growing. Don't take pictures on websites, magazines, etc as what a "normal" reef looks like.

Mikedawg · Apr 23, 2020

Great point about picture taking; I'm guilty as well

Mikedawg · Apr 23, 2020

Sarah1990 said:
It's mainly the stuff on the sand that I want to get rid of but if I siphon it it's just back in a day or two.
I tested the water and found
ammonia 0.4ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 20ppm
PH about 8.1
so I'm making water for a water change, should I add bacteria?
I cant work out this alkalinity test at all, do you know how it should be done maybe? I don't have a test for phosphate so I will order one

There are some good You Tube videos on how to use RedSea test kits including the test for alk; assume you have the Master kit. Biggest concern for me would be getting ammonia to 0, and it may well be that your tank simply has not fully cycled - how old is it and have you measured rise and fall of ammonia over the first few weeks? Probably just a matter of time before tank stabilizes, diatoms disappear, algae is under control (you'll always want some as a visual indicator of tank health imho) and your water parameters improve.

Sarah1990 · Apr 23, 2020

Mikedawg said:
There are some good You Tube videos on how to use RedSea test kits including the test for alk; assume you have the Master kit. Biggest concern for me would be getting ammonia to 0, and it may well be that your tank simply has not fully cycled - how old is it and have you measured rise and fall of ammonia over the first few weeks? Probably just a matter of time before tank stabilizes, diatoms disappear, algae is under control (you'll always want some as a visual indicator of tank health imho) and your water parameters improve.

I set it up in December and cycled with ammonia, I measured the rise and fall of ammonia and nitrite then added fish in mid January. On all of my checks with fish in the tank ammonia and nitrite were 0ppm and nitrate about 20 as it is now.
It's been fallow due to velvet for 3 weeks tomorrow but I've been putting in a bit of food every few days to keep the cycle going...I'm guessing I've not been putting in enough then

Mikedawg · Apr 23, 2020

Sarah1990 said:
I set it up in December and cycled with ammonia, I measured the rise and fall of ammonia and nitrite then added fish in mid January. On all of my checks with fish in the tank ammonia and nitrite were 0ppm and nitrate about 20 as it is now.
It's been fallow due to velvet for 3 weeks tomorrow but I've been putting in a bit of food every few days to keep the cycle going...I'm guessing I've not been putting in enough then

Personally, given age of tank and presence of diatoms (didn't see any green algae) as well as having no fish ???, etc. I would not feed more, maybe add some bacteria since your present level doesn't seem to be consuming current ammonia (.4) load and simply wait awhile, measuring ammonia every few days. Perhaps your treatment for velvet has impacted cycle and more time will allow biological processes to fully stabilize. Patience may be best tool you have. Good luck

Sarah1990 · Apr 23, 2020

homer1475 said:
Your going to go through quite a bit of algae in this early stage of your tank. I would hate to say it, but if that little bit of diatoms are making you consider if you want to tear the tank down, you might as well do it. It's only going to get way worse before it gets better.

It's notthe algae that's making me think about tearing it down it's the fact that I messed up and didn't set up a QT and got velvet, only managed to save 1 fish, and now my xenia looks like its dying ;Nailbiting
I'm sure I can use it all as a learning curve and hopefully avoid it again.
I was just wondering what's the best way to deal with the algae without getting a CUC which would reset my fallow period...I'm guessing it would be ok to just continue as I am with cleaning off the glass and rocks

homer1475 · Apr 23, 2020

Most online vendors when ordering CUC keep their CUC out of fish systems. I know john over at @reefcleaners does, as does LA.

I personally do not QT CUC if buying from somewhere where they have not been in a system with fish.

Mikedawg · Apr 23, 2020

Sarah1990 said:
It's notthe algae that's making me think about tearing it down it's the fact that I messed up and didn't set up a QT and got velvet, only managed to save 1 fish, and now my xenia looks like its dying ;Nailbiting
I'm sure I can use it all as a learning curve and hopefully avoid it again.
I was just wondering what's the best way to deal with the algae without getting a CUC which would reset my fallow period...I'm guessing it would be ok to just continue as I am with cleaning off the glass and rocks

Yes, time to give Mother Nature some time. Learning can be painful and we all have challenges - makes it interesting for sure.