Why the Ugly Stage?

[SteveMM62Reef]

I set up my Rescue Biocube, and filled it only with water from my 65 gallon, actually 25 gallons to fill. Also the Filter Sponge spent a couple weeks in the 65 Sump, along with a Media Basket with some Course CaribSea Gravel. I’m getting the brown algae, there are 11 frags in the Aquarium, sparsely fed Reef Roids.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

Are you setting up a QT coral tank or grow out? Some minor ugly phase with new rock almost always happens when switching tanks. Unless you almost have almost zero nutrients (PO4 nitrate).