ID's on my cycling tank

[chemfisher]

Hey guys, so when I got up this morning and turned the lights on the tank everything was normal (as it was yesterday) but sometime between about 9:00am and 1:00pm there has been a slight algae? outbreak on the sand. I am thinking that it is perfectly normal and a good sign of progress but I'll put a pic of what it looks like to see what yall think!

These two pictures show the brownish algae on the ls.

These two pictures (sorry for the poor quality) there is some sort of a coral/nem on my lr that I'd like to know what is (it's beginning to grow and is definitely alive!) I mostly just want to make sure that it is not something bad that I should be trying to kill!

Thanks for your inputs!:smile:

 

[chemfisher]

my hitchhiker looks like it is easiest to spot on the last pic, and it's about half way up the rock towards the left side.

 

[k2parkstar]

That's your diatom bloom, on the sand. That's good.

The other is an aiptasia anemone. You definitely want to kill it. Two easy things you can do. One is aiptasia x. I've got some you can get from me at the meeting. The other take the piece of rock out and hold a flame on it for a solid minute or so and burn it off.

 

[NanoPoseidon]

That's your diatom bloom, on the sand. That's good.

The other is an aiptasia anemone. You definitely want to kill it. Two easy things you can do. One is aiptasia x. I've got some you can get from me at the meeting. The other take the piece of rock out and hold a flame on it for a solid minute or so and burn it off.

+1 You definitely want to get rid of the aipstasia before it starts multiplying. They are just a nuisance that can get difficult to get rid of later. Another solution I have been successful with is superglueing over it if its coming from a hole (as long as there isn't somewhere else for it to come out) There are a million videos on youtube for getting rid of aiptasia. Watch some and decide whats best/easiest for you! And, looks like your well on your way moving through the cycle. Once those Nitrites get to 0 and your Nitrates start coming down, start getting yourself a CUC! NP

 

[chemfisher]

Ok thanks guys !! Ill see what I can do tonight to get rid of that. I think there is one more of them on the backside of the rock too.

 

[CoryC]

Nitrates won't come down without a water change, but they will stop rising. That signifies the end of the cycle.

 

[NanoPoseidon]

Nitrates won't come down without a water change, but they will stop rising. That signifies the end of the cycle.

+1... Stop rising was what I should have said... May also want to determi e if that algae on the rock is just GHA or bryopsis. If it ends up being bryopsis, it will be easier to take care of it with a dip and a scrub before you start moving forward with inhabitants. That stuff is the devil and doesn't respond to light/NO3/PO4 starvation..... If it ends up being the common GHA, it will be consumed by CUC or go away when your tank is completely cycled. Hope that helps! Good job by the way!

NP

 

[chemfisher]

+1... Stop rising was what I should have said... May also want to determi e if that algae on the rock is just GHA or bryopsis. If it ends up being bryopsis, it will be easier to take care of it with a dip and a scrub before you start moving forward with inhabitants. That stuff is the devil and doesn't respond to light/NO3/PO4 starvation..... If it ends up being the common GHA, it will be consumed by CUC or go away when your tank is completely cycled. Hope that helps! Good job by the way!

NP

Thanks! I guess I had assumed that it was GHA but now ... :fear: LOL I will for sure be looking into that because it wouldn't be too bad to take that small piece of rock out and nip it all while there's nothing else to worry about.

As for the aiptasia Should I try removing the rock or getting something and injecting it? If the rock is removed and burned off like suggested above will that rid my tank of this pest more definitely than injecting it?

 

[NanoPoseidon]

I didn't mean to alarm you as it is probably just GHA... Just trying to help you be mindful of things in the infancy of your tank! Easier that way! As for the aiptasia, right now I would assume its easier to pull it out and treat it with fire! Its a better chance of killing it since the injections have to be pretty precise.

 

[chemfisher]

Do the CUC not eat the bryopsis? I think that it mostly looks like GHA (from a quick google image search of the two)... and could have a little of the bryopsis in there also but not sure if this would happen or if it is most likely all GHA?

 

[NanoPoseidon]

The lowdown on bryopsis is this: its harder to get rid of the longer its left. That's not to say its the plague or something that is insurmountable.... I apologize if I gave you that impression. The big differences in it and other algae is a few things; 1. Its very hardy! Even if you get your tank to pristine shape, it will continue to thrive, even without light. Other types, will virtually go away with regular maintenance or even a blackout for a few days. 2. CUC's are more particular when it comes to bryopsis and won't touch it (maybe because of #3). I've heard stories of some types (lettuce nudibranch) that feed on it but even if that works, that's all that particular species eats and then you starve it to death... :'( 3. You can't just pull it off. I'm sure it has something to do with the fibrous makeup of the plant (maybe we have a botanist in the house to expand) but that stuff is tough. Most people end up doing peroxide dips and scrubbing or I think some have had success with marine tech m (something like that.

All that being said, I'm not even remotely sure that is what I see. I just wanted to plant the seed to always take advice/opinions for what they are and do your own research, ask plenty of questions, and continue to form your own ideas of what works for you and your tank!

Hope this helps!

NP

 

[k2parkstar]

^^^agreed

 

[chemfisher]

Well what's done is done lol ... I pulled the rock out and burnt off two pieces of the aiptasia and took a scrubber used only in the tank and scrubbed the corner of the rock that possibly wasn't the GHA so well see how everything goes this week!! Thank you for the advice guys!!

 

[k2parkstar]

Well what's done is done lol ... I pulled the rock out and burnt off two pieces of the aiptasia and took a scrubber used only in the tank and scrubbed the corner of the rock that possibly wasn't the GHA so well see how everything goes this week!! Thank you for the advice guys!!

Nice, trying to get things early is better before you have coral and eveything.

 

[NanoPoseidon]

Well what's done is done lol ... I pulled the rock out and burnt off two pieces of the aiptasia and took a scrubber used only in the tank and scrubbed the corner of the rock that possibly wasn't the GHA so well see how everything goes this week!! Thank you for the advice guys!!

You will be surpirsed how quickly you learn about things and I bet it won't be long before you are helping me or someone else out with advice about how you handled something! Karma plays a big part in this hobby! Lol