Is there any way to end the ugly stage early

[tyreefkeeper]

Hi I'm going through the ugly stage now and my tank has 2 clowns and no corals (yet). Is there a way to end the ugly stage early or speed it up

 

[tyreefkeeper]

This came a long at a great time for me as I’m about to start my tank. I plan on using mostly dry rock but want to supplement it was some ocean rock. I plan on adding pods early on and the first signs of algae start adding my Cuc to not let it get established. Although after reading the post by @Reef By Steele I may start them a little earlier and feed with algae tabs.

What are peoples thoughts about keeping the lights off in the tank for awhile but running a light and cheato in the sump for awhile to use that to get established and outcompete the uglies?

I'm glad that you learnt from this thread

 

[lil sumpin]

This came a long at a great time for me as I’m about to start my tank. I plan on using mostly dry rock but want to supplement it was some ocean rock. I plan on adding pods early on and the first signs of algae start adding my Cuc to not let it get established. Although after reading the post by @Reef By Steele I may start them a little earlier and feed with algae tabs.

What are peoples thoughts about keeping the lights off in the tank for awhile but running a light and cheato in the sump for awhile to use that to get established and outcompete the uglies?

You'll want some N and P available. This sounds like it might lead to those two parameters bottoming out if not monitored carefully

 

[Solo McReefer]

What are peoples thoughts about keeping the lights off in the tank for awhile but running a light

I want all that algae to grow

It's being exported to the trash anyway

The more the better, grow it out, then get it out

Additionally, I get a headstart on growing coralline

When I cure live rock in a Brute, of I don't cure it in the tank. There will be a light on it

I don't understand the rationale for not having a light on at this time of a system's maturation

 

[lil sumpin]

Hi I'm going through the ugly stage now and my tank has 2 clowns and no corals (yet). Is there a way to end the ugly stage early or speed it up

Whether you use live or dry rock, you'll get hitchhikers. Whether you use live or dry rock, you'll get an ugly phase. It's inevitable. People swear by LR like it's the ugly cure all but then go on to get GHA, dinos and all that good stuff. Yes, ocean LR often has the beneficial, desirable stuff all over its surface but nuisance algae will still find a way. There's no way to end it early or speed it up. Build husbandry habits, stay consistent with testing and WCs, hire a good CUC and most importantly react and respond calmly. Don't nuke your tank with chemicals

 

[ScottD]

I want all that algae to grow

It's being exported to the trash anyway

The more the better, grow it out, then get it out

Additionally, I get a headstart on growing coralline

When I cure live rock in a Brute, of I don't cure it in the tank. There will be a light on it

I don't understand the rationale for not having a light on at this time of a system's maturation

That was my thought about growing cheato in the sump, easier removal compared to scrubbing algae off the rocks in the display.

My understanding of the reasoning to waiting on lights in the display is the allow time for a bio film to cover the rocks to lessen the surface area for gha and such to grab on and grow on the rock surface. The flip side is that you don’t give coralline a chance to grow without lights.

 

[ScottD]

You'll want some N and P available. This sounds like it might lead to those two parameters bottoming out if not monitored carefully

That’s a good point, hadn’t thought about that.

 

[Enrique7]

What should I do to get coralline algae grow faster?

I have noticed that by simply having something encrusted with coralline in the tank and with your phosphates and nitrates somewhat in check you will start to see it pop up. I started 2 90 gallon frag tanks about a year ago, i added frags with some coralline and about 10lbs of rock from an established tank. Racks were spotted with pink within the first 2 months. In my humble opinion, it is most important to jump start the bacterial population and general micro bio diversity. Bacteria in a bottle works mostly short term, marine denitrifying bacteria is essential to a healthy nice looking system.
I do think the pink and purple helix coralline bottled stuff works. I say that because on my system setup (without live rock) I cycled fast and got over the ugly stqge within 3 months

 

[Solo McReefer]

My rebooted RS 170 is the first system where I've been successful growing cheato(in a Tunze)

I'm not putting a system together without a macro algae component again

As to GHA; broken record for me. I had a system overrun with crysophytes 5 years ago. If you've had that, GHA look beautiful in a tank. Like an green Irish hill, on a Spring morning.

If that space is being occupied by one of the traditional easy to deal with 'uglies', that's a good thing for me, every single day. Dinos, diatoms, GHA are nothing in comparison

Crysophytes will make a strong man cry

 

[Enrique7]

This came a long at a great time for me as I’m about to start my tank. I plan on using mostly dry rock but want to supplement it was some ocean rock. I plan on adding pods early on and the first signs of algae start adding my Cuc to not let it get established. Although after reading the post by @Reef By Steele I may start them a little earlier and feed with algae tabs.

What are peoples thoughts about keeping the lights off in the tank for awhile but running a light and cheato in the sump for awhile to use that to get established and outcompete the uglies?

I think having an algae scrubber during the first year did help to outcompete the uglies. I have never done a black out but I am not against it. Things to consider, silicate levels. New tanks often have sand with high silicate levels and dry new rock leaching phosphates for months at least. I like using clean live phyto, bit of gfo and other types of media can help with the reduction of ugly stage boosters

 

[Formulator]

You could try using one of the bottle bacteria products that are out there. I just set up a new 160 gallon system. I used 100 pounds of live sand and 2 bottles of the API rapid start . Threw some food pellets in to feed the bacteria and waited just a couple days and started adding fish. My ugly stage literally lasted only a couple days . All fish are doing great a month later.

I think it may be more likely you haven’t reached the ugly stage yet my friend.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

Hi I'm going through the ugly stage now and my tank has 2 clowns and no corals (yet). Is there a way to end the ugly stage early or speed it up

U have to take a straw, paper if ya got one, put it in the tank and…Blow some Bubbles!!! All about the gas x change. Keep us posted on the results.

 

[stephanjupillat]

Uv will sterilize phyto easily, but not copepods. Unless the flow is VERY slow. Copepods are huge compared to single cell organisms.

As for ending the ugly stage quickly…Add copepods and dose phyto daily. Doesn’t have to be alive.

Add live ocean sand. As much as you can afford. Rocks are good but there are a lot more bacteria in the sand.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I agree with all that has been advised! Add copepods for sure! Turn lights off all together if no corals in there. I left my lights off completely for the 1st 3.5 months and pretty much avoided the uglies! Fish do not need the light! Get what live rock you can because that in itself will go a very long way! Just be patient! The 1st year of a tank life is hard, but so worth the wait. Just stay away from “fixes” in a bottle.

 

[Reef Puncher]

Will coralline algae help ?

corraline in a bottle worked for me, i have corraline everywhere now. but it took a few months. but the poster above that said adding pods and phyto, is right they eat diatoms and speed you up out of ugly stage. also reduced light, or reduced white light especially, really slows the uglies down.

 

[GARRIGA]

I see these threads and I think puberty and pimples. Is it just me

 

[gbroadbridge]

I see these threads and I think puberty and pimples. Is it just me

But medicines have pretty much solved that one

Here's hoping for tank stages.

 

[GlassMunky]

As for ending the ugly stage quickly…Add copepods and dose phyto daily. Doesn’t have to be alive.

How would dead phyto help any? At that point it’s just more stuff to break down into nutrients as opposed to taking up nutrients like live phyto does.

 

[GARRIGA]

But medicines have pretty much solved that one

Here's hoping for tank stages.

Those medicines not around when I was going through that ugly phase

 

[Reef Puncher]

How would dead phyto help any? At that point it’s just more stuff to break down into nutrients as opposed to taking up nutrients like live phyto does.

id have to agree that dead phyto is not as beneficial. dead phyto's only purpose is to feed corals and organisms. my best guess is he meant for copepod food. so they could eat it. but it also adds nutrients which makes problem worse. live phyto however will absorb nutrients and feed copepods both. live is definitely the way to go.

 

[tyreefkeeper]

Update on the ugly stage : I reduce lights but I see a very small patch of cyano on the sand. I may add 2 scarlet hermits to help.