New Saltwater Tank BioCube 16 Gallon - Clownfish

[Reefahholic]

The ugly phase usually kicks off about the 3rd or 4th month. IMO, one of the best ways to get through it is to keep a good N&P level/ ratio. Definitely don’t let P bottom out in a young tank with dry rock and sand. It will become a big mess, and feed all the ugly algae species and slimes that thrive in a low nutrient or zero nutrient environment. Also, make sure to get the major elements in check early on as this will help the overall stability of the system. The big 3…plus…element’s like Bromide, Boron, Potassium, Strontium…and if you can…get Iodine in there at 60-75 ug/L. It’s a really important trace element. Highly recommend Red Sea Blue bucket salt as most of these elements will fall into a decent range in a young system like this with biweekly 20% water changes. Then just add what’s low.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

The ugly phase usually kicks off about the 3rd or 4th month. IMO, one of the best ways to get through it is to keep a good N&P level/ ratio. Definitely don’t let P bottom out in a young tank with dry rock and sand. It will become a big mess, and feed all the ugly algae species and slimes that thrive in a low nutrient or zero nutrient environment. Also, make sure to get the major elements in check early on as this will help the overall stability of the system. The big 3…plus…element’s like Bromide, Boron, Potassium, Strontium…and if you can…get Iodine in there at 60-75 ug/L. It’s a really important trace element. Highly recommend Red Sea Blue bucket salt as most of these elements will fall into a decent range in a young system like this with biweekly 20% water changes. Then just add what’s low.

so phosphate is high.

PH - 8.0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 25
Salinity - 1.021
Phosphate - 2.3
Calcium - 424
Magnesium - 1277
Alkalinity - 8.5

 

[Reefahholic]

so phosphate is high.

PH - 8.0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 25
Salinity - 1.021
Phosphate - 2.3
Calcium - 424
Magnesium - 1277
Alkalinity - 8.5

Better high than low, but that is really high.

2.3 ppm?

Are you sure it’s not 0.23 ppm?

Are you feeding crazy heavy?

 

[newfishhobbiest]

Better high than low, but that is really high.

2.3 ppm?

Are you sure it’s not 0.23 ppm?

Are you feeding crazy heavy?

Feeding once a day only, one day frozen brine shrimp (1/4th piece), next day 6 to 7 pellets - altering with different foods.

 

[Reefahholic]

Feeding once a day only, one day frozen brine shrimp (1/4th piece), next day 6 to 7 pellets - altering with different foods.

If phosphate is rising, reduce the feeds. Try to feed only what the system can handle.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

If phosphate is rising, reduce the feeds. Try to feed only what the system can handle.

yes, also I am getting the skunk cleaner shrimp and some snails, that will help with extra food that is left over on the sand. Thank you

 

[Sharkbait19]

Check your source water. Mine has high phosphate content which makes algae an uphill battle.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

Check your source water. Mine has high phosphate content which makes algae an uphill battle.

Yea I am only going to get RO/DI water and make my own salt water at home.

Here are the pictures from today, I got a skunk cleaner shrimp and some snails for CUC.

brown algae from rocks is gone, most only on sand at bottom, going to vacuum the sandbed on Tuesday with waterchange. The corals didn't open too much today #reefsquad

 

[Reefahholic]

Yea I am only going to get RO/DI water and make my own salt water at home.

Here are the pictures from today, I got a skunk cleaner shrimp and some snails for CUC.

brown algae from rocks is gone, most only on sand at bottom, going to vacuum the sandbed on Tuesday with waterchange. The corals didn't open too much today #reefsquad

Did you use tap water initially?

 

[Dkcav59]

Diatoms...don't worry about them, they will go away on their own eventually. Some CUC will supposedly eat them, but I haven't had any luck with that when I first started. Just ride them out like many other "uglies" that are on their way!

I added a power head to break the surface of the water. I also tried my white spectrum to 10%and my blue to 80%. A week later my foggy looking water is now crystal clear. You will need to top off the tank more often, but that's no big deal.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

Did you use tap water initially?

No brought salt water from store, never tap water.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

This coral didn't open. #reefsquad

 

[Sharkbait19]

This coral didn't open. #reefsquad

It’s green star polyp - one of the hardiest corals out there. I’m pretty sure you could grow it in a toilet if it were filled with saltwater.
It looks like it’s starting to open up, the rest should follow soon. GSP can be finicky after being added or moved, but once it’s happy it does very well. I’d be careful about placing it near any main rocks - it grows very fast and can outcompete other corals.

 

[reinert]

It’s green star polyp - one of the hardiest corals out there. I’m pretty sure you could grow it in a toilet if it were filled with saltwater.
It looks like it’s starting to open up, the rest should follow soon. GSP can be finicky after being added or moved, but once it’s happy it does very well. I’d be careful about placing it near any main rocks - it grows very fast and can outcompete other corals.

I haven't had much luck with my star polyp. Even had to move it. Now it seems to be opening more. So we'll see.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

I cleaned the sand did vacuum, water change more 20% this time, and it looks good. usually do 10% water change so did little more, salinity is around 1.25 and phosphate is low now.

 

[littlefoxx]

Hello,

My new BioCube 16 Gallon tank is setup and I put in two clownfishes in.

One of the fish looks injured, the store I got it from told me to keep it for a week and see how it behaves and if it gets worse they would exchange it for another clown fish.

Here are the videos:



Started Tank 30 Days ago - Fully cycled with Dr. Tim's and Activate and testing for ammonica/nitrite/nitrate/PH/alkalinity and water temp to make sure everything was good before adding fish.

Did two water changes of 10% to 15% during the first 27 days

Added 2 ClownFish 3 Days ago - Floating 20 mins, drip acclimation for 40 mins

What corals would you add?
What other live stock would you add?

P.S. - Thank you to @Sharkbait19 for all his help on my other thread.

Just started a new thread to keep it clean.

Looks to me like they are probably fighting for dominance. Normal for clowns. Torn fins are normal for the process. I only separate my clowns if one looks like its about to die. I have 3 tanks, and all 3 have a mated pair of clowns. Love them! I would just keep an eye on it since they both are roughly the same size

 

[newfishhobbiest]

Another ugly stage, green algae on rocks.

Just been doing water changes, cleaning inside of the glass, have a good CUC, should I consider doing anything else?

Can I add more corals to the tank right now or should I wait? #reefsquad

 

[Sharkbait19]

Algae is always going to come and go - as long as your params are stable you can attempt more. That said, I would wait out this bloom first just to make sure it doesn’t get to plague proportions before adding corals.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

Some update to the tank got 3 new corals.

 

[newfishhobbiest]

Approximately 4 and half months old tank - Bio Cube 16

Added AI Prime 16HD Reef light
Added Kraken Biocube 16 Lid
Added some new Corals
Made a custom Acrylic Cover for the back

Update Pictures: