I’ve been told there is no way to avoid the ugly stage and to keep my lights off as much as possible. Why wouldn’t I want to accelerate the ugly stage by having the lights on as much as possible before adding coral and more fish?
Why delay ugly stage?
- Thread starter Red2143
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I think the idea is that lights off allows for some things that compete with algae to grow first. I don't know if this actually works. Certainly it is known that algae's main "germination condition" is the presence of ammonia, so presumably a tank with a more established nitrogen fixing microbe population would grow less algae or at lest grow it more slowly. But bare rocks will inevitably be covered in algae if nothing else is in the way.
It's more about a gradual cycle. If you do it too fast it may allow for something to take over too well and be impossible to get rid of. I like to start with copepods then ramp up the lights over a few weeks.
There's many different levels of uglies. Mild ones that last a week or two each leg and ones that cause people to give up because they can't beat it.
There's many different levels of uglies. Mild ones that last a week or two each leg and ones that cause people to give up because they can't beat it.
What is the recommended ramp up period?
Start with what looks good for fish and go up while you add corals. No need to rush. IMO a range of copepods are the key to a less ugly ugly stage.
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