I am on my first tank. i have 46 gallon with fully cured fiji, aragonite substrate bottom, remora skimmer, purple tang, false clown, and purple pseudochromis. All my levels appear to be right on with an SG 1.021. Problem is my substrate is starting to vary in coloration. Is this normal?
Did I do it right?
- Thread starter chud
- Start date
Craig Manoukian
Well-Known Member
Welcome Chud.
Not to be an alarmist, but your tank, unless 48" in length, will not provide sufficient lateral swim room for the Purple Tang.
The lenght of time your system has been up and running would be of great help. Could be a normal red cyanobacteria stage, but without more information, just a guess.
:smirk:
Not to be an alarmist, but your tank, unless 48" in length, will not provide sufficient lateral swim room for the Purple Tang.
The lenght of time your system has been up and running would be of great help. Could be a normal red cyanobacteria stage, but without more information, just a guess.
:smirk:
Thanks for all the replies. I have had the tank up and running for 1 month. The aragonite is sand not coral. I used R.O> water but I am begining to think my filter was bad. I am in the East valley of AZ. It appears to be brown algae, because it looks to have spread to my live rock. Is this too early to make that assumption? If it is brown algae what can I do? I have got purified water curing to perform water changes to get suspected R.O water out. The reason my salinity is at 1.021 is because all local dealers are at 1.021 and I was given the advice of keeping with them for ease of stress on fish.
Craig Manoukian
Well-Known Member
Three fish in one month is a little too fast as far as stocking your tank. You have not given your bacteria time to increase and handle the bioload. This is probably resulting in a nitrate buildup as your dentrification is behind the bioload. Diatoms, algae blooms, and red cyanobacteria thrive on the nitrates.
It is better to add fish very slowly to allow your tank to properly mature. While diatoms, algae blooms, and cyano are a regular part of the tank maturation process overstocking will only exacerbate the situation.
Go slow and let it grow.
HTH :smirk:
It is better to add fish very slowly to allow your tank to properly mature. While diatoms, algae blooms, and cyano are a regular part of the tank maturation process overstocking will only exacerbate the situation.
Go slow and let it grow.
HTH
:smirk:
Scooterman
Active Member
I've heard fish will have less chance of getting sick or something at lower SG but it wouldn't hurt them to acclimate them to a higher SG. Your lighting seems to be good if it is VHO or PC I'm guessing. Your LR, how much do you have?
Do you plan on having more than just fish? Post some of your measurments and with what type & manufacturer of the kits. The more information you post the better chance we can provide you with sound help. The bloom seems normal at just on month so whatever you do don't panic!
Do you plan on having more than just fish? Post some of your measurments and with what type & manufacturer of the kits. The more information you post the better chance we can provide you with sound help. The bloom seems normal at just on month so whatever you do don't panic!
Cougra
Well-Known Member
I agree that you are having a diatom bloom in your tank at the moment. It's a perfectly normal part of the maturation process. The brown film you see covering everything are dead diatoms that have fallen out of the water column. I recommend that you do a light vacuuming of them to remove as much as possible so they don't decay in your tank.
Welcome to the saltwater world and reef sanctuary! You've just embarked on a rewarding, draining (financially and emotionally), addictive journey!
Welcome to the saltwater world and reef sanctuary! You've just embarked on a rewarding, draining (financially and emotionally), addictive journey!
