Saltwater Tank 'stages'

[Tommy Gunnz]

Hello all!

I recently was able to buy my first home, which was pretty exciting, however, the most exciting part was that owning my own home opened up bigger opportunities to keep saltwater tanks!

So, what is a guy supposed to do but make the wife mad by going out and getting a sweet deal on a 90 gallon bowfront tank and complete saltwater set up and messing up all her plans on how to decorate and arrange the living room!?!?!?!?

However, without having the internet for three weeks (yea, it was rough), I relied on a so called 'expert' on how to go about setting this tank up and getting ready for fish. I will say this, but please do not jump down my throat all at once, three and a half weeks later, I have 4 damsels and a porcupine puffer.

Now, I realize the damsels are meanies and all that, but they are young and not going to stay for much longer (they are hard to catch and I am trying to trap them as we speak...), but the puffer is doing good and has more character than most people on the evening news. More importantly, my water is stable with no tracable amounts of ammonia or nitrites, nitrates at or under 0.3 ml, few low levels of phosphates, and I am controlling the water temp nicely, even after the lights have been on for 8 hours. My salinity is 1.023, on average.

The question I have is that right now I am experiencing extremely fast algea growth on the tank's front and side glass. It is a dark red or brownish color and comes of very easily using a tool made for scrubbing such things off fish tanks. The tank is not near natural light (windows or doors), but this algea grows back in less than an hour! Is this natural or a sign of something bad?

I have also heard much about algea phases, but was under the impression that this would be mostly on my live rock and base rock, and not so much on the glass. I have used almost ALL live rock, with less than 20 pounds of base or 'almost live' rock (out of 100 pounds) and I have 80 pounds of live sand, with 20 pounds being from another, well established salt water tank. I bring this up because it is the basis I was using when justifying putting fish in the tank so quickly. It was explained to me that this would be much like 'cloning' a freshwater tank, and to be honest, my water parameters are proving to me that I am not going to cycle at all, or if anything, a mini-cycle. I test the water at least every day, and at the risk of sounding like I do not have a life, I tend to check every night after work.

Is there anything I should be worried about or be testing for other than what I currently am?

 

[flamingonhot]

Yes, i'd definitely get the damsels out. Most likely, the puffer would outgrow them and eat them..or simply shred them apart if given the chance. A 90 gallons isn't big enough for a porcupine puffer IMHO, but it's not TOO bad.


As for the algae stages, your correct. Almost all new saltwater tanks will go through what's happening in yours. While some last only a few days, others will go on for 5 months or more. The only real reason to prevent this is to use a RO/DI system; it won't totally prevent it 100%..but it'll only show up in trace amounts.

All you can do now is scrape it away, do water changes regularily, don't everfeed, and wait. Eventually, the bad brown algae will be replaced by more desirable green or red types..

 

[Tommy Gunnz]

Thanks for replying to my questions flaming.

I am currently using an RO system for this tank, however when I first got the tank up, I did fill it with tap water to check for any leaks and to help it settle into my carpet (odd reason, I know, but my freshwater tank was somewhat 'tippy' until I got it nice and settled in). I drained the tank by using its own pumps to push the water outside. I am sure there may have been a little bit left, but the very vast majority is RO water.

Since this is not a huge problem in that it is easy to clean up, I will not worry too much about it.

Like I said, the damsels are small and not too agressive yet. I am just having a hard time catching them and I really dont feel like taking out all the LR to get to them. I will catch them soon though! I am using a 'trap' that I got at my lfs to help me, but only my puffer is silly enough to get into it!

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, those type of algaes are common especially in new saltwater tanks. Using a magnet scraper is often the best way to get rid of it. I know I have to scrape my glass every couple days and my tank is over 6 months old. As long as you're not getting horrible buildups on your sand and rocks it sounds like your growth is pretty normal

 

[Tommy Gunnz]

Thanks for the reply Ski,

I am not having too much of a problem with this algea at all, but I do have a spot or two on my live sand. I am due for a water change tomorrow night and so I can take care of it then. It does 'vaccum' off pretty easily.

As for this puffer, I am really starting to rethink keeping it in my tank. I started this tank with two domino damsels and two clownfish, which did fine for a while. Always trying to improve the looks of this tank, I purchased more live rock one day, as well as the puffer fish, and the next morning my two clowns were no where to be found. Four hours later, one surfaced and after work, I found the other. They appeared to be crushed (sorry for that visual, best way I can describe it) and so I assumed that there may have been a rock slide and the poor clowns were caught underneath.

Not wanting to buy more 16 dollar fish, I instead got my yellow tailed damsels and have had no other serious problems. Now, however, I doubt that the rocks had more to do with the clowns demise than the puffer did, which is troubling because the puffer came straight from a tank full of clowns and other smaller fish.

Could this be an issue of not just stocking, but the order in which I stock the tank? For example, if this puffer was the very last fish I introduced, would my other fish be 'safer'? More importantly, is this puffer going to severly limit my options as for stocking in the future, and how so? I really want a regal blue tang, and possible a yellow tang. My other thinking was to go simply with a lionfish (I saw one that was a 'black' variety, which really stood out to me) and a snowflake moray eel. I am mostly off the latter option due to my lack of experience and desire to keep more than two fish, hopefully more than one centerpeice fish.

 

[SkiFletch]

I'm not a fan of big predators in a saltwater environment, I've historically found other fish more appealing, but to each his own. If you want centerpeice fish, I'd consider smaller tangs or larger wrasses as a tank of that size could support those. After my recent troubles with a pygmy angel I'll no-longer reccomend those if you tend to keep corals in the tank. If you're going fish only, they are a beautiful option though.