Brown tank

[bill109]

hello to all!
my tank is turning brown the cycle is just about completee and when i tested it there was only a BLUSH of a Faint purple in the test vial. my sand and rock are turning a brown golden color. its part of the cycle i believ but why does it do it and will it clean its self up? or what do i do?

 

[socko6774]

Originally Posted by bill109
hello to all!
my tank is turning brown the cycle is just about completee and when i tested it there was only a BLUSH of a Faint purple in the test vial. my sand and rock are turning a brown golden color. its part of the cycle i believ but why does it do it and will it clean its self up? or what do i do?

i beleive its diatom, brown algea, yes it normal, it will clear up, i put a clean up crew in there after that first bloom.

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by socko6774
i beleive its diatom, brown algea, yes it normal, it will clear up, i put a clean up crew in there after that first bloom.
theres a cleaner and 3 snails but they seem to stay on the rocks then the sand

 

[bill109]

my lfs said to put in a "test fish" to tell that the tank is stable so buy something cheap. so he said to wait a week after the cycle is done but i was thinking to put in a royal gramma but do i have to wait a week because some ppl have said that once your cycle is set and done thn you dont have to wait to add a fish so ...? whatcha think

 

[socko6774]

i put a sand sifting starfish in there to clean the sand.
i waited like a week after all my levels zero'oed out just to be on the safe side, then i retested everythnig, and even had me LFS test my water out. my first fish was a false clown, second was a lawnmower blenny to eat the algea.
im no expert so i dunno about the gamma. im sure others will chime in.
so far all my stuff is doing great , my clown eats outta my hand already but hes still not hosting my BTA

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by socko6774
i put a sand sifting starfish in there to clean the sand.
i waited like a week after all my levels zero'oed out just to be on the safe side, then i retested everythnig, and even had me LFS test my water out. my first fish was a false clown, second was a lawnmower blenny to eat the algea.
im no expert so i dunno about the gamma. im sure others will chime in.
so far all my stuff is doing great , my clown eats outta my hand already but hes still not hosting my BTA
If I am not mistaken Sand Sifter stars get large. I would not add one to your tank bill. Get some blue legged hermits. A diatom algae bloom is perfectly normal. When I got it in my 55 I just lightly vacumed it off of my sand once a week. The bloom lasted 4 weeks, it wasn't that bad. For the algae on the glass I used a magnet scrapper. My snails were not very active durring the diatom bloom and were not much help. After the diatoms were gone they got active.

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by sepulatian
If I am not mistaken Sand Sifter stars get large. I would not add one to your tank bill. Get some blue legged hermits. A diatom algae bloom is perfectly normal. When I got it in my 55 I just lightly vacumed it off of my sand once a week. The bloom lasted 4 weeks, it wasn't that bad. For the algae on the glass I used a magnet scrapper. My snails were not very active durring the diatom bloom and were not much help. After the diatoms were gone they got active.
ok so a few * blue legged hermits.. how many also can i do it when i can go to the lfs or wit another week. also what is your thoughs about the royal gramma a test fish or none if i did the test fish i would use a royal gramma and put him in in a few days. ? watcha think :joy:

 

[mcsd22]

You need to no your levels prior to a fish. Am, No2, No3, Ph, Alk, Temp, Sal. When all levels are fine there will be no need for a test fish, you will be ready for fish.

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by mcsd22
You need to no your levels prior to a fish. Am, No2, No3, Ph, Alk, Temp, Sal. When all levels are fine there will be no need for a test fish, you will be ready for fish.
ok so you think that i shouldnt take the lfs's advice and wait a week or so before adding a new fish to my aquarium ?

 

[mandarin w]

The LFS is in business to make money, They could care less if that fish dies or not.
It is cruel to take a living creature and use it as a test subject just to see if your tank is ready. Most importantly, it is not nessesary. That is what your test kits are for. They just want to sell you a fish, so they can put money in their pockets.
Second problem with this situation is, For the most part the inexpessive fish they will probley try to sell you would be a damsel. (sp, sorry) I say that because for the most part they are the cheapest fish. Damsel are an agressive fish, and if put in the tank first, will become very territoral and fight with almost any other fish you put in there. They are very fast little $hits, and very hard to catch once they are in a tank filled with LR and plenty of places to hide. Most LFS know this, they do not care. They just want to sell a fish. Take your time, let the tank cycle, do your test! When your test show the cycle is done, Then figure which fish you want to put in first. Keep in mind what fish you like, and plan on getting. Add the least aggressive first, and the more territoryal once last. If you plan on damsels, make them one of the last fish you add to your tank.

 

[bill109]

Originally Posted by mandarin w
The LFS is in business to make money, They could care less if that fish dies or not.
It is cruel to take a living creature and use it as a test subject just to see if your tank is ready. Most importantly, it is not nessesary. That is what your test kits are for. They just want to sell you a fish, so they can put money in their pockets.
Second problem with this situation is, For the most part the inexpessive fish they will probley try to sell you would be a damsel. (sp, sorry) I say that because for the most part they are the cheapest fish. Damsel are an agressive fish, and if put in the tank first, will become very territoral and fight with almost any other fish you put in there. They are very fast little $hits, and very hard to catch once they are in a tank filled with LR and plenty of places to hide. Most LFS know this, they do not care. They just want to sell a fish. Take your time, let the tank cycle, do your test! When your test show the cycle is done, Then figure which fish you want to put in first. Keep in mind what fish you like, and plan on getting. Add the least aggressive first, and the more territoryal once last. If you plan on damsels, make them one of the last fish you add to your tank.
yeah but can you take a look at the other post in fish discussion? its abvout the damsels and the royal and angel idea(future)