Start of the uglies after cycling?

[the.cornish.reefer]

Does this look like the start of the ugly stage after cycling?
Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate all reading 0.
The tank is 20 gallons and I have a pair of clownfish in there.
So im assuming they are not producing enough Ammonia from eating to convert into nitrates.
I think I have had a bacterial bloom the last few days which seems to have started to clear also.

 

[Kingsley_Reef]

yup welcome to the uglies

 

[Kingsley_Reef]

When did you start this up?
What test kits are you using?

 

[Reef.]

Did you do a water change after the cycle?

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Nitrates could just be reading zero because current algae is consuming it by the time you test or you did a larger water change after the cycle completed.
Yes its the start. Doesn't mean it gets ugly. This is just standard coating of life on your reef.

For sand. You can add 1-2 nassarius snails to help turn it over. Your rocks look fine for now.

Personal preference this point on how to tackle with CUCs.

 

[ColorMeGone]

I would just add 1ml or 2ml of ammonium a day till N03 starts showing. I would also keep a close eye on your P04 since you don't want 0. I would shoot for 5-10 N03 and .03-.05 P04 if adding corals later on.

 

[PotatoPig]

Doesn't mean it gets ugly. This is just standard coating of life on your reef.

I feel like Instagram and YouTube give people a false sense of what aquariums are going to look like.

For the most part they’re not these immaculate and pristine picture perfect showcases, and even the ones that are are often only like that because they’ve been cleaned right beforehand…

 

[Daz_1978]

It kind of looks like brown diatoms to me... and yes, that's the start of the uglies. They should run their course and be replaced by the next ugly. That'll repeat until all the uglies are replaced by wanted/beneficial stuff.

If you lightly blow them with a turkey baster, do they just blow off really easy into the water? If so, diatoms! You'll miss them when the green hair algae kicks in!!!
If the brown diatoms stay for months, then you might want to check your source water for silicates. Probably a non-issue though.

Cross your fingers and hope you don't see red slime algae (Cyanobacteria). Purple snot doesn't look pretty at all.

 

[the.cornish.reefer]

When did you start this up?
What test kits are you using?

Using hanna for nitrate and salifert for everything else

I would just add 1ml or 2ml of ammonium a day till N03 starts showing. I would also keep a close eye on your P04 since you don't want 0. I would shoot for 5-10 N03 and .03-.05 P04 if adding corals later on.

Have you got a recommend product for dosing the ammonium?

I feel like Instagram and YouTube give people a false sense of what aquariums are going to look like.

For the most part they’re not these immaculate and pristine picture perfect showcases, and even the ones that are are often only like that because they’ve been cleaned right beforehand…

I'm not phased by the uglies, just checking to see if the tank is moving in the right direction

 

[Dragen Fiend]

I feel like Instagram and YouTube give people a false sense of what aquariums are going to look like.

For the most part they’re not these immaculate and pristine picture perfect showcases, and even the ones that are are often only like that because they’ve been cleaned right beforehand…

oh yea. Every time I take pictures. Its usually after manually turning over the sand and cleaning glass. Plus a small water change. Some people could probably pull it off. But for most. Just accept it lol.

 

[ColorMeGone]

Using hanna for nitrate and salifert for everything else

Have you got a recommend product for dosing the ammonium?

I'm not phased by the uglies, just checking to see if the tank is moving in the right direction

You can make your own using ammonium bicarbonate (2cups of RODI to 10 grams of AB is how I mix it) or buy some Dr. Tims ammonium chloride. Make sure your P03 does not bottom out also.