Its setup, now I have questions

[rrasco]

They're not bad are they?

[FireWater]

I have not had any issues with them before other than they irritate your skin when you touch them. They can have a place in the aquarium as part of your clean up crew. I don't see any problem with them unless you have a huge population of them as they can irritate corals as they crawl to feed. Some wrasses and other fish prey on the smaller ones - not sure what your fish plans are for the tank though.

[rrasco]

Thanks.

The only planned fish at this moment is a percula or ocellaris.

[FireWater]

You can search around on the web for more info on the bristle worms. everyone has a different opinion on them. If you start seeing a bunch of them it means they have plenty to feed on which could mean you are feeding the tank too much. If they start getting large in size or too abundant then you can pull them out with tweezers or suck them out during water changes to help keep the population in check.

[rrasco]

Tank is now on day 14 of cycle. Lots of cool growth on the rocks. Most of the diatom algae has gone away and I'm getting lots of green bushy algae. It looks pretty cool in my opinion. I also have small white polyps all over the place, they have little fingers...feather dusters maybe? There is one in the last picture, although they are being blown all around by my powerheads.

I checked ammonia yesterday, and I can't really tell what it says, but I think the levels are below .25ppm at this point. It wasn't quite yellow, but barely green. Last time I checked nitrates, about a week ago, they were around 10ppm.

[Europhyllia]

bryopsis and bubble algae? very popular!

just kidding lol

that's just the risk you run with liverock. Plus you could always import it later with coral. It happens...

[kkiel02]

I hope it isnt bryopsis. Emerald crabs will take care of that bubble algae.

[rrasco]

It looks more like hair algae to me. The pictures of bryopsis I have seen look more like wheat. This doesn't look like that, it's like green hair growing on the rock. That bubble algae has been freaking me out though, I've never seen anything like it.

I'm also waiting for the ammonia to go away before I put anything in the tank.

[Troy Valentine]

Your system is aging normally. Algae spores will find their way into your system over time, Its unavoidable. It is part of a healthy ecosystem. I find its easier to embrace it, rather than overreact when they enter your system. I admit they can be incredibly frustrating at times. But usually with alittle patients they will cycle through your system on their own. Just stay diligent with your system maintenance, and your system will blossom beautifully. Also just because your system has a lot of algae, it doesn't mean the system is unhealthy. My corals seem to be happiest when my system is nutrient rich with plenty of algae. IMHO this is the key to long term success with a reef.

[Mike]

Just be careful with the hair and bubble algae as they can be invasive if left unchecked. A little like you have on your rocks currently doesnt look too bad, but when it is overgrowing your corals it can be a pain. Several critters eat it and can help you keep it in check. Once done cycling, adding some clean up crew, including turbo snails and emerald crabs can help. You will have to make up your own mind on hermits.

Some people are pro-hermit and some not. If you have hermits and snails, it is not uncommon to see a hermit kill your snail to take its shell. It sucks though when they decide they dont like it and go back to their old shell. We only have hermits in the FOWLR as I wanted some sort of clean up crew in there, although surprisingly enough I do have a couple of big turbo snails that have learned to survive and adapt to the predators. The triggers, puffer, and wrasse will slowly catch and kill both the hermits and the snails. Circle of life. I do have a very large red leg hermit that no one messes with... sometimes it pays to be the biggest kid on the block.