Great info. The hobby needs more peoples experiences successes and failures. People get hung up water changes tho, I’ve had a successful reef tank for 17 years and never been good at water changes. If your husbandry and water chemistry is good water changes aren’t necessary. Now they are good to keep things in check, but that’s not fixing the problem. Water Changes are most helpful for coral heavy tanks and keeping trace elements and alk in range. Diversity, balance, stability are most important. Light, flow, chasing perfect numbers are all anecdotal. Good foundation of basics has been my key to longevity. 17 years no tank crashes! We are always learning and getting better!
Totally . For my purposes growing macroalgae and also in new tanks setups, I find the micro and macro nutrients will be depleted very quickly so I rely on big water changes to keep the levels up. But in a normal mature reef I agree that you can get away with little to no water changes.
I hope this video helps you to get through the "ugly phase" of your saltwater aquarium. It's a tough journey and sometimes you might feel like giving up, but it will get better with time!
Thanks Mate, I'm a big fan. I recently upgraded my lighting and started a cascade that killed off my corals. The tank has also reset itself. Ugly phase is in full bloom again. I obtained a great purchase of an AI prime 16hd with the flexible neck. I have to sort out the lighting schedule, but the app is a real pain lol.
Don’t overthink lighting. Over lighting is one of biggest coral killers. I can buy a race car but that doesn’t make me a nascar driver. Quick changes to expensive strong lights from cheap low par lights can cause more problems. Don’t chase numbers and marketing follow what works for you.
I've only made one partial water change in my Red Sea 900 3XL in 10 months. Stabilized fine and I'm using Triton 7 with refugium. My last system that was up for 13 years I stopped water changes in year two and only changed when I pumped out for maintenance. I've been keeping reef aquariums since the 90s. The Berlin Method was the way back then.
What do you dose with now days? and what do you recommend of what to dose with and tests? Or is it good enough with only doing weekly changes of water and dosing whenever it is needed
Hi can u answer me a question please I bought the shaker 168 it’s running months now mbuna no issues I bought the Fluval uv clarafier I seen on ur video it connects to hose tail provided and my hose tail output problem is my tanks full water fish rocks etc?? Would it not flood my cabinet if I just tookthe water down below the output ? It arrives tomorrow and I want to install it if I pull the output tail from aquastop valve when shut off water would come trough As I see only videos of installation when tanks are empty tanks sorry to bother u I no u are a busy person
excellent adviceman, i juat started a shallow tank and am cycling at present, can you add thoings like feather duster coral in a macroalgae tank still using freshwater light?
From what I’ve been told and in my limited experience (I just started my first saltwater tank after keeping freshwater for years), saltwater needs a different lighting spectrum than fresh and the too white lights of fresh can cause bad diatom breakouts. I’ve been running a freshwater rated light on mine and I’ve had the “ugly phase” but nothing out of this world really. Would love for someone with more experience to answer this for us both.
I dont ever experience the ugly stage when setting up a new system. The steps I follow: cycle the tank with the lights OFF. Cycle with a fish. If its a large system, use a tang. If its a smaller system, use a tailspot or lawnmower blenny. Make sure you add live bacteria. That'll "eat" the nutrients the fish produces. After the tank is cycled, do a large water change and add pods. Make sure you dose phytoplankton daily for the pods. Add lots of snails, but slowly. A handful every weekend till you reach your number. That's all I do, and I only ever have to clean the glass. The pods natural source of food is diotoms. Cant have an ugly stage if you introduce something that eats what causes it. The first fish you add will make sure no hair algae will ever make an appearance either. Make sure the fish you add are utilitarian, and not just pretty, and you'll help your system much more.
Freshwater is very very easy .growing plants and Avoding the ugly phase however marine is a challenge im still mastering so more water changes more flow better flirtation sponges and carbon
Nice one mate! 👍 I'm trying to cheat a little by starting with some mature rock from my nano in the new tank, have also been adding an army of Stomatella and Dove Snails from another tank plus the 30 small mollies, still having to be patient though does take an age! Hopefully its less severe than the last tank! 🤞
Hi, I would like to ask, if bryopsis got into my macroalgae tank, what should I do? If it is already taken over then tank , is there anyway I can remove the bryopsis but at the same time keeping those macroalgae alive
I have found in the past that caulerpa tends to out compete bryopsis over time. I've had it appear a few times but it went away as my other algaes grew
definitely confused about lighting, but mostly due to the most obtuse, non user friendly instructions for the kessil spectral x controller. who knows what its going to do? will it turn on? who knows?
Quick question... Do you use a skimmer in your system? Also do you use a large ultra violet sterilizer in your system? These can be very helpful with nuisance algae. Thanks I really enjoy your channel!
Nope,,, just point blank refuse the ugly from becoming a significant aspect of your life...they have invested effort in gaining a refusal from you,,,, so you may as well become willing to oblige their efforts...
i would stick to only 20 to 30 % cause you will lose too much beneficial Bactria every time you change the water your losing any beneficial Bactria you have.
I find the bacteria are living on the aquarium surfaces, rock and filter. When the aquarium is mature I think you're right 20-30% is fine but for me during this ugly phase too much is growing and removing nutrients so I need heavier water changes to keep up until it matures.
Great tips. Patience and doing your do diligence in reef maintenance is key in this hobby. Enjoyed the video and did watch it to the end🫠.
Thank you I appreciate it!
Great info. The hobby needs more peoples experiences successes and failures. People get hung up water changes tho, I’ve had a successful reef tank for 17 years and never been good at water changes. If your husbandry and water chemistry is good water changes aren’t necessary. Now they are good to keep things in check, but that’s not fixing the problem. Water Changes are most helpful for coral heavy tanks and keeping trace elements and alk in range. Diversity, balance, stability are most important. Light, flow, chasing perfect numbers are all anecdotal. Good foundation of basics has been my key to longevity. 17 years no tank crashes! We are always learning and getting better!
Totally . For my purposes growing macroalgae and also in new tanks setups, I find the micro and macro nutrients will be depleted very quickly so I rely on big water changes to keep the levels up. But in a normal mature reef I agree that you can get away with little to no water changes.
I hope this video helps you to get through the "ugly phase" of your saltwater aquarium. It's a tough journey and sometimes you might feel like giving up, but it will get better with time!
You aren’t alone in your journey can’t wait to see the out come in a couple months
Thanks Mate, I'm a big fan. I recently upgraded my lighting and started a cascade that killed off my corals. The tank has also reset itself. Ugly phase is in full bloom again. I obtained a great purchase of an AI prime 16hd with the flexible neck. I have to sort out the lighting schedule, but the app is a real pain lol.
Oh dear that doesn't sound good. They are great lights but yes the app is confusing
Don’t overthink lighting. Over lighting is one of biggest coral killers. I can buy a race car but that doesn’t make me a nascar driver. Quick changes to expensive strong lights from cheap low par lights can cause more problems. Don’t chase numbers and marketing follow what works for you.
Always watch the full video. Your tanks are looking alot better mate 👍
Thank you for the knowledge, you help me si much🙏
I've only made one partial water change in my Red Sea 900 3XL in 10 months. Stabilized fine and I'm using Triton 7 with refugium. My last system that was up for 13 years I stopped water changes in year two and only changed when I pumped out for maintenance. I've been keeping reef aquariums since the 90s. The Berlin Method was the way back then.
Wow, beautiful video 😍 I really like, a hug👍2
Thank you! Hug 🙇
What do you dose with now days? and what do you recommend of what to dose with and tests? Or is it good enough with only doing weekly changes of water and dosing whenever it is needed
Hi can u answer me a question please I bought the shaker 168 it’s running months now mbuna no issues I bought the Fluval uv clarafier I seen on ur video it connects to hose tail provided and my hose tail output problem is my tanks full water fish rocks etc?? Would it not flood my cabinet if I just tookthe water down below the output ? It arrives tomorrow and I want to install it if I pull the output tail from aquastop valve when shut off water would come trough As I see only videos of installation when tanks are empty tanks sorry to bother u I no u are a busy person
Just drain it below the level of the pipes in the tank so water can't go down the tubes
Just output that’s were it’s going on out put
Was that a bellus angelfish in the aquarium with the flame fin tang?
Lamark
excellent adviceman, i juat started a shallow tank and am cycling at present, can you add thoings like feather duster coral in a macroalgae tank still using freshwater light?
From what I’ve been told and in my limited experience (I just started my first saltwater tank after keeping freshwater for years), saltwater needs a different lighting spectrum than fresh and the too white lights of fresh can cause bad diatom breakouts. I’ve been running a freshwater rated light on mine and I’ve had the “ugly phase” but nothing out of this world really. Would love for someone with more experience to answer this for us both.
I dont ever experience the ugly stage when setting up a new system. The steps I follow: cycle the tank with the lights OFF. Cycle with a fish. If its a large system, use a tang. If its a smaller system, use a tailspot or lawnmower blenny. Make sure you add live bacteria. That'll "eat" the nutrients the fish produces. After the tank is cycled, do a large water change and add pods. Make sure you dose phytoplankton daily for the pods. Add lots of snails, but slowly. A handful every weekend till you reach your number.
That's all I do, and I only ever have to clean the glass. The pods natural source of food is diotoms. Cant have an ugly stage if you introduce something that eats what causes it. The first fish you add will make sure no hair algae will ever make an appearance either.
Make sure the fish you add are utilitarian, and not just pretty, and you'll help your system much more.
Freshwater is very very easy .growing plants and Avoding the ugly phase however marine is a challenge im still mastering so more water changes more flow better flirtation sponges and carbon
Not sure salt guys as you know mate but the tips seem sound to me. Plenty that would transfer to the freshwater side and yield results.
Thanks. It's pretty much the same stuff
Nice one mate! 👍
I'm trying to cheat a little by starting with some mature rock from my nano in the new tank, have also been adding an army of Stomatella and Dove Snails from another tank plus the 30 small mollies, still having to be patient though does take an age!
Hopefully its less severe than the last tank! 🤞
All that will definitely help👍 Good luck!
I am new for salt Water tank and i think about it ....more and more
I'm having a red slime algae bloom.
What does like to eat that stuff?
Not really anything
Hi, I would like to ask, if bryopsis got into my macroalgae tank, what should I do? If it is already taken over then tank , is there anyway I can remove the bryopsis but at the same time keeping those macroalgae alive
I have found in the past that caulerpa tends to out compete bryopsis over time. I've had it appear a few times but it went away as my other algaes grew
definitely confused about lighting, but mostly due to the most obtuse, non user friendly instructions for the kessil spectral x controller. who knows what its going to do? will it turn on? who knows?
Are those guppies in saltwater??? 😮
Mollies, I have them in my 20 gallon saltwater tank with clownfish they can go from fresh to full sea water.
Great videos
nice tips
Glad you liked it
Quick question...
Do you use a skimmer in your system?
Also do you use a large ultra violet sterilizer in your system?
These can be very helpful with nuisance algae.
Thanks
I really enjoy your channel!
Thanks I don't use skimmers but do have a uv in built into my filter
@@EverydayAquaristWon't UV destroy beneficial bacteria too?
I am the Hermit Krab !! 4:10
you dont have to change water that often.... 😎
Nope,,, just point blank refuse the ugly from becoming a significant aspect of your life...they have invested effort in gaining a refusal from you,,,, so you may as well become willing to oblige their efforts...
water change is not ''the only way''
If you are doing such large water changes I feel you are eliminating bio diversity and creating a weak system that won't be stable down the road
i would stick to only 20 to 30 % cause you will lose too much beneficial Bactria every time you change the water your losing any beneficial Bactria you have.
I find the bacteria are living on the aquarium surfaces, rock and filter. When the aquarium is mature I think you're right 20-30% is fine but for me during this ugly phase too much is growing and removing nutrients so I need heavier water changes to keep up until it matures.
@@EverydayAquarist you’re absolutely right, the beneficial bacteria live on the surface of the rocks and not in the water itself.
Ive never seen uglier tanks than these 😂