15 gallon tank

[Fishies2019]

Wanted to share my tank and ask for any advice or thoughts!
but fluval 15 gallon tank
Featuring
1 cleaner shrimp
1 Golden golby
1 red mushroom
1 clownfish
1 sexy shrimp
2 crabs 2 snails

ph 7.8-8.2
Nitrates (attached in picture possibly 20ppm not sure)

Nitrite 0ppm
Ammonia 0ppm

 

[BestMomEver]

Pretty! You’ll have fun with that one! If I had to make a recommendation.... invest in some test kits that are a little more accurate than API. You’ll be glad later. Salifert, Red Sea, and Hanna checkers seem to be the most popular.

Oh..... where are my manners? Welcome to the reef!

 

[Fishies2019]

Pretty! You’ll have fun with that one! If I had to make a recommendation.... invest in some test kits that are a little more accurate than API. You’ll be glad later. Salifert, Red Sea, and Hanna checkers seem to be the most popular.

Oh..... where are my manners? Welcome to the reef!

Thank you will do!!

 

[BestMomEver]

NP. Look at Salifert. They’re relatively inexpensive and work well. At this stage all you really need is ammonia, nitrate, nitrate, and pH. Once your corals start to grow get calcium and dkh. I would also recommend small, frequent water changes. I have a 16 gallon. I mix up one gallon of water and use a pitcher to do the change. I do this every other week. I should probably do it more but this tank has been set up for a few years and the system I’m using seems to work well..

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to R2R!!! It looks like you're off to a good start and I agree with the test kit recommendation. We're glad you're here!

#WelcometoR2R

 

[Dom]

Hello and welcome to the forum

I wouldn't worry about you nitrates. That number isn't terrible. In fact, some nitrates are good to have.

Just be faithful in your water changes (3 gallons per week) and careful not to overfeed. Also, if you are planing on adding corals, be sure your lighting and flow are adequate.

 

[Jesterrace]

Same as has been said, welcome to the forum and recommend another test kit. You can see here the difference in the color chart with the Red Sea Test kit and why it's much easier to tell nitrates:

 

[Fishies2019]

Pretty! You’ll have fun with that one! If I had to make a recommendation.... invest in some test kits that are a little more accurate than API. You’ll be glad later. Salifert, Red Sea, and Hanna checkers seem to be the most popular.

Oh..... where are my manners? Welcome to the reef!

Hello, I have a new orange growth what looks like a type of coral does anyone know what this is?

 

[BestMomEver]

Hello, I have a new orange growth what looks like a type of coral does anyone know what this is?

What is the texture of it? Is it soft or rigid? Bumpy or smooth? Can you get a close up photo of it?

 

[nereefpat]

I disagree with the test kit advice. If the tank has zero ammonia and measurable nitrate, then the tank is cycled, and you don't need to measure ammonia. Why buy Salifert test kits for that?

There's basically no reason to measure pH in a marine aquarium.

Also, a mushroom doesn't use measurable amounts of Ca or alk, so there isn't need to invest or test for those things.

 

[bstodds15]

I'd recommend more live rock - it'll help your filtration down the road.