Aquarium Level Inquiry

[Drummingbaker2010]

Hello all,

currently my parameters are:

salinity - 1.025
nitrates - 5 ppm
phosphates - .25 ppm
ammonia - o ppm
nitrites-0 ppm
PH - 8.3
Calcium - 440

I am waiting on a test for my alkalinity, but I believe it's around 200. Earlier this week, I did a 5% water change to attempt to keep my nitrate levels closer to 0 which my test kit was reading at the time, but over night I had a conch die on me, but I don't think that would have risen the nitrate levels that much.

Will this be good enough to support coraline algae growth if I maintain these levels or lower on my nitrates and phosphates? I have a GSP in there currently, but I'd like to eventually have the ability to add others. It has fully cycled, although under not ideal conditions. Can someone please let me know?

 

[Nanojoe]

Is there a reason you are trying to achieve 0 nitrate?

In time coralline will grow in a healthy reef. Could take an entire year before you even see a spec on your rocks, pumps or glass walls. There are products to help seed and speed this up out there. Kalkwasser has been know to help the growth of it, really because of the higher CA addition along with pH and ALK.

 

[Screwgunner]

Your nitrates are fine it is your phosphates that need to go down. If you want lower nitrates read up on dosing vodka.

 

[Tamberav]

I think you need a better po4 kit. 0.25 looks like api kit which is useless.

You don’t want 0 nitrate. That will cause a lot of issues. Coral uses it to grow. 5 is perfect.