Beginner started tank Thursday, First test today...

Leyth · Jun 13, 2016

Hey guys,

I started a tank last Thursday using Live Rock, Live Sand, and LFS pre mixed water. I got my test kit in today and these are my test results.

As far as I can tell it looks like

PH: 8.0
Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 10-20?

I'm also getting brown stuff on my middle rock and a few others. Is that a Diatom bloom?

Thanks ahead.

Cory · Jun 14, 2016

Everything looks good. Seems the bacteria have converted ammonia to nitrite then to nitrate. Id add some new fish now. Stay away from damsels, they will kill everyone.

The brown is likely diatoms yes. Part of a new tank, they are using up silicate.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 14, 2016

I agree everything seems fine.

Leyth · Jun 14, 2016

Awesome, do you think it would be ideal to add one fish and a clean up crew at the same time?

Agamerce · Jun 14, 2016

Not trying to seem like Im on a soap box, but I guess you didn't read or understand Brandon429. Diatoms are half the cycle.

Leyth · Jun 14, 2016

Agamerce said:
Not trying to seem like Im on a soap box, but I guess you didn't read or understand Brandon429. Diatoms are half the cycle.

I don't see anything posted by Brandon429.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 14, 2016

Diatoms are fairly normal and will likely disappear, or at least stop growing, over time.

Did you add anything to cycle it, so that you know ammonia can be metabolized?

If not, I would not add a fish yet, but a few small clean up crew organisms may be OK.

Leyth · Jun 14, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Diatoms are fairly normal and will likely disappear, or at least stop growing, over time.

Did you add anything to cycle it, so that you know ammonia can be metabolized?

If not, I would not add a fish yet, but a few small clean up crew organisms may be OK.

I see, no I did not add anything to cycle it. If I understand correctly, there is a possibility that the ammonia spike never happened and we want to avoid adding fish because it could still happen?

I ordered a reefcleaners package for 5.5 gallon tank so I will add that if you agree. I'd honestly like to wait on adding fish anways. I think I'd like to add a pom pom crab as my first live stock.

Agamerce · Jun 14, 2016

QT QT QT longer the better, including inverts

Leyth · Jun 14, 2016

Agamerce said:
QT QT QT longer the better, including inverts

Yea, I have read how important QT'ing is, especially with inverts. I gotta put together a QT setup this weekend then. Thank you.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 14, 2016

Leyth said:
I see, no I did not add anything to cycle it. If I understand correctly, there is a possibility that the ammonia spike never happened and we want to avoid adding fish because it could still happen?

I ordered a reefcleaners package for 5.5 gallon tank so I will add that if you agree. I'd honestly like to wait on adding fish anways. I think I'd like to add a pom pom crab as my first live stock.

Yes, that's my concern.

Leyth · Jun 14, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Yes, that's my concern.

Awesome, thank you. Also, one more question, after watching a few more videos I feel like I may have added too little sand. Do you think I should add more?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 15, 2016

There's more than enough sand for nitrification (conversion of ammonia to nitrate).

Possibly not enough for denitrification (reduction of nitrate), but I don't think you'd want to add enough for that in that tank.

Leyth · Jun 15, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
There's more than enough sand for nitrification (conversion of ammonia to nitrate).

Possibly not enough for denitrification (reduction of nitrate), but I don't think you'd want to add enough for that in that tank.

Ok great, thank you again. I tested again today and it was:

PH: 8.0
Am: 0
Trite: 0
Trate 5-10

A lot more of the brown(diatom bloom) is showing up on the sand and rocks. My clean up crew comes in tomorrow or Friday.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 15, 2016

Sounds fine.

Good luck!

Agamerce · Jun 25, 2016

Hows the cuc and setup? Any new pics?

Leyth · Jun 29, 2016

Hey, yes sorry. I found myself bouncing around different reef forums. I can't decide which I should focus on. I wish there was just one big forum instead of all these large ones. The tank is doing great at the moment except for a small dino outbreak, but I think I got it under control. I have two frags, pistol tiger shrimp, and a bunch of clean up crew snails. I've actually purchased a 17 gallon rimless low iron tank that is currently cycling. I am going to move to that and make this 5.5 as my QT tank. Here are some pictures: