Cycle almost complete and question about phosphates

[Kasey]

This is what my Main tank is testing at, I’m wondering if by Monday my tank would be ready for a partial water change and the addition of a light clean up crew? At that time, I’ll also be grabbing a pair of clownfish to get into my quarantine tank- is there anything else I need to do besides lowering salinity a bit more and getting phosphates to zero? I’m struggling with that, I do not have a sump and added a phosphate removing media pad into my HOB filter but have yet to see results 48 hours later.

Ammonia 0
Nitrites .1
Nitrates 25
Magnesium 1230
Calcium 440
Alkalinity 10.2
PH 8.21
Copper 0
Phosphate .25
Salinity 1.027
Temp 79* F
Flow 1448gph

I’m using Salifert test kits and I do have the last few varieties in order to arrive later this week.

 

[lapin]

Looks good to me. A water change will help bring down both nitrate and phosphate. As soon as something grows that will help lower those numbers too. I would not add a clean up crew until they have something to eat. Or you could feed them. Mine like caviar.

 

[Vahanyos]

I would just do water changes weekly for now until everything stabilized. Just put some carbon in there and that’s it. I don’t think you need to worry about phosphates because the water changes should take care of it. When you notice them climbing more and water changes are not helping, then you can use the media but you can also feed less, etc. you’ll find that right balance after you get some more experience

 

[Kasey]

Looks good to me. A water change will help bring down both nitrate and phosphate. As soon as something grows that will help lower those numbers too. I would not add a clean up crew until they have something to eat. Or you could feed them. Mine like caviar.

Thanks! I do have some algae and grass started growing on the 17 pounds of live rock I had overnighted, would that be enough?

 

[Kasey]

I would just do water changes weekly for now until everything stabilized. Just put some carbon in there and that’s it. I don’t think you need to worry about phosphates because the water changes should take care of it. When you notice them climbing more and water changes are not helping, then you can use the media but you can also feed less, etc. you’ll find that right balance after you get some more experience

They’ve stayed consistent at .25 since I started testing almost 2 weeks ago. I’ve got a double HOB filter with a charcoal filter on one side and the phosphate pad on the other, do you think that will be sufficient?

 

[Vahanyos]

When was your last water change?

 

[Vahanyos]

I also didn’t see the nitrite reading... if you’re still showing nitrite then your cycle is not complete. You should let your tank sit a little more without any media in there until you test 0 nitrite

 

[Kasey]

When was your last water change?

I pulled about 10 gallons out yesterday to fill my quarantine tank

 

[Vahanyos]

I pulled about 10 gallons out yesterday to fill my quarantine tank

And what is the total water volume of your system?

Keep testing nitrite until it hits 0. Ammonia and Nitrite should always be zero - and only when they stay zero is when your cycle is complete. During that process your parameters can go haywire which is generally what happens when a tank cycles. That’s why I wouldn’t chase numbers with nitrates and phosphates yet until you get some livestock in there and start doing your routine feeding. Establishing a weekly water change schedule may get nitrate and phos in check without having to use any media. My tank is 8 months old now and I still do not use any phosphate media because I’ve learned what to do to keep them at bay, without the use of extra media. You may not even need to use it is what I’m saying... you’re still rather young with your tank so just give it some more time. In my opinion, I would just use carbon only to polish your water and let it ride out

 

[Kasey]

And what is the total water volume of your system?

Keep testing nitrite until it hits 0. Ammonia and Nitrite should always be zero - and only when they stay zero is when your cycle is complete. During that process your parameters can go haywire which is generally what happens when a tank cycles. That’s why I wouldn’t chase numbers with nitrates and phosphates yet until you get some livestock in there and start doing your routine feeding. Establishing a weekly water change schedule may get nitrate and phos in check without having to use any media. My tank is 8 months old now and I still do not use any phosphate media because I’ve learned what to do to keep them at bay, without the use of extra media. You may not even need to use it is what I’m saying... you’re still rather young with your tank so just give it some more time. In my opinion, I would just use carbon only to polish your water and let it ride out

I’ve got a 55g

 

[lapin]

Thanks! I do have some algae and grass started growing on the 17 pounds of live rock I had overnighted, would that be enough?

That should be enough.