Dirty stage??

[Wrightm1990]

Hi im new to reefing. I have a red sea 200xl with an ai hydra 26 led light. I cycled with 2 clowns, dd aquascape rock and used atm colony.
Tank has been running for 18 days now. Added a vallentinni puffer 3 days ago and todays tests (salifert) 0 ammonia 0 nitrite 20 nitrate. Ive not done any water changes as of yet but i believe i am now in the dirty phase. Could someone advise me on this algae and whether or not i should now start to do water changes. Tia

 

[Wrightm1990]

This is my set up.

 

[jorwill]

yup looks good, all apart of the process. Note that the puffer you got gets very big.

 

[Wrightm1990]

Thanks, yeah he will be eventually getting rehomed to a friends tank. Should i be doing water changes now?

 

[Daniel92481]

Thanks, yeah he will be eventually getting rehomed to a friends tank. Should i be doing water changes now?

You could do a water change if you wanted to to bring your nitrates down and to signify the end of cycling. Not necessary, but beneficial I believe. Definitely get you a CUC.

 

[Wrightm1990]

Thanks for help, much appreciated. I guess its a 50/50 chance on if the puffer will eat the cuc but i will give it a go.

 

[Waters]

Probably more along the lines of 99% chance he will eat your CUC unfortunately lol.

 

[Wrightm1990]

Ohwell i can only try. Ive been researching 'vibrant' have you any experience with this as i was thinking of using it just to help with the algae removal (im not running a refugium).