New Tank Parameters

[Lucas Lembke]

I have a Red Sea reefer 250 (65 gallon tank) and have had the tank cycling for about 3 weeks now. The following are my parameters as of 5 mins ago:

pH

7.4

Ammonia

0

Nitrite

0


Nitrate

10 ppm


Calcium

410 ppm


Alkalinity

10.6 dkh


Magnesium

1360 ppm



As you can see, all of my parameters look good except for nitrate which hasn't gone down in the last 3 days. What do I do to get this down to about 0? Do I do a 10% water change? This is my first tank and I am inexperienced so I would love some input from people that know more about the cycle than I do. Thanks in advance!!

 

[Crabs McJones]

I have a Red Sea reefer 250 (65 gallon tank) and have had the tank cycling for about 3 weeks now. The following are my parameters as of 5 mins ago:

pH

7.4

Ammonia

0

Nitrite

0


Nitrate

10 ppm


Calcium

410 ppm


Alkalinity

10.6 dkh


Magnesium

1360 ppm



As you can see, all of my parameters look good except for nitrate which hasn't gone down in the last 3 days. What do I do to get this down to about 0? Do I do a 10% water change? This is my first tank and I am inexperienced so I would love some input from people that know more about the cycle than I do. Thanks in advance!!

10ppm nitrate isn't actually that bad. While you want it as close to 0 as possible, some reefers will run their systems between 5 and 10 nitrate and be just fine and have successful flourishing tanks. I would just start doing regular weekly 10% water changes. But it sounds like you're good to go

 

[Lucas Lembke]

10ppm nitrate isn't actually that bad. While you want it as close to 0 as possible, some reefers will run their systems between 5 and 10 nitrate and be just fine and have successful flourishing tanks. I would just start doing regular weekly 10% water changes. But it sounds like you're good to go

So would it be ok to do a 10 gallon water change tonight then add 2 clownfish tomorrow or Sunday?

 

[Crabs McJones]

So would it be ok to do a 10 gallon water change tonight then add 2 clownfish tomorrow or Sunday?

Yes and no...kind of a mixed answer I know. I'll explain why. Do you have any kind of quarantine system set up? Doesn't have to be anything fancy, a 10 gallon tank with a hang on back filter and power head and 50 watt heater would suffice. Before you ever add fish to your main display tank and system, it's always a good idea to quarantine them for 4 to 6 weeks for observation to ensure you don't introduce any sicknesses into the tank. Ich, velvet, brooklynella, and flukes are all extremely common illnesses that have been known to wipe out entire systems all because the fish was added and not quarantined first. And you never never never want to treat for these illnesses in your main tank system. Most corals and inverts cannot handle the medication as most require the use of copper. I know this sounds like a pain now, but it's less work and heartache in the long run when you have an outbreak and have to catch all your fish move them over to quarantine and have some die. So if not i would buy a cheap aquarium kit from petsmart or petco, and when you do your water change to your main tank, take half that water and half brand new water and start up a quarantine tank. check out this thread by Humblefish, our resident guru on quarantine and why you should do it

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-quarantine.189815/

I hope this helps!

 

[Lucas Lembke]

Yes and no...kind of a mixed answer I know. I'll explain why. Do you have any kind of quarantine system set up? Doesn't have to be anything fancy, a 10 gallon tank with a hang on back filter and power head and 50 watt heater would suffice. Before you ever add fish to your main display tank and system, it's always a good idea to quarantine them for 4 to 6 weeks for observation to ensure you don't introduce any sicknesses into the tank. Ich, velvet, brooklynella, and flukes are all extremely common illnesses that have been known to wipe out entire systems all because the fish was added and not quarantined first. And you never never never want to treat for these illnesses in your main tank system. Most corals and inverts cannot handle the medication as most require the use of copper. I know this sounds like a pain now, but it's less work and heartache in the long run when you have an outbreak and have to catch all your fish move them over to quarantine and have some die. So if not i would buy a cheap aquarium kit from petsmart or petco, and when you do your water change to your main tank, take half that water and half brand new water and start up a quarantine tank. check out this thread by Humblefish, our resident guru on quarantine and why you should do it

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-quarantine.189815/

I hope this helps!

Ok I have a LFS that has some used 10-20 gallon tanks for cheap. Would an aqua clear or sponge filter suffice? Also, what would you treat the quarantine tank with?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Ok I have a LFS that has some used 10-20 gallon tanks for cheap. Would an aqua clear or sponge filter suffice? Also, what would you treat the quarantine tank with?

I dont treat unless there is a problem. So what I personally do is get the quarantine tank set up. Put my fish in it and leave them in there for 6 weeks. If they have any illness or parasites it'll show up by then. I only treat if I do find that they have something.

 

[Finhead]

I wouldn't worry about the PO3 at all, I dose mine up to 5 to keep color in my SPS better. It'll level out give it some time.

 

[Lucas Lembke]

I dont treat unless there is a problem. So what I personally do is get the quarantine tank set up. Put my fish in it and leave them in there for 6 weeks. If they have any illness or parasites it'll show up by then. I only treat if I do find that they have something.

Ok I will go to my LFS tomorrow and pick up a 10 gallon tank with light, heater (50 watt), sponge filter, do an 8 gallon water change from display, add 2 gallons of fresh saltwater? Sound good?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Ok I will go to my LFS tomorrow and pick up a 10 gallon tank with light, heater (50 watt), sponge filter, do an 8 gallon water change from display, add 2 gallons of fresh saltwater? Sound good?

Sounds like a plan! Also stop by the hardware store and pick up a couple pvc elbows. just cheap fittings for something for the fish to swim through and hide in. Or cheap decorations similar at your lfs.

 

[Lucas Lembke]

Sounds like a plan! Also stop by the hardware store and pick up a couple pvc elbows. just cheap fittings for something for the fish to swim through and hide in. Or cheap decorations similar at your lfs.

Awesome will do. I was not considering a quarantine at first, but I guess it will save me major issues in the long run and only cost about $40

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The pH (7.4) would be a problem, but almost certainly is inaccurate.

 

[Lucas Lembke]

The pH (7.4) would be a problem, but almost certainly is inaccurate.

Sorry I meant 8.4

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sorry I meant 8.4

Better.