Nitrate conundrum

Ryan winder · Oct 8, 2018

I wish it was getting coralline. The live rock with coralline was added after. The lfs gave me a piece of rubble to isolate my gsp on. Which consequentally I think had Vermatid snails on it. Live and learn

Dennis McGrath · Oct 8, 2018

That's a really nice looking setup you've got there.

Ryan winder · Oct 8, 2018

Dennis McGrath said:
That's a really nice looking setup you've got there.

Thanks man! I find the epoxy a little unsightly but I didn’t want anything toppling over and it will get covered up eventually

Dennis McGrath · Oct 9, 2018

I didn't notice it until now when you mentioned it. In a few months you won't be able to tell.

MTBake · Oct 9, 2018

Looks good! Keep doing what you're doing. Don't go chasing numbers. The nitrate will most likely fall as the tank ages.

Blizzahjh · Oct 10, 2018

Yep stay the course things will probably be fine. Get some reliable test kits they will pay for themself in the end. Best advice i was ever given was STABILITY STABILITY STABILITY. Chasing parameters is where most people get themselves in trouble.

I find most new tanks get overfed by a fair margin, how i usually think about things is looking at your fish and thinking "how big is their tummy" and laying out the food in a way that you dont have more food than what the fish can eat.

Blizzahjh · Oct 10, 2018

Edit : Double posted

Ryan winder · Nov 14, 2018

Sorry it’s been awhile since posted this but I thought since there was some helpful advice I would let you know what’s going on. I got a new test kit and nitrates are still a bit on the high side . Still haven’t been able to bring them down to much. I’m wondering if it’s the ceramic media I have in chamber 2 of my intank media basket. It looks pretty gross. I know that there is beneficial bacteria on it so I’m scared to remove it and send my tank into a mini cycle. What do you all think? I have 25 lbs live rock and 20 lbs of sand in my 32 gallon. Should I pull the ceramic rings or leave them??