Nitrogen Cycle

[DraggingTail]

My tank is 7 months old. I cannot get my Nitrates off of 0 for my coral. I constantly have these bubbles on my rocks even when the lights are off. Do you think it is Nitrates converting to Nitrogen?

I have 80lbs of rock with the smallest rock weighing 7 lbs and largest 16 lbs.

 

[glb]

How much do you feed? What do you use for nutrient export (eg skimmer, fuge, etc.)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

What happens if you feed more?

 

[DraggingTail]

How much do you feed? What do you use for nutrient export (eg skimmer, fuge, etc.)

Feed clowns spectrum every other day.
Feed shrimp frozen twice a week.
Feed coral reef roids twice a week.

No nutrient export. Overflow into a sump with nothing but a return pump currently.

Plan to add macro algae, reactor and skimmer as budget allows.

So only water changes. However, I have not changed water for 2 months trying to get nitrates up.

 

[DraggingTail]

What happens if you feed more?

If I feed heavily I get algae on rock

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

If I feed heavily I get algae on rock

Then it is the algae that is driving down the nutrients, and you likely have a sufficient availability for most corals.

 

[DraggingTail]

Then it is the algae that is driving down the nutrients, and you likely have a sufficient availability for most corals.

So should I feed "heavier" and add chaeto to keep algae off rocks?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So should I feed "heavier" and add chaeto to keep algae off rocks?

I don't think that is likely to keep algae off the rocks, but the chaeto might limit the growth of the green algae.

 

[Gypsygadfly]

Is it normal to see nitrites before nitrates during the nitrogen cycle? Started the cycle 20 days ago in a 32 gallon brute.