Tank and Reef question

[ScottyD36]

I have a Fluval 13.5 gallon tank. It’s been running for 1 months now. I have a clown fish, peppermint shrimp and turbo snail. My levels are always 0-0.25 ammonia nitrite 0 and nitrates are 20ppm. I wanted to start adding Zoanthids and other hardy things to my tank over time (very slowly not rushed). I read that in order to keep them my tank needs to be at zero nitrates. I know good husbandry and don’t over feed and all that keeps nitrates down along with water changes. With my tank being newer as it matures will it cycle out nitrates at faster rates giving me the desired number of zero so that I can have and maintain some hardy corals or should I be looking to add something to my filtration set up that will help. This is my current set up. First chamber pump and heater. 2nd filter block and 3rd is the skimmer with some small pieces of dry rock. Under the 2nd chamber and 3 I have space for something. Thanks for any input or ideas.

 

[SPR1968]

You don’t really want zero nitrates as your risk unwanted issues, a good target is around 5-10ppm and that will also give any corals some food as well.

Give some corals a try and see how you get on.

Try and keep your phosphate very low, at around 0.03ppm, so very low, and again you will avoid many potential problems.

 

[ScottyD36]

You don’t really want zero nitrates as your risk unwanted issues, a good target is around 5-10ppm and that will also give any corals some food as well.

Give some corals a try and see how you get on.

Try and keep your phosphate very low, at around 0.03ppm, so very low, and again you will avoid many potential problems.

Thank you. My phosphates were at 0.25 when I last tested.

 

[Fred2482]

You don’t really want zero nitrates as your risk unwanted issues, a good target is around 5-10ppm and that will also give any corals some food as well.

Give some corals a try and see how you get on.

Try and keep your phosphate very low, at around 0.03ppm, so very low, and again you will avoid many potential problems.

+1

 

[Luke’s reef]

Hey, congratulations on your tank. Ok so like SPR said you do not want 0 nitrates, that would cause a lot of issues with keeping corals alive, I would however make sure you completely eliminate the .25 ammonia but that should come down as the cycle continues, as long as there is no major spike in any parameter you should be fine with easier starter corals. Get some zoas or cheaper mushrooms and give them a try see how they look after a few days.