Water chemistry

[buzz579]

Afternoon reefers!

Quick question. My tank is now fully cycled and due to unforeseen circumstances, I am fishless (ICH/velvet) but I do have CUC in tank.

I am feeding CUC with frozen mysis.

My question is, my water parameters have all dropped to 0 (ammonia,nitrite and nitrate) I have read that Nitrates being at 0 isn't good plus I am still in ugly stage.

I have just introduced a few bits of coral. I have 2 Kenya trees (pink and toxic green) and a small frag of GSP.

The pink Kenya tree is doing great, the green Kenya tree is doing ok and almost fully open, my GSP still hasn't opened after 3 days in tank.

Should I be doing something like dosing my tank with ammonium chloride whilst fishless? And is it normal for GSP not to open for a while after being introduced in tank?

Many thanks.

 

[EricR]

What test kit are you using for nitrate?
I'm in the camp that believes truly 0.00 ppm residual nitrate/phosphate isn't ideal,,, but if your test kits aren't accurate at low levels, 0 might not be what I think it means.

 

[buzz579]

I'm using Red Sea test kit.

 

[buzz579]

My corals....

 

[jda]

If you are feeding your CUC, then you are likely OK. If you have the uglies, then you are not nitrogen or phosphorous limited.

There is a writeup in the Chemistry forum about dosing ammonium if you want to. It probably would not hurt, but just know that this lifts all ships including the ugly things.