Coincidently, I just got an ATI test back this week and checked it just now. Results: /share/e9832d5d3ff4f95f1cd2
My 20 gallon nuvo nano looks like this:
Fish seem to be hiding, lol.
I say this just to really hammer that you should not chase the numbers: My nitrates are 0.01 mg/l (or 0.01 ppm) and phosphates are 0.12 mg/l (or 0.12 ppm).
That's not the "right" ratio according to many. But am i going to do anything??? No way!!! Tank looks great. Numbers don't mean anything without context. In my context, zero nitrate and phosphate much higher (but still pretty low), is just fine.
I feed way more than my copperband, wrasse, and two clowns eat, frozen mysis, black worms, and pellet food. I add phyto, live and dead.
Another misleading number in context:
My alkalinity is 7.41 dkh, which is a little lower than i should "want." But i use All for Reef in this tank--and that supplement shows low alk on tests often because its a bacterial kind of alk supplement; the coral/bacteria that use/create the carbonate occurs inside the coral itself--so low number are typical. Tropic marin is working on a more accurate test kit for this supplement. But in my tank, since other trace elements are higher, like magnesium, i don't want to add more supplement than i have been.
Anyway, all said, just get a routine going... stick to it.... stability is the key whatever your numbers are.... ATI recommended i do 20% water changes weekly (5 gallons)... I think you could do about the same and it will all stabilize out your tank over time. Just match water well.
My 20 gallon nuvo nano looks like this:
Fish seem to be hiding, lol.
I say this just to really hammer that you should not chase the numbers: My nitrates are 0.01 mg/l (or 0.01 ppm) and phosphates are 0.12 mg/l (or 0.12 ppm).
That's not the "right" ratio according to many. But am i going to do anything??? No way!!! Tank looks great. Numbers don't mean anything without context. In my context, zero nitrate and phosphate much higher (but still pretty low), is just fine.
I feed way more than my copperband, wrasse, and two clowns eat, frozen mysis, black worms, and pellet food. I add phyto, live and dead.
Another misleading number in context:
My alkalinity is 7.41 dkh, which is a little lower than i should "want." But i use All for Reef in this tank--and that supplement shows low alk on tests often because its a bacterial kind of alk supplement; the coral/bacteria that use/create the carbonate occurs inside the coral itself--so low number are typical. Tropic marin is working on a more accurate test kit for this supplement. But in my tank, since other trace elements are higher, like magnesium, i don't want to add more supplement than i have been.
Anyway, all said, just get a routine going... stick to it.... stability is the key whatever your numbers are.... ATI recommended i do 20% water changes weekly (5 gallons)... I think you could do about the same and it will all stabilize out your tank over time. Just match water well.