Hi everyone, I’m new to reefing and am currently running a 15 gallon innovative marine tank! I’m going through the ugly stage right now after around 4 weeks (lots of brown algae on the sand and some on the glass). I figured I’d test the water parameters for phosphates to see if mine were out of wack, and it turns out, they are:
Phosphates: ~0.25 ppm
Nitrates: ~0-5ppm
(using the api test kit)
I have 2 clownfish, a scarlet cleaner shrimp, 3 astrea snails, 1 trochus snail, and one small gsp.
I think the gsp is happy, but I have to say it’s not super fluorescent and green. Im mainly just curious as to how my phosphates are so high. I feed pe pellets (about 3-4 2mm pellets per day crushed up for my baby clowns); and I have live rock, live sand, ceramic bacteria balls, and filter floss.
I’d love some insight, everyone seems happy but I’m wondering if this is something I have to address, or just the ups and downs of the new reef tank cycle. Thank you so much!!
Phosphates: ~0.25 ppm
Nitrates: ~0-5ppm
(using the api test kit)
I have 2 clownfish, a scarlet cleaner shrimp, 3 astrea snails, 1 trochus snail, and one small gsp.
I think the gsp is happy, but I have to say it’s not super fluorescent and green. Im mainly just curious as to how my phosphates are so high. I feed pe pellets (about 3-4 2mm pellets per day crushed up for my baby clowns); and I have live rock, live sand, ceramic bacteria balls, and filter floss.
I’d love some insight, everyone seems happy but I’m wondering if this is something I have to address, or just the ups and downs of the new reef tank cycle. Thank you so much!!