How bad are my numbers?

[aus1230]

My coral started to look a little weird. So I decided to test all parameters. This is a 40gal long that I started with 2 months ago that I brought over a bunch of rock from a tank that was running for 3 months. Prior to adding any fish I had my water tested and all numbers were good as it being cycled before adding any fish.

Alkalinity: 7.4
Ph: 7.9
Phosphate: .06
Calcium:364
Mag: 1478
Ammonia: 0.4
Nitrite: 0.1
Nitrate: 12
Salinity: 1.026

 

[JayM]

Not terrible, but could use some work.
I don’t like to see alk drop below 8.5. I keep calcium in the mid 400 range. My ph is typically 8.1-8.2. I don’t test nitrite, magnesium or ammonia.

 

[aus1230]

Not terrible, but could use some work.
I don’t like to see alk drop below 8.5. I keep calcium in the mid 400 range. My ph is typically 8.1-8.2. I don’t test nitrite, magnesium or ammonia.

Would you not be worried about the ammonia?

 

[hoffmeyerz]

The fact that you are seeing both ammonia and nitrite would suggest the tank is not cycled.
Either there isn't enough nitrifying bacteria, something in the tank is dead and decaying, or it's a testing error.
When you say the coral look weird what are you seeing?

 

[JayM]

Would you not be worried about the ammonia?

No. Ammonia isn’t the danger that many profess it to be.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ammonia-is-our-friend.1080953/

 

[aus1230]

The fact that you are seeing both ammonia and nitrite would suggest the tank is not cycled.
Either there isn't enough nitrifying bacteria, something in the tank is dead and decaying, or it's a testing error.
When you say the coral look weird what are you seeing?

 

[aus1230]

 

[aus1230]

The fact that you are seeing both ammonia and nitrite would suggest the tank is not cycled.
Either there isn't enough nitrifying bacteria, something in the tank is dead and decaying, or it's a testing error.
When you say the coral look weird what are you seeing?

I mean at this point I’d go on the side of dead and decaying. I’ll probably start pulling rocks up to check on my fish that like to hide.
I mean I did recently add a good amount of snails that I bought from reef cleaners

 

[aus1230]

The fact that you are seeing both ammonia and nitrite would suggest the tank is not cycled.
Either there isn't enough nitrifying bacteria, something in the tank is dead and decaying, or it's a testing error.
When you say the coral look weird what are you seeing?

Could I be feeding too much and not cleaning substrate enough?

 

[hoffmeyerz]

No. Ammonia isn’t the danger that many profess it to be.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ammonia-is-our-friend.1080953/

It is necessary component in a reef tank since it is the food that feeds the nitrifying bacteria. It is, however, toxic if if not consumed and converted in the nitrogen cycle.
The presence of both nitrite and ammonia suggest an incomplete cycle and if there isn't enough of a bacteria population to handle the increasing ammonia from the bioload it will be a problem.
That is only one suggestion though which is why I was curious as to what the op is seeing in his coal that looks weird.

 

[hoffmeyerz]

Did you add all the livestock at once? A little hard to see under the blues but you are right that the coral don't look happy.
Watch the ammonia level, it should decrease as the bacteria population increase from the extra ammonia. If it doesn't you can add some bottle bacteria to kick it off.

 

[aus1230]

Did you add all the livestock at once? A little hard to see under the blues but you are right that the coral don't look happy.
Watch the ammonia level, it should decrease as the bacteria population increase from the extra ammonia. If it doesn't you can add some bottle bacteria to kick it off.

As far as the snails? Yeah I did. That might’ve been a naive part on my behalf. I’ve read in the forums that they usually don’t affect ammonia as much as people think. But once again might’ve been an error on my behalf to assume it would be okay.

 

[aus1230]

As far as the snails? Yeah I did. That might’ve been a naive part on my behalf. I’ve read in the forums that they usually don’t affect ammonia as much as people think. But once again might’ve been an error on my behalf to assume it would be okay.

Those were added like 4 days ago.

 

[aus1230]

Did you add all the livestock at once? A little hard to see under the blues but you are right that the coral don't look happy.
Watch the ammonia level, it should decrease as the bacteria population increase from the extra ammonia. If it doesn't you can add some bottle bacteria to kick it off.

I do have some bottle bacteria in my fridge from the initial start up that I can add. I’m headed to a friend’s house shortly who runs his own coral operation to verify my numbers since these numbers were given to me from a local reef shop.

 

[hoffmeyerz]

As far as the snails? Yeah I did. That might’ve been a naive part on my behalf. I’ve read in the forums that they usually don’t affect ammonia as much as people think. But once again might’ve been an error on my behalf to assume it would be okay.

I meant the whole livestock, not just the snails. Adding just those snails at once shouldn't be a problem.
Hope your numbers come back well, keep us posted!

 

[aus1230]

I meant the whole livestock, not just the snails. Adding just those snails at once shouldn't be a problem.
Hope your numbers come back well, keep us posted!

Ended up testing ammonia and he got 0 on his test. My LFS uses Lamotte spin test which he feels can be very in accurate.

 

[Uncle99]

Ended up testing ammonia and he got 0 on his test. My LFS uses Lamotte spin test which he feels can be very in accurate.

That’s a better number.
CA is low…shoot for 420-440
For me….Alk is low 7.4dkh…..I’m running 8.5dkh to give me some room if Alk varies.

I think it just needs more time.

 

[aus1230]

That’s a better number.
CA is low…shoot for 420-440
For me….Alk is low 7.4dkh…..I’m running 8.5dkh to give me some room if Alk varies.

I think it just needs more time.

You're probably more than right sir!!
I've made my peace with losing the corals that are currently in the tank which is why I only have three corals. I like that they help tell me something is wrong with my numbers. I just really wanted to make sure I didn't lose any fish. Which I don't think I should.
I'm lucky enough to have some mentoring me also telling me these type of things like you said.