New aquarium . Help needed

emu4388 · Aug 21, 2016

Hi guys . I have had my aquarium running for two weeks now .
I set it up with 20kg high quality ultra grade rock.
With cheato. Tmc reef 500 skimmer
8 kg rock rubble in sump
25kg live sand
Got four jabeo rw4 in display . Two of which are pointing up to break the top of the water.
I am using r/o di water at 0ppm
Been testing water twice a day
Never had any ammonia which is still at 0
Nitrite 0
Phosphate 0
Nitrate 5ppm

7 days ago I had a diatom bloom
Before this my ph was at 8.2/ 8.3

Once the bloom started I noticed the ph went down to 8.0
So I added an airline to my skimmer and two days later the ph returned to 8.3.

The diatom bloom is in full swing now and has covered the sand and glass also little bit on the rocks .
The over flow inlet as started having a little green hair algea growth on top of it

My ph has dropped to 7.8 now and am wondering if it has something to do with the diatom bloom .

I know that chasing numbers ain't good so am reluctant to use any thing to dose at the moment.
But any information would be helpfull

twilliard · Aug 21, 2016

That is perfectly normal and also ph testing results will vary

Frop · Aug 21, 2016

emu4388 said:
My ph has dropped to 7.8 now and am wondering if it has something to do with the diatom bloom .

My pH stays at 7.8 all the time... I just started too.

redfishbluefish · Aug 21, 2016

Have you introduced an ammonia source.....fish food, table shrimp, actual ammonia, etc?

emu4388 · Aug 21, 2016

Yes I put a prawn in for a few days . And still didn't get any spikes . As the rock and rubble and live sand was all high grade.
I think that the bacteria was already present and was able to cope with the ammonia.
I have done lots of reading and this has happened to lots of aquarium. Where they have not had any spikes because of the live rock etc

steve&mari · Aug 21, 2016

As twillard said it's normal n ph varies depending on lights schedule and amount of fresh air in the home. Also as redfishbluefish said you also need a ammonia source for it to cycle properly.

emu4388 · Aug 21, 2016

Yes I do understand about the ammonia. I also read that diatoms are the result of an end of a cycle . And are a good thing . I am starting to get Green hair algea growing from the diatoms on my overflow inlet .
Would it hurt to do a water change

Frop · Aug 21, 2016

(Disclaimer: I'm new to all this) I saw a YouTube video saying magnesium was a buffer for alkalinity and alkalinity is a buffer for pH. I've been raising my magnesium levels hoping to bring the pH up with a water change and additive solution. They also say adding calcium can lower alkalinity/pH. Actually I want to try and use kalkwasser in my tiny tank they say that also helps pH. Waiting for someone to reply it's a bad idea hehe

Wayneb332 · Aug 22, 2016

I would let it run it's course. Twillard is one of the best on here.

redfishbluefish · Aug 22, 2016

For starters, here's Dr Holmes-Farley's article about:

A Simplified Guide to the Relationship Between Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and pH

My recommendation is to NOT chase pH. Assuming the carbon dioxide is not a problem within your house, pH will take care of itself. Simply maintain acceptable levels of alkalinity, calcium and magnesium, and you'll be just fine. If you tend to run on the low side of pH, kalkwasser is the best choice. If and when your alk and calc demand exceed what is being supplied by the kalkwasser, you can simply add two part to that mix.

FYI, you're target alk, calc and mag numbers are:

Alkalinity: 7-11 dKH (or 2.5-4 meq/L, or 125-200 ppm CaCO3 equivalents)
Calcium: 380-450 ppm
Magnesium: 1250-1350 ppm

Hope this helps.

jsker · Aug 22, 2016

This is the first of many swings of your parameter that will happen until your system establishes itself. This could take six months to a year to settle down. Patients and let it roll. Trying to fix it will just frustrate you more.:)

Salty1962 · Aug 23, 2016

Patience will get you where you want to go:) Don't try to hurry your tank cycle. Your going to go through many episodes of number varying levels and algae outbreaks. Keep up with good husbandry practices and you'll be fine;)

emu4388 · Aug 25, 2016

Quick update . I let it be . And after the diatom bloom as receded my ph as gone back to 8.3 . Think the large number of diatoms where using up the co2 . We all gotto breath right .
Now comes the hair algea .
Every where the diatoms where there is now hair algea. But as my parameters are in check it don't seem to be rapid .
Going to get some clean up crew this weekend .
Thanks for the info guys

saltyfilmfolks · Aug 25, 2016

jsker said:
This is the first of many swings of your parameter that will happen until your system establishes itself. This could take six months to a year to settle down. Patients and let it roll. Trying to fix it will just frustrate you more.:)

Salty1962 said:
Patience will get you where you want to go:) Don't try to hurry your tank cycle. Your going to go through many episodes of number varying levels and algae outbreaks. Keep up with good husbandry practices and you'll be fine;)

these.
and get a tooth brush for the gha.;)