New setup water parameter question

[JTHYME]

Something doesn't seem right. I have a new setup, 75g reef, live sand, marco rock, 2x 2000gph wavemakers, 300gph filter. I completed the initial cycle dosing ammonia and nitrifying bacteria (Fritz fishless fuel and Brightwell Microbacter Start XLM). Went perfectly, took about 2 weeks to get no ammonia or nitrites with my API test kit. Nitrates were showing around 20ppm. I left the tank empty for around a week before getting my first livestock (2 clownfish). I did another test before getting the fish, and everything was showing zero. No ammonia, nitrites or nitrates. Used my API test and a separate strip test to be sure. After doing some research, I found that the nitrifying bacteria can go dormant if it doesn't have any food. Which was fine to add lifestock. I've had my clownfish for 5 days now, feeding nightly, alternating a pinch of granules and some frozen mysis shrimp. My tests are still showing zero for ammonia and nitrates. Is this normal? The fish seem healthy, I don't run my lights so I don't have any algae yet.

 

[saltwaterfish.com Verified Sponsor]

I would give it more time, 2 clownfish in a 75 will not make a lot of nitrates. As long as you're testing 0 for ammonia and nitrites I would just keep feeding and testing for now.

 

[Fish Fan]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

#WelcometoR2R

Perfectly normal, except you should see some nitrate accumulating very soon if not already

Good luck!

 

[Rocks reef]

Agreed, give it some time.
The nitrifying bacteria don’t go dormant, however, the population will drop due to lack of food. It will bounce back as the nitrates rise