New tank upgrade

[rick13]

I had a Jbj 45 aio that was running for 3 years. Live rock had a bunch of zoas that I did not want in new tank. I upgraded to a nyos 300 all new sand and dry rock. I put some of the live rock in the sump of new tank along with some ceramic media and a spong that was in the jbj since day one and used all the water from old tank. The old tank always sat at 12 nitrate and .1 phosphate. One week after setting up new tank nitrate was 6 and phosphate.04. I was going to do a 10% water change but tested nitrate 1.6 and phosphate.01 today. I’m thinking those numbers are false because roller Matt and skimmer pulling out some nasty green stuff. Going thru algae bloom and brown stuff phase with the rock. Corals and fish look happy. Should I do a water change now or just let everything settle for now?

 

[Tinnerito]

I had a Jbj 45 aio that was running for 3 years. Live rock had a bunch of zoas that I did not want in new tank. I upgraded to a nyos 300 all new sand and dry rock. I put some of the live rock in the sump of new tank along with some ceramic media and a spong that was in the jbj since day one and used all the water from old tank. The old tank always sat at 12 nitrate and .1 phosphate. One week after setting up new tank nitrate was 6 and phosphate.04. I was going to do a 10% water change but tested nitrate 1.6 and phosphate.01 today. I’m thinking those numbers are false because roller Matt and skimmer pulling out some nasty green stuff. Going thru algae bloom and brown stuff phase with the rock. Corals and fish look happy. Should I do a water change now or just let everything settle for now?

Don't take my word for it but as long as everything in the tank is running smoothly for now, I'd hold off on the water change for a week or so.

 

[Uncle99]

Some would bind to the new rock and sand and may contribute to the decrease.

I’d just go ahead a few days to see if there’s any consistent trends.

 

[rick13]

Some would bind to the new rock and sand and may contribute to the decrease.

I’d just go ahead a few days to see if there’s any consistent trends.

Didn’t think of nutrients getting sucked up by new rocks, makes sense. Thanks

 

[rick13]

So, phosphate dipped to .01 and nitrate to 0.0 then diatoms dying off. I was worried about Dino’s so I dosed nitrate and phosphate and diatoms took off again. Diatoms consuming nutrients fast. I don’t know what to do. Keep dosing nutrients and deal with diatoms or starve out and hopefully not get dinos

 

[Tinnerito]

So, phosphate dipped to .01 and nitrate to 0.0 then diatoms dying off. I was worried about Dino’s so I dosed nitrate and phosphate and diatoms took off again. Diatoms consuming nutrients fast. I don’t know what to do. Keep dosing nutrients and deal with diatoms or starve out and hopefully not get dinos

Diatoms usually aren't something you can keep forever, they come and go. Whether you want to keep dosing nutrients or not I think depends on what all you have in the tank. My tanks are all full of seaweed so I dose a lot of nitrates and phosphates without having any dinos. But if that is not the case for you, then just stay safe with what you have I guess. :) And if you're trying to keep your nutrients stable, just dose an amount until it is to your desire, and do it consistently until there is change like an algae bloom where then you can dose more according tp your tanks needs.