Questions one month into my first reef tank

[BilboB]

Thanks to the suggestions here on R2R, I set up my Aqueon rimmed 55g tank with a Tunze in-tank filter, a Tunze protein skimmer, 2 Nicrew Hyperreef 150 gen 2 lights, 2 VorTech MP10s and 2 Titanium heaters. I've been slowly adding fish for about a month and noticed recently that there are some faint brown patches on the sand. Today I added my first corals (softies), but when I checked the water, the nitrate level was 17 and the phosphate level was 0.6! Are those levels too high for corals, and does that mean I've been overfeeding the fish?

Thanks in advance,
Rob

 

[Fish Fan]

Your nitrate is fine, especially for softies. Softies are quite forgiving, and some say do better at higher nitrate concentrations.

The phosphate is a bit high, but I'd rather be in that situation than having zero phosphate, which I believe is much worse. What sometimes happens in new tanks is that there could be phosphate bound to the surface of the rock, which leaches into the water, so even if you do a large water change, the phosphate comes right back from the rocks. In time, it usually reaches an equilibrium at a lower concentration. You could try some type of phosphate reducing media, such as Granular Ferric Oxide (GFO), just be careful not to completely zero out your phosphate. Again, in my opinion zero is worse than high phosphate.

If it helps, I like to follow the guidelines from Randy Holmes-Farley as far as what targets levels to shoot for:
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/randy’s-thoughts-on-nutrient-target-ranges.1087/
From the above link:

• Let nitrate float between 5 ppm and 50 ppm. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above 50 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by organic carbon dosing, turf or macroalgae, etc.
• Below 5 ppm, I’d begin to dose ammonia or feed more. The target level might drop lower if dosing ammonia, just like the heavy in/heavy out scenario where nitrate may not be as needed.
• Let phosphate float between about 0.06 ppm and 0.3 ppm. This range is higher than I’ve recommended in the past. I’d use gentle export in this range, such as growing macroalgae.
• Above about 0.3 ppm, I’d begin to focus more on reducing it, by turf or macroalgae, or a binder such as GFO or lanthanum (has its own risks to tangs). If a binder: GO SLOW. Turf and macroalgae will typically be slow enough.
• Below 0.06 ppm, I’d begin to dose sodium phosphate or feed more to get the level up.

I hope that helps, and good luck!

 

[BilboB]

Thanks! I just realized, I've been forgetting to rinse the floss in the filter. I just rinsed it - so much debris!

 

[Fish Fan]

Thanks! I just realized, I've been forgetting to rinse the floss in the filter. I just rinsed it - so much debris!

Don't rinse floss, just pitch it

If you're not already, use Poly-Fil instead of aquarium filter floss. Poly-Fil is 110% exactly the same as aquarium filter floss, but it costs much less because it doesn't have a picture of a fish on the bag. Poly-Fil can be found in the craft section of your local Mega-Lo-Mart, or any local craft store such as Michael's or Hobby Lobby. Its intended purpose is to stuff pillows and kid's toys, but again, it's the same as aquarium filter floss, and cheap enough that you can pull it, pitch it, and replace it as needed.

 

[gkprevite]

Thanks! I just realized, I've been forgetting to rinse the floss in the filter. I just rinsed it - so much debris!

Yeah you’re going to wanna get the nasties out of the floss every few days or just replace it. Don’t use gfo at this point just make sure the food your feeding your fish is being eaten without any excess. The brown stuff popping up are likely diatoms and are part of the process

 

[BilboB]

Thanks, I'll have to remember to take care of the floss. I also just ordered some macroalgae which hopefully won't take over my tank.

 

[Fish Fan]

Thanks, I'll have to remember to take care of the floss. I also just ordered some macroalgae which hopefully won't take over my tank.

What did you order for macro algae? Many available now are slow to grow, and don't reproduce sexually like Calerpa that could over take your tank in a hurry.

 

[BilboB]

What did you order for macro algae? Many available now are slow to grow, and don't reproduce sexually like Calerpa that could over take your tank in a hurry.

I got sea lettuce and red ogo from Algae Barn.