Should I be worried

  • Thread starter Thread starter nintendee
  • Start date Start date
  • Tagged users Tagged users None

nintendee

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 18, 2025
Messages
19
Reaction score
17
Location
Utah
What state or country do you live in
Utah
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
20251218_172856_1AC2791E-B959-4948-BEBA-7DE25F02E202.png
This tank is a month old yesterday it’s completely cycled i’ve seen the rise and fall of ammonia and nitrite fell probably 10 days ago, i’ve been testing everyday the whole time and I have like very very very low levels of nitrate and phosphate like .05 ppm, 0 nitrite, 0 ammonia. I feed everyday flakes so i assumed water would be dirtier, Im just now getting to the ugly phase with slight bits of brown should I be worried or is my tank doing good so far. (I have a AI glow and grow in my room i’m setting up soon I know this light will not grow corals)

20251218_173037_9B721A3C-E69D-4F03-A64F-6EF5105C2355.png

20251218_173049_986C2B1E-FD34-48BC-ACDC-E3F889E23B3D.png
 
Don't worry, everything looks fine :)

You probably won't be able to increase nutrients in your tank for quite a while. Phosphate will bind to the rocks and substrate for quite some time until it stays in the water column, and the incoming ugly phase will eat all nutrients up as soon as they become available.
That's not an issue as you currently don't need nutrients (you don't have corals that rely on them). After the diatoms are gone and the green hair algae starts to vanish you can add the first robust coral.

There is so much going on in your tank right now, even if you can't see it. Give nature some time and you will have a beautiful tank with healthy fish and corals soon :)
 
Looks perfect for 30 days.

Just toothbrush that.

Dose nitrate to 3-5ppm and phosphate can stay at 0.05ppm, but not lower.

Then just let her mature up, with steady and stable water chemistry.

If you don’t use a controller, you may want to consider an Inkbird on that heater, that makes it safe, best is the 306wifi, dual probe, say $50.

Very nice work.
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT’S THE HARDEST PART OF REEFING TO EXPLAIN TO A NON-REEFER?

  • Why a tiny coral frag can cost that much

    Votes: 5 20.0%
  • Why I spend time testing and adjusting water

    Votes: 5 20.0%
  • Why the fish I want might not fit my tank

    Votes: 5 20.0%
  • Why I have buckets, tubing, and salt around the house

    Votes: 1 4.0%
  • Why corals are living animals, not decorations

    Votes: 7 28.0%
  • How much time and attention a reef takes

    Votes: 8 32.0%
  • The difference between freshwater and saltwater creatures

    Votes: 1 4.0%
  • I’ve stopped trying to explain

    Votes: 10 40.0%
  • Other (Post in the comments)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
Back
Top
Home
Post thread…
Market
What's new