\Clownfish/ 29 Gallon BioCube Tank

[\Clownfish/]

Day #12

Parameters Today

PH - 7.8 (low, but which product do you guys recommend to raise up to 8.3)
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrite - 0 ppm
Nitrate - 5.0 ppm (went up? Could it be because I have my lights on now?)
Phosphate - 0.25 (went up as well)

Just wondering how I can lower my PH and why did nitrates go up and phosphates as well? Do I need another water change?

Other than that everything is looking good hermits are cleaning, snail are on the glass and others at the top of the lid lol. I also have tons of microbe blew from the skimmer which still needs to break in.

 

[\Clownfish/]

Salinity - 1.025

 

[\Clownfish/]

Tank Today (microbubbles everywhere!)

 

[acabgd]

Do not chase your pH. Open your windows and aerate the room and also try to increase surface agitation in your tank by pointing a small powerhead towards the water surface.

 

[\Clownfish/]

There is tons of water agitation

 

[terrypercula]

Do not chase your pH. Open your windows and aerate the room and also try to increase surface agitation in your tank by pointing a small powerhead towards the water surface.

I agree as long as you're in that 7.7-8.4 range you're golden.

 

[\Clownfish/]

What can I do about my nitrates and phosphates? :idea:

 

[terrypercula]

What can I do about my nitrates and phosphates? :idea:

At only day 12 you're still in a cycle, spikes are completely normal. When you notice zero ammonia for a fairly extended period of time and start to see that rust colored algae(diatoms) I'd do a big, 50% or more, water change. That'll bring down your nitrates and phosphates.

 

[\Clownfish/]

Day #13

Parameter Today

Salinity - 1.024
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrite - 0 ppm
Nitrate - 10 ppm (yesterday was 5.0 ppm, do I need a water change?)
Phosphate - 0.15 ppm (lower than yesterday)
PH - 7.8

 

[\Clownfish/]

Day #14

Parameter Today

Salinity - 1.024
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrite - 0 ppm
Nitrate - 20 ppm hmm2: I'm worried about this, higher than yesterday)
Phosphate - 0.25 hmm2: how can I lower?)
PH - 8.0

Only thing I'm worried about is my nirtrates and phosphates, What can I do?
My cuc is still cleaning the rock up. I am noticing they are poopin everywhere. Should I get a shrimp of some sort to eat that?

 

[soulpatch]

Your nitrates are held in check for now with water changes. Don't worry too much about them right now

 

[cherubfish pair]

I agree as long as you're in that 7.7-8.4 range you're golden.

Yes, that range is acceptable but what's not is big swings in that range. You should test the same time everyday to give you a true picture. I have an Apex and can see parameters over a 24 hour period for six days at a time and it can really swing so testing once a day tells you nothing unless it is the same time every day. pH goes down a little at night on every tank with photosynthetic animals/plants and ORP goes down in the day due to feeding. Temp has a dip at night too on a lot of tanks especially if they don't have a controller. Just check on your temp in the middle of the night some night and you won't believe your eyes. Just my $.02

 

[soulpatch]

It is crazy to watch the swings of parameters throughout the day. Opened my eyes when I got my apex.

 

[\Clownfish/]

Yes, that range is acceptable but what's not is big swings in that range. You should test the same time everyday to give you a true picture. I have an Apex and can see parameters over a 24 hour period for six days at a time and it can really swing so testing once a day tells you nothing unless it is the same time every day. pH goes down a little at night on every tank with photosynthetic animals/plants and ORP goes down in the day due to feeding. Temp has a dip at night too on a lot of tanks especially if they don't have a controller. Just check on your temp in the middle of the night some night and you won't believe your eyes. Just my $.02

Thank you so much for the info, I never thought about it. I do test my tank around noon everyday. I am currently trying to find a thermometer because a few days ago a glass one that I bought broke in the tank (Fusion Brand) and the fluid leaked out. I got the glass pieces out and did a small water change but lucky me it was saltwater safe. Never again will I buy a glass thermometer.

 

[soulpatch]

just get a digital therm. More discrete and easier to read...

 

[\Clownfish/]

Day #15

Parameters Today

Salinity - 1.024
PH - 7.9
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrite - 0 ppm
Nitrate - 20 ppm (stable for now)
Phosphate - 0.15 ppm (lower than yesterday )

I plan on adding so macroalage to the tank sometime this week and on Saturday doing a 30% water change as well as next week and so on till readings are clear. I will also be getting a reef test kit so I can check on the other levels and dose accordingly if I need too. I want to get coralline to start growing. I do see some growing on one of the rocks. (Bright pink)

 

[BarryV]

Clownfish what test kit are you using for Phosphates?
Barry

 

[\Clownfish/]

Hi Barry,
I am using API Master Test Kit (Expires 2019) so far it's been giving me accurate readings.

 

[\Clownfish/]

Day #16

Parameters Today

Salinity - 1.024
PH - 7.8
Ammonia - 0 ppm
Nitrite - 0 ppm
Nitrate - 5.0 ppm (lowered since I took out cuc poop small water change)
Phosphate - 0.15 (stable)

 

[\Clownfish/]

Tank Today

Cleaning Crew is still cleaning away at the rock and glass. Skimmer still producing tons of micro bubbles and making an annoying sound (not as loud as last week)I want to go get the reef master test kit and start checking my other levels so I can start having coralline algae spreading all over my rock. I do have some coralline growing already on one rock which is really cool. Do I need any supplements for calcium, etc...?