Comments please on H2O quality

[anothermineral]

Hello all,

I have a 40G tank with a 20G sump/fuge. Total volume is probably ~ 50G.

I purchased a 40G package from TBS. Part 1 went in on 5/14, Part 2 went in on 5/28. I have yet to do a water change. Current levels as of this morning are:

Temp 77
SG 1.025
PH 8.0 (ranges from 8.0 to 8.16 depending on the time of day)
Ammonia .25
Nitrite .1
Nitrate 25
Alk 12.2 dKH
Phospate .1
Calcium 365

The water is crystal and quite frankly, I couldn't ask for an easier cycle.

Sorry for the long back story, here's my question:

I've started adding Calcium Chloride to get the Calcium level above 400 (it was as low as 315 a couple of days ago). I then plan on dripping Calcium Hydroxide with my make up water. I'm concerned that I may still see a spike in Ammonia that will possibly call for a substantial water change in the next couple of weeks.

Should I just be patient and let the tank "go about its business" for several more weeks and then start adjusting the levels to support the addition of corals or do you think the cycle is for the most part over and the Ammonia will slowly drift down to 0?

Also, the Nitrates have gone from 10 to 25 in the past two weeks (to be expected), even though the Ammonia is low (per TBS standards during the cycle), would anyone recommend performing a water change to bring them down? Though the Fuge is set up, it is not yet functioning at optimum potential.

Thanks in advance (and thanks to Mark and Richard for the smooth transactions and excellent rock)


If interested, there are pictures of the setup in my gallery.

-Mineral

 

[snooter1]

Well I am 4 months in to my TBS 90 and here is what worked for me. Wait until AM goes completly down to 0 before adding anything. To raise Ca I dripped Kalc and I am now at 410 and holding. It will also push up the PH. I am running 8.3-8.4.

I added a small coral and then a couple fo small firefish. Taking it slow is the key. I am still having problems with my Nitates being at about 40. Even with water changes I am having issues bringing them down. Everything is doing fine however.

 

[anothermineral]

Snooter,

Thanks for the feedback.

-Mineral

 

[hdtran]

Your alkalinity and calcium fight each other. With a dkh at 12, you'll have a hard time getting Ca above 400. Randy Holmes-Farley has some very good articles in Advanced Aquarist Online about it.

Dripping Kalk is fine, it'll bump your pH up. Don't do anything about carbonate hardness so that it can drop naturally to about 7-10. (I prefer using meq units, so we're talking 3 to 3.5 meq/L range). Snooter1 has it absolutely right, slowly and patiently. Just sneak up on it.

Hy