New setup, cycled but never had a Nitrate

[Nick92515]

Here are some details of when im going through right now. i set up the tank about 2 months ago, added 40LBS dry rock and 5LBS live rock(cured i belive) i let that sit in the tank for about a week and never saw a ammonia spike or nitrites. So i decided to add Dr Tims one and only, and a clownish for the ammonia source. After about a week ammonia spiked to about .75, then dropped down to zero, second week nitrites went to about .25-.5 stayed there for a few days then went back down to zero. never had a nitrate. So this cycle was about a total of 2 weeks. on week 3 i had a diatom bloom, lasted about 5 days then died down and I added a small CUC, 3 Nass snails, 2 nerite, and about 5 astrea snails. after about a month i added a fire fish. This is the current stock still a month later, and it will be for awhile.
I did about 2- 5 gallon water changes about 3 weeks apart, just because it seemed like a good idea. Fish seems fine too

Right now i see a little bit of brown film, and some green just starting on glass, and rocks are getting some green/brown/purple/red alge on them (Uglies?)and just yesterday maybe 1 or 2 small spots of hair starting.

Tank details.
55 Gal
HOB filter for now,
Old freshwater T8 light that came with tank also temporary
RODI Water
1"-2" sand bed
feeding mysis and flake mixture
temp 78
No skimmer or sump


Could this be that the live rock that i have is decent rock, and that i have a small bioload? or something else. BTW test every week for last 5 weeks and never any ammonia or nitrite or nitrate.

Sorry for long post, but thank you for all the newbie help

 

[Saltwaterreef32]

That's odd as flake food as is promotes phosphates are your test kits newer kits and reputable kit (not API)

 

[Nick92515]

Anyone else have some insight. Test kits are api, but I got same results at lfs. Kit is brand new exp. 2020

 

[powderblue1]

Did you use live sand? Your bio-load is Very small and you will see changes slowly. You might have missed the nitrate spike, especially given the testing (kit-type, frequency etc.). If you continue monthly water changes at only 10% you will indeed start seeing nitrates and phosphates and that would be bad. Things might start to get hair really quick from what you are describing. Always remember, "Water changes work wonders!" Make sure you are using tests that still have more than six months to the exp. if using API and add more stock unless you are waiting in order to stabilize parameters for corals which will definitely need a better light and filter. This will take a LONG while if you continue on this path. Things need to get worse before they get better. I have 100 lbs. of live rock in my tank, but I am not running a refugium in my sump. Get a small 20-long and make a sump or buy one pre-made on e-bay, you will need a filter-box that runs about 600 - 1000 GPH too since your tank is not drilled (mine is 1200 GPH and using one of the two supplied siphons). Stick a great skimmer in the center chamber of the sump and a Danner pump (Mag 5 or 7) as a return. You will also need more rock (about 2x as much). Live and cured would be much faster than adding 50 more pounds of base, but I understand budgets... Good luck and let me know how it goes. PS: The tank to your left is the 55 I am referring to. This pic was taken a couple of days ago. HAPPY NEW YEAR!:celeb1:

 

[Saltwaterreef32]

+1 powderblue

 

[callmenemo491]

API test kits, are well known to be inaccurate ... get a Hanna/Salifert one.

 

[sticky polyps]

Doesn't sound like anything out of the ordinary to me..