I recently started a new saltwater tank (and I am new to the saltwater hobby). August 8th is when the cycle began. I didn't start "ghost" feeding until a few days later due to the food order being delayed. The values at the start were all normal.
A day or two after I started ghost feeding (8/13/16) the ammonia was at 0.25ppm using the API saltwater test kit. Nitrite and Nitrate were both 0ppm. pH has remained at 7.8 throughout. Salinity has been stable at 1.026. Temp ranges from 80.5 to 82.
On 8/14 the ammonia went up to 0.50ppm and both nitrite/nitrate were 0ppm.
On 8/15 both ammonia and nitrite were 0.25ppm and nitrate at 0ppm.
On 8/17 the ammonia was 0.25ppm and nitrite was 0.50ppm and nitrate 0ppm.
On 8/19 the ammonia was 0ppm and the nitrite 0.25ppn and nitrate 0ppm.
Today's values are ammonia 0ppm, nitrite looks between 0.25 and 0.50ppm, nitrate 0ppm, salinity 1.026, pH 7.8, and temp 81.1.
I stopped the ghost feeding after a few days of starting. Is all of this normal? And within a few days of starting the ghost feeding a brownish substance started growing on the rocks and surface of the sand and has seem to take over the rocks. Is that also normal and does anyone know what exactly it is? I am attaching pictures. Thanks for reading and for the info/help! Much appreciated.
A day or two after I started ghost feeding (8/13/16) the ammonia was at 0.25ppm using the API saltwater test kit. Nitrite and Nitrate were both 0ppm. pH has remained at 7.8 throughout. Salinity has been stable at 1.026. Temp ranges from 80.5 to 82.
On 8/14 the ammonia went up to 0.50ppm and both nitrite/nitrate were 0ppm.
On 8/15 both ammonia and nitrite were 0.25ppm and nitrate at 0ppm.
On 8/17 the ammonia was 0.25ppm and nitrite was 0.50ppm and nitrate 0ppm.
On 8/19 the ammonia was 0ppm and the nitrite 0.25ppn and nitrate 0ppm.
Today's values are ammonia 0ppm, nitrite looks between 0.25 and 0.50ppm, nitrate 0ppm, salinity 1.026, pH 7.8, and temp 81.1.
I stopped the ghost feeding after a few days of starting. Is all of this normal? And within a few days of starting the ghost feeding a brownish substance started growing on the rocks and surface of the sand and has seem to take over the rocks. Is that also normal and does anyone know what exactly it is? I am attaching pictures. Thanks for reading and for the info/help! Much appreciated.
