the title is a bit melodramatic, but we tend to :headwally: and be a little melodramatic with our tanks at times. O.k. well I do. Because it's such an awesome and majestic biosphere, and a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and $$$$$$$ goes into it. So, it's important to us.
However, my note is a bit on the lighter side, because I don't want to admit I know the answer. I've had a 2-3 year break from being in the reef hobby, and had owned several reef aquariums from 55 gallon to 220 gallon. Now a 340 gallon custom aquarium. It's been active for 2 months now. With fish for going on 1 week. No corals or anything yet, just about 100-120 lbs of rock. (not enough, but plan to add more over time with corals. Going for a less is more look.
That said, I think my tank is foreshadowing some doom to me. That and it may just be the fact that on a 125g I battled hair algae for about a year before I finally won the battle. Corals and rocks were covered in it. I harvested huge clumps every 2-3 days for months on end. I did everything in the fight algae war known to man. I finally won, but it took close to a year of slow changes.
Now, my paranoia is kicking. I tested nitrates and phosphates just to make sure everything was cycled before adding fish. I expected some nitrates. I would have been a bit terrified if there were none. Nitrates were between 4 and 6 with a new red sea test kit. Pegged at 4 on the low range test, and less than 8 on the high range test. About where I'd like them starting out with fish and a new bacteria. (all rock was dry and sterile for the last 2-3 years.)
The thing that alarmed me a little and is prophesying the doom... Phosphates are at .08 ppm. It was about dead on. With the Red Sea phosphate test. (also brand new and nonexpired). I only use RODI with 0 TDS. I hadn't had my skimmer turned on (to foster bacterial growth) but had fed some flake food to speed bacterial growth.
I did not clean my rocks, so I expected decayed matter to release from the rocks and most likely release some phosphates and maybe even start the ammonia cycle on their own. But, I didn't expect .08 ppm phosphates in a system with 400 gallons of clean saltwater.
I can't put any SPS in that for sure, they'd be covered in algae in a day. So, I guess, is this a prophecy of what's to come, or is it natural to have a phosphate spike when cycling a tank. That part I'm a little fuzzy on?
I also wonder if the rocks are leaching phosphates as well?
I was planning to put a Algae Turf Scrubber on (either a prebuilt one from Turbo Aquatics or the largest one that BRS sells) and run my skimmer in conjunction. Just wondering if the scrubber is needed sooner than later to avoid having vast array of algae issues starting off in the display.
Or will algae consume the phosphates and get consumed by the skimmer, and it'll be good for a while? In other words, just a natural part of the process?
However, my note is a bit on the lighter side, because I don't want to admit I know the answer. I've had a 2-3 year break from being in the reef hobby, and had owned several reef aquariums from 55 gallon to 220 gallon. Now a 340 gallon custom aquarium. It's been active for 2 months now. With fish for going on 1 week. No corals or anything yet, just about 100-120 lbs of rock. (not enough, but plan to add more over time with corals. Going for a less is more look.
That said, I think my tank is foreshadowing some doom to me. That and it may just be the fact that on a 125g I battled hair algae for about a year before I finally won the battle. Corals and rocks were covered in it. I harvested huge clumps every 2-3 days for months on end. I did everything in the fight algae war known to man. I finally won, but it took close to a year of slow changes.
Now, my paranoia is kicking. I tested nitrates and phosphates just to make sure everything was cycled before adding fish. I expected some nitrates. I would have been a bit terrified if there were none. Nitrates were between 4 and 6 with a new red sea test kit. Pegged at 4 on the low range test, and less than 8 on the high range test. About where I'd like them starting out with fish and a new bacteria. (all rock was dry and sterile for the last 2-3 years.)
The thing that alarmed me a little and is prophesying the doom... Phosphates are at .08 ppm. It was about dead on. With the Red Sea phosphate test. (also brand new and nonexpired). I only use RODI with 0 TDS. I hadn't had my skimmer turned on (to foster bacterial growth) but had fed some flake food to speed bacterial growth.
I did not clean my rocks, so I expected decayed matter to release from the rocks and most likely release some phosphates and maybe even start the ammonia cycle on their own. But, I didn't expect .08 ppm phosphates in a system with 400 gallons of clean saltwater.
I can't put any SPS in that for sure, they'd be covered in algae in a day. So, I guess, is this a prophecy of what's to come, or is it natural to have a phosphate spike when cycling a tank. That part I'm a little fuzzy on?
I also wonder if the rocks are leaching phosphates as well?
I was planning to put a Algae Turf Scrubber on (either a prebuilt one from Turbo Aquatics or the largest one that BRS sells) and run my skimmer in conjunction. Just wondering if the scrubber is needed sooner than later to avoid having vast array of algae issues starting off in the display.
Or will algae consume the phosphates and get consumed by the skimmer, and it'll be good for a while? In other words, just a natural part of the process?
