Anna & Pablo’s RSR P650

[svreef]

I have the lights off and Phosphate is zero.

 

[JVU]

I have the lights off and Phosphate is zero.

That’s strange. You used a decomposing shrimp and the fish excrement/food to cycle, right? Both of those should be putting out phosphate in proportion to nitrate, I would expect around 10 ppm if your Nitrate is 100. What are you using to test phosphate? You’ll need a low-range test like the Hanna ULR eventually if you don’t have one.

Usually when people have this extreme imbalance of high nitrate and no phosphate after cycling it’s because they used ammonia to cycle. If true, you’ll either have to do water changes or add phosphate to fix biologically. Which is why I don’t recommend that approach.

 

[svreef]

I started with the shrimp but got impatient and removed it. Then I dosed ammonia (but 1/4 of the recommended amount) and when that cleared up, I ghost fed for a few days until I got the fish. I’ve been feeding them lightly for 8 days now.

I added Dr. Tim’s bacteria 3 times.

Chaeto and Caulerpa have been in the fuge for 5 days with 6 hrs of light at night. Tank lights have been off.

I measured Phosphate and Nitrate with Salifert tests and did a 25% water change yesterday.

 

[JVU]

The Salifert phosphate test isn‘t good at measuring in the range most people keep their reef tanks, <0.1. I used to use it. You’re going to want to buy a better test. I’ve tried several, and I use the Hanna ULR and am happy with it.

 

[svreef]

It does have an option to double the water and reagents for a lower range. I’ll try that for now

 

[Jonathan Chia]

I've found nitrate test kits arent accurate with nitrite in the water as well

 

[Coral reefer]

Typo?

 

[Jonathan Chia]

Sorry, was referencing his 100 Nitrate reading in his earlier post where he had a nitrite of 1, and nitrates of 100

 

[Coral reefer]

Sorry, was referencing his 100 Nitrate reading in his earlier post where he had a nitrite of 1, and nitrates of 100

So you are saying nitrate test won’t Be accurate if there is nitrite present?

 

[Jonathan Chia]

So you are saying nitrate test won’t Be accurate if there is nitrite present?

Yea that's been my experience...so I dunno if I would take the nitrate level at 100 at face value since there is still nitrite in the water

 

[Coral reefer]

Yea that's been my experience...so I dunno if I would take the nitrate level at 100 at face value since there is still nitrite in the water

Never heard that. I guess they are pretty similar chemically though.
Anyone else say the same thing?

 

[ofzakaria]

From experience I would not advice for carbon dosing unless you are planning to stick with it or do it after research and knowledge of the carbon system you will dose.
Things like vodka, nopox, zeovit..etc

Never heard that. I guess they are pretty similar chemically though.
Anyone else say the same thing?

First time I hear of such also..these test kits have a range and accuracy I did not know they can be impaired by other chemical paramaters

 

[JVU]

Never heard that. I guess they are pretty similar chemically though.
Anyone else say the same thing?

Yes:

False Nitrate reading?

Hi Im doing a fishless cycling at the moment using Dr Tims 1 and only, the first water test after dosing ammonium chloride, the Nitrate level was 100 and still is after day 8/9, during this time I have also had a reading for nitrite from 1.0 on day 2 to 0.25 today. I have come across a few...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Coral reefer]

Thanks guys.
The last question on there is something I want an answer to also. I’m guessing not but who knows.
So it seems like api wouldn’t have the same issue.
Learn something new every day

 

[Coral reefer]

Ammonia is < 0.15
Nitrite is 1
Nitrate is 100

Only fish in the tank. This tells me that the nitrifying bacteria are doing their job. But...should I do anything to lower nitrate or just let the Chaeto get established and soak it up.

What kit are you using for nitrate? Salifert?

 

[svreef]

Yes. Just reviewed everything above and it makes sense. I also have API tests, so I’ll do both today.

 

[Coral reefer]

Yes. Just reviewed everything above and it makes sense. I also have API tests, so I’ll do both today.

I’m guessing that nitrite should go away pretty quick too, so the testing issue could resolve itself soon

 

[svreef]

That seems to be the case, Salifert shows much higher Nitrate. API says ~10 ppm.

 

[svreef]

Sorry ~20 ppm

 

[Coral reefer]

Still ammonia? Hoping no