My new tank levels...I need some help.

kremit2003 · 09/16/2007, 03:32 PM

Ok here are the current levels in my cycling tank. This tank has been cycling for 4 weeks now and brown algae is definately taking its toll on everything, it looks like I dumped brown junk in there and it covers everything except for two rocks which have been growing bright green algae. Anyway, the pH = 8.3, NH3/NH4+ = 0.23 ppm, NO2 = 0.2-0.3, NO3 = 5.0. It seems as though the ammonia has started to come down, and the Nitrates have gone up. I am worried about the Nitrite as it seems kind of high to me (what do you think?). Anyway, because of the brown algae I have been wanting to put some snails in there to help clean up the sandbed and rocks. Do you think the levels are still too high to do this? Please give me some suggestions on how to decrease the ammonia to 0 and the nitrates/nitrates to be almost 0. I have not bought my protein skimmer yet, but that is coming within the next week or two. Thanks...

Roger928 · 09/16/2007, 03:41 PM

All you really need to do is wait and keep testing. You're levels will all begin to drop and stabilize very soon now.

Be patient,and above all else, go slowly.

kremit2003 · 09/17/2007, 12:48 AM

Can I put any snails in their yet to help with the algae? Or wait for those to? Thanks for the reply.

quitman3 · 09/17/2007, 01:47 AM

There is no rush to add the snails, your water parameters will become normal naturally and when it does add the snails. They do an amazing job at cleaning brown algae off rocks. I would add about 12 snails in there.

uscharalph · 09/17/2007, 01:51 AM

Just wait. Try and be very patient. I wasn't and I learned the hard way.

jkt182 · 09/17/2007, 06:32 AM

kremit2003 -

I was in the same boat as you and had relatively same numbers just 2 weeks ago.

What i did was this:
- Turn off your lights or only have them on about 6 hours a day.
- Make sure you have a skimmer running and is runnin properly.

Wait a week or two and your numbers should be normal. Then add a cleaner package.

This is what my cleaner package did after about a week.

I was completely covered in brown algae .... I wish I would have taken a picture before, but I didn't.

http://www.kyleandtressa.com/aquarium/aquarium.html

kremit2003 · 09/17/2007, 10:10 AM

Thanks for the replies guys, that was very helpful. Im glad to see that the algae is being cleaned so fast. Do you have mixed colored sand in the bottom? Or are the streaks deep in the sandbed from algae growing? Thanks again, I will wait and post pictures in about 2 weeks...

jkt182 · 09/17/2007, 10:30 AM

It's Caribsea Indo-Pacific live sand. There's about 120 pounds of it in there. You just need to be patient

09/16/2007, 03:32 PM	#1
kremit2003 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 20	My new tank levels...I need some help. Ok here are the current levels in my cycling tank. This tank has been cycling for 4 weeks now and brown algae is definately taking its toll on everything, it looks like I dumped brown junk in there and it covers everything except for two rocks which have been growing bright green algae. Anyway, the pH = 8.3, NH3/NH4+ = 0.23 ppm, NO2 = 0.2-0.3, NO3 = 5.0. It seems as though the ammonia has started to come down, and the Nitrates have gone up. I am worried about the Nitrite as it seems kind of high to me (what do you think?). Anyway, because of the brown algae I have been wanting to put some snails in there to help clean up the sandbed and rocks. Do you think the levels are still too high to do this? Please give me some suggestions on how to decrease the ammonia to 0 and the nitrates/nitrates to be almost 0. I have not bought my protein skimmer yet, but that is coming within the next week or two. Thanks...

09/16/2007, 03:41 PM	#2
Roger928 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Prescott Valley, AZ Posts: 296	All you really need to do is wait and keep testing. You're levels will all begin to drop and stabilize very soon now. Be patient,and above all else, go slowly. __________________ Always quarantine. You never know where that fish has been. Current Tank Info: 90 and 120 mixed reef

09/17/2007, 01:51 AM	#5
uscharalph Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 1,248	Just wait. Try and be very patient. I wasn't and I learned the hard way. __________________ Ralph Mendoza Jr. Long Beach, CA Current Tank Info: 80 Gallon Reef Tank

09/17/2007, 10:30 AM	#8
jkt182 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 77	It's Caribsea Indo-Pacific live sand. There's about 120 pounds of it in there. You just need to be patient __________________ DFWMAS member hobby time: 10 years 90g DAS corner mixed reef w. Kessil AP700 lighting, BRS 2-part dosing system, ACIII, & more!

09/17/2007, 12:48 AM	#3
kremit2003 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 20	Can I put any snails in their yet to help with the algae? Or wait for those to? Thanks for the reply.

09/17/2007, 01:47 AM	#4
quitman3 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 17	There is no rush to add the snails, your water parameters will become normal naturally and when it does add the snails. They do an amazing job at cleaning brown algae off rocks. I would add about 12 snails in there.

09/17/2007, 06:32 AM	#6
jkt182 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 77	kremit2003 - I was in the same boat as you and had relatively same numbers just 2 weeks ago. What i did was this: - Turn off your lights or only have them on about 6 hours a day. - Make sure you have a skimmer running and is runnin properly. Wait a week or two and your numbers should be normal. Then add a cleaner package. This is what my cleaner package did after about a week. I was completely covered in brown algae .... I wish I would have taken a picture before, but I didn't. http://www.kyleandtressa.com/aquarium/aquarium.html

09/17/2007, 10:10 AM	#7
kremit2003 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 20	Thanks for the replies guys, that was very helpful. Im glad to see that the algae is being cleaned so fast. Do you have mixed colored sand in the bottom? Or are the streaks deep in the sandbed from algae growing? Thanks again, I will wait and post pictures in about 2 weeks...