posted few weeks ago about new cycling tank and followed advice everything seems be going good. temp at 78 and once nitrates got to over 20 did 2 water changes with RO water.
ph 8.2
salinity 1.023
dKH 11 (started high gradually decreased since water changes)
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate less 10
CA 400
phosphates 0 after 2 water changes
after 4 days and no changes added 2 cleaner shrimp and a polyp coral and leather coral (day before yesterday) . acclimated all with no lights then waited about 8 hours to start adding lights. both corals started opening up within few hours and shrimp are active. one even climbs on and cleans my hand :).
Question yesterday morning ammonia went to .25 so expected to need to do a water change when got home from work. last night I rechecked and ammonia 0 nitrites 0 and nitrates about 20. plan on doing another water change tonight unless someone tells me to wait? So does this mean my tank is doing what it is supposed to Im assuming so since ammonia went down so fast and hasnt spiked again? Plan on working on it until all parameters stay 0 for several weeks before try to introduce anything else.
Question 2 should I add CA since I can measure and it is only 400?
Question 3 what refractometer should I get cuz the hydrometer sucks and Im not trusting it at all..I have to take 3 measurements and having to use the average as a guess (not good). I know based on avg. I need salinity up a little but a few measurements have been 1.025 so should I not worry so much about that until get refractometer to get better measurement?
ph 8.2
salinity 1.023
dKH 11 (started high gradually decreased since water changes)
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate less 10
CA 400
phosphates 0 after 2 water changes
after 4 days and no changes added 2 cleaner shrimp and a polyp coral and leather coral (day before yesterday) . acclimated all with no lights then waited about 8 hours to start adding lights. both corals started opening up within few hours and shrimp are active. one even climbs on and cleans my hand :).
Question yesterday morning ammonia went to .25 so expected to need to do a water change when got home from work. last night I rechecked and ammonia 0 nitrites 0 and nitrates about 20. plan on doing another water change tonight unless someone tells me to wait? So does this mean my tank is doing what it is supposed to Im assuming so since ammonia went down so fast and hasnt spiked again? Plan on working on it until all parameters stay 0 for several weeks before try to introduce anything else.
Question 2 should I add CA since I can measure and it is only 400?
Question 3 what refractometer should I get cuz the hydrometer sucks and Im not trusting it at all..I have to take 3 measurements and having to use the average as a guess (not good). I know based on avg. I need salinity up a little but a few measurements have been 1.025 so should I not worry so much about that until get refractometer to get better measurement?