Cycle question

Nickyfish · 05/14/2018, 10:53 PM

Hello brand new to reef as I have stated in a couple other threads. But many many years doing salt fish.

120 gallon with some live rock in there a few snails and yes i am very sorry I did cycle with a fish

the cycle i believe is done the nitrite and nitrate spike has finshed and now zero

On my fish tanks i did not test for phosphate I did on this tank

does phosphate spike and go to zero also

right now it is about 0.10 ppm i would say it is a little darker thank 0.5 but not 1.0

does it need to be zero ??

and does it always need to stay at 0 with life in tank

I am using all R/o water 120 gallons and top off water

thanks

sde1500 · 05/15/2018, 04:58 AM

The cycle we refer to is ammonia to nitrite to nitrate cycle. If you see your ammonia and nitrite went to zero the tank is cycled. Phosphate is not a part of that process. It is good to have a very small amount in the tank.

bertoni · 05/15/2018, 11:17 AM

The phosphate level might drop on its own, or not. The decay process probably released it, so it might disappear when things start growing, or with some water changes. That's a fairly small level, so I wouldn't worry yet.

05/14/2018, 10:53 PM	#1
Nickyfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Posts: 80	Cycle question Hello brand new to reef as I have stated in a couple other threads. But many many years doing salt fish. 120 gallon with some live rock in there a few snails and yes i am very sorry I did cycle with a fish the cycle i believe is done the nitrite and nitrate spike has finshed and now zero On my fish tanks i did not test for phosphate I did on this tank does phosphate spike and go to zero also right now it is about 0.10 ppm i would say it is a little darker thank 0.5 but not 1.0 does it need to be zero ?? and does it always need to stay at 0 with life in tank I am using all R/o water 120 gallons and top off water thanks __________________ Nick I Sports Rings One S.I. N.Y.

05/15/2018, 04:58 AM	#2
sde1500 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Glocester, RI Posts: 3,336	The cycle we refer to is ammonia to nitrite to nitrate cycle. If you see your ammonia and nitrite went to zero the tank is cycled. Phosphate is not a part of that process. It is good to have a very small amount in the tank. __________________ My build thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2548422 Current Tank Info: 65 gallon mixed reef, Eshopps sump and HOB overflow, RO-110int skimmer, Reefbreeder 32" photons V1.

05/15/2018, 11:17 AM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The phosphate level might drop on its own, or not. The decay process probably released it, so it might disappear when things start growing, or with some water changes. That's a fairly small level, so I wouldn't worry yet. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni