I assume im understanding this correctly

[Jasongtr]

For a good few months our tank has been showing the following numbers on hanna checkers

Nitrate 8-12 ppm
Phosphate 0.03 - 0.1

At the same time our turf scrubber has been working great and being harvested every 10/14 days.

Weekly 15% water changes.

We've had a bit of algae on the rocks but nothing major (see pics)

2/3 days ago it just wasn't there, in fact the tank has never looked better. Not perfect but they never are really.

So the point of the post, I'm guessing the hanna checkers were testing what's in the water and giving me lower numbers as the display was growing a bit of algae as today it's testing

16ppm nitrate and 0.22 Phosphate

I was dosing Phosphate to get the numbers at the beginning of the thread, obviously I've stopped that doser for now.

Have I understood this correctly, I'll continue to monitor and test/water change next week before I change anything.

 

[dwinston33]

for few more hours check and montiro the tank paremeters more, also to change water, maybe doing regular maintenence will help you keep your tank's algae under control

 

[shakacuz]

your tank is still creating a biological ecosystem. seems the good bacteria are working as the algae did go away. tank is still new from what it seems. you're on the right track.

 

[Jasongtr]

your tank is still creating a biological ecosystem. seems the good bacteria are working as the algae did go away. tank is still new from what it seems. you're on the right track.

It's 18 months old if that makes any difference

 

[Jasongtr]

for few more hours check and montiro the tank paremeters more, also to change water, maybe doing regular maintenence will help you keep your tank's algae under control

There is no visible algae in the tank

 

[shakacuz]

It's 18 months old if that makes any difference

every tank is different, but i would say once you start seeing coralline algae growing you can consider your tank mature. going from your pictures, the rocks are still "bare" and will likely have moments where algae will take hold then quickly go away like what you've experienced. just a natural part of keeping nitrate/phosphate balanced or in check.

 

[Jasongtr]

every tank is different, but i would say once you start seeing coralline algae growing you can consider your tank mature. going from your pictures, the rocks are still "bare" and will likely have moments where algae will take hold then quickly go away like what you've experienced. just a natural part of keeping nitrate/phosphate balanced or in check.

Ok thanks, no sign of coralline yet, just a bit of what I think is cyano

 

[shakacuz]

Ok thanks, no sign of coralline yet, just a bit of what I think is cyano

well going off of your original post, you definitely are aware of how to correct the issues that arise. good on you for doing research and checking to see if you're on track!!

 

[Jasongtr]

well going off of your original post, you definitely are aware of how to correct the issues that arise. good on you for doing research and checking to see if you're on track!!

Cheers, just not stressing too much about the bits of cyano right now, I might get some MB7 to Increase the bacteria levels a bit

 

[shakacuz]

Cheers, just not stressing too much about the bits of cyano right now, I might get some MB7 to Increase the bacteria levels a bit

sand or rubble from aquabiomics may serve you better use! MB7 ended up not having much diversity when sent in for testing. its mostly just 1-3 strands that outcompete the others. the sand or rubble from aquabiomics will come with test results so you know exactly what bacteria is entering your tank.

both work, but you'll get more mileage out of the sand/rubble. in my personal experience, i was dealing with red cyano, and adding sand from auqabiomics cleared it within a week, and then after that never had it again! coincidence? perhaps

 

[Jasongtr]

sand or rubble from aquabiomics may serve you better use! MB7 ended up not having much diversity when sent in for testing. its mostly just 1-3 strands that outcompete the others. the sand or rubble from aquabiomics will come with test results so you know exactly what bacteria is entering your tank.

both work, but you'll get more mileage out of the sand/rubble. in my personal experience, i was dealing with red cyano, and adding sand from auqabiomics cleared it within a week, and then after that never had it again! coincidence? perhaps

Is that available in the UK?

 

[shakacuz]

Is that available in the UK?

good question... i'm unsure. https://aquabiomics.com/product-category/biological-supplements give it a try? the only other crutch is availability. tends to be out of stock regularly :/

 

[Jasongtr]

good question... i'm unsure. https://aquabiomics.com/product-category/biological-supplements give it a try? the only other crutch is availability. tends to be out of stock regularly :/

Yeah out of stock so shipping to the UK doesn't matter right now, I'll get some MB7 and and maybe another brand and give that a go

Thanks