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One fish. You have to understand the term cycle as used here. You need a constant cycling of ammonia to maintain your tank it’s not a stop and go situation. In my opinion you will always have enough surface area for the colonization of bacteria. When we talk surface area we are talking about...

caulerpa takes constant vigil. you want to cut back enough to keep it feed so it does not go sexual yet not so far back as it does not do its job on your nitrates. Just a note on chaeto it works best when its in an environment were the water flow through it keeps it tumbling

If your nitrification and denitrification were to travel on a straight line at this time in your tank development. You would see zero ammonia a nitrite reading and a higher nitrate reading. BUT you have entered macro algae into the equation. So your nitrates are lower than your nitrites. Timing...

Your macro algae is going to do nothing for your nitrites. As a side note anaerobic bacteria does not reduce nitrites. My .02

Remember to cut back frequently

deejeff " a lot of rack" I wonder what Lois would say about that

well believe Beth was right it was a missing scale. it seems to have healed. No other signs of a spot on any other fish so i am assuming it was not a parasite that has dropped off as part of its life cycle.

My friend as an experienced hobbyist you tailored your tank to what you were working with or without. In your case it seems the lack of rock for anaerobic bacteria to colonize. I cannot speak for you but I assume you then made the decision to introduce macro algae to deal with your nitrates. May...

well I can tell you mine. constant water parameters within optimum or near optimum water parameters for at least 8 months. The ability to grow coralline algae. A bio system not dependent on constant water changes

First as Bang stated one has to understand the difference between nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria and their requirements to colonize. Hence aerobic and anaerobic bacteria This is the basic foundation for a saltwater eco system Just my .02 on water changes. Way back in...

Its all good my-friend :) how else would these nubes learn. Now my turn i do my water testing just before water changes. I personally am not a slave to water changes and only do 10 percent a month. That being said i do not have any noticeable nitrates within 30 days of my last water change

First I’m not TELLING anyone what to do I am just making suggestions. IMO for someone so early in the game why experiment let the system mature first. You posted . Joe, my friend. If you can find me one members tank on this site or any site that have undetectable nitrates without either of...

i don't know why my previous post came out in bold letters

why ghost feed ? And the answer is ....

I actually think it takes that long a time for anaerobic colony’s to establish themselves to the extent that is needed to deal with nitrates on their own. As you know there are many factors involved in the advection needed for the anaerobic bacteria to grow and do their job. I may have just...

"Isn't that right Mr. I don't quarantine new additions?" :p guilty as charged

My good old friend allow me to present this for your consideration. A master reef test kit will give you a reading of 0 PPM with a yellow color for nitrates. The next step is a yellow orange at 5.0 PPM. I read 0PPM. In my tank. I have a Sail fin tang adult. Hippo adult, trigger medium size two...

Ok im lost here are we really telling this kid that the only way to have nitrates at an undetectable level is with dosing or macro algae. Water changes don’t cure the problem they dilute the problem. And for what so you can rush and put fish in your tank? Sorry but if I have learned one thing...

just don't understand the RUSH. don't do a water change don't add fish yet ghost feed give your tank a chance to stabilize

you are looking to establish anaerobic bacteria within your rocks, you need nitrates to feed these bacteria. Slow down let the marine gods do their thing