Hi, just wondering - I can't seem to get my phosphates under control in my 5 week old 14g bio-cube. I use distilled water and tested it today and got zero phosphates. I have a clean-up crew and one orange-spotted goby which I only feed every 2-3 days. Wondering if I really need a protein skimmer as I have heard different opinions about this in regards to a 14g bio-cube. Any other ideas that might help?

I also have an algae bloom in my water right now. The water has been green for almost one week. I have had the lights off for 3 days now and done a water change with no improvement. Getting confused and frustrated! Really trying to practice the patience rule right now!

Thanks in advance

To me, it seems liek you're not even finished with your cycling in your tank. Have you recently moved rockwork, put in fish? how often do you feed and water changes? Usually you can get away without a skimmer with such a small tnak but a easy way to keep phosphates under control might be using a phosban reactor.

how do you know you have a phosphate problem?

also, protein skimmers do not remove phosphates.

also, five weeks old? let it be for another month or two and then get back to us if there's no improvement.

To answer Jeremai's first question, please list your test kit brand. Most phosphate test kits are inaccurate...

What is your water source? How green is the water? Do you have a picture?

ya a protein skimmer wont do anything for your phosphates... and also its not imperative that you have a protein skimmer unless you keep your bio load down (sounds like you do) and your on top of your water changes (you will have to do them more regularly then with a skimmer)

Sounds like typical new tank syndrome. You are going to have algae blooms with any new tank it's just part of the process. A skimmer will not remove phosphates I think this has already been said but some sort of skimming is better than no skimming at all anytime you can remove excess nutrients from a system via protein skimming or water changes you will have a much healthier system. If I were you I would start using RO water you never know about store bought water and how pure it really is. If you can afford it invest in a RO unit it will pay for itself 10 fold plus making it easier for your maintenance regimen. Most reef tanks take a full year to fully mature. With that being said here is what I would do.

Use some kind of media that contains phosphate removal like Chemi-Pure Elite , Beef up your clean up crew , Syphon out as much of the algae as possible when doing a water change , and depending on what kind of corals u plan on keeping get a skimmer it will improve your water quality which in turn means a healthier system and finally give it time to mature. Good luck

I am 99% sure my tank is done cycling. I have been monitoring my levels closely and because of that I literally "saw" the cycle happen based on my readings. Ammonia and nitrites are steadily 0 and nitrates are between 2-5. I do water exchanges once per week (twice/week now with the green water) and I mentioned that I only feed my fish every 2 -3 days.





I know I have a phosphate problem because I test the levels.




My water source is distilled water bought in 1 gallon sealed containers distributed by Sobeys (a supermarket chain here in Canada).

My test kit brand is Seachem.

The water is really green and cloudy, hard to see the rock in the back. Sorry, I don't have a picture




Thank you for your kind advice!

Add chemi pure. Water Change is still the best solution out there.

I had the BC14 specific skimmer and thought it sucked. getting the air regulated to the right level was nearly impossible and once the airstone was in the water for a week, it literally was impossible. My tank's been up for over a year without one and things only keep growing, not one death without it.