Tips this noob has learned about keeping your tank clean.

[metrokat]

SPS bleach for 2-3 main reasons - too much light, ALK spike or not enough nutrients.

If phosphate is zero, back off on the phosban till it reads 0.03. Although I think the API test kits don't measure in those small increments.

Take some water to your LFS next time and have them test for you.

Unless you are suspecting a cycle is taking place, ammonia and nitrite are tests not needed once the tank has been running as long as yours has.

[jl209]

Yes api only goes down to .25 p04 so I'm kind of in the dark on those levels. A good low range phosphase test is next on my list of purchases. Alk is pretty steady at 7-8 dkh. As for nutrients mainly I feed a small pinch of new life spectrum pellets for my clowns once a day. Every week or two I'll add like an 1/8th of a cube of cyclops to give them a little variety.