new hobbyist ?

[BAMF]

i have a 210 gallon FO tank, it has been through the cycle, it'll be 6 weeks tomorrow, my question is all my parameters are testing "0", that is ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are all testing zero. i know the ammonia/nitrites should be zero but shouldnt i be showing some nitrate, is this normal. i cycled with damzels and no water changes. Im useing well water, i live in a rural town just outside of jacksonville fl, plannin on getting a R/O unit next week before i do my 1st water change. also im useing the API test kit

[Parrothead]

ro/di is a must, I don't trust the city water, not real sure about well water, but being florida, I don't think I would be using it, get your ro/di unit asap, as for the nitrates we need more details for proper advice, you list the tank as a 210,

What kind of filtration are you using,
Live stock list??? Is it just the damsels? if yes how many?????
Do you have sand or crushed coral?
Any live rock in the tank?

Lee will probably have other questions, he's a good guy, listen to him, but the above questions will get him started.

And welcome to Reeflands,

where in Jacksonville are you??, I'm near Main Street and the trout river.

[BAMF]

i have no live rocks and i have sand. ive had 3 damsals through out the cycle, a sump with a skimmer in it is my filtration. and i dont know if this matters but i have 6 or 7 mangroves in the sump also. i grew up on the northside (oceanway) but live in yulee now.

[leebca]

Mangroves are a slow control of nitrates. But, controlling nitrates in a FO system isn't important anyway, so enjoy them!

Well water can have some very undesirable ingredients in it. You don't want to use this. However, with such a large system, you needed to put in and having working an RO/DI treatment before even setting up the tank. Get one now before you go further.

Hard to say about the nitrates. It could be from the source water or any kind of residual nitrates from the things that are in the system. I clean my system out before use, and carefully choose my source water. Here are two links on those subjects:

WATER - Source and NSW
and
Marine System Clean Up Recommendations

[reefer@zoom]

rocks and sand both play roles in bio stuff

[Parrothead]

i have no live rocks and i have sand. ive had 3 damsals through out the cycle, a sump with a skimmer in it is my filtration. and i dont know if this matters but i have 6 or 7 mangroves in the sump also. i grew up on the northside (oceanway) but live in yulee now.

Cool, finally someone within spitting distance, We are looking at moving out to oceanway this summer, hec, we can start working on our own reef club now, Glad to meet ya neighbor

[BAMF]

Got my R/O unit, did the water change, added 1 snowflake 2 days ago everything is still testing 0, guess thats good. the snowflake is a hog, already takin food from my hand. wont be adding anything for 2 or so weeks just trying to take things slow. thanx for all the info