jmv

i have been running my 55 g tank for around 3 weeks now, i put in 40 pounds of sand, then 10 pounds of live sand, plus around 40-50 pounds of live rock, for the first week, i didnt have a test kit, i got one a week later, and everything read zero except for nitrate ,5.0, ph was 8.4, i retested today and everything read zero, even nitrates, with ph at 7.8, i use ro filtered water, and the rock is starting to grow small redish purpleish dots , i assume its coraline algea, i even found a small starfish, but no type of other algea growth or anything else, is this normal or is it going south? temp is around 76-80, two powerheads and a bak pak skimmer, anybody have any suggestions on what my next step is?, p.s. , im sorry about the long post. anything would help..thanks.

chadf

All sounds normal, test again in a week and if all is the same add your clean up crew, about a week later you'll be ready for a fish if you still get the same test results.

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My 90 gallon reef
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Striped bristletooth tang, Coral beauty angelfish, Royal gramma, 2 Occelleris clownfish, Lyretail anthias, Tongue coral, Green frogspawn, Palythoa colony, Orange and green ricordeas, Green striped mushrooms, Crocea clam, About 40 snails of 11 different species, Sand sifting starfish, Emerald crab, 130 lbs live rock, 240 lbs live sand