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New Member New Tank!
- Thread starter Ace
- Start date
I have it in cherry hill as well.
Welcome! I may have some in Old Bridge. As far as flow goes, you have several options. It all depends on your budget. I would go with 2 ecotech mp40wes. You can find them used on several reef boards at a great price. You can also go with a maxspect gyre, I believe the 150 should be enough. If not, you can wait until the summer and get the 170, which should be plenty.
And yes. But you probably want to feed the tank even if you have no livestock, to support the cheato and the bacteria established during the cycle
Anything food is fine. Just feed VERY lightly.
Nitrates don't go away on there own....they need to be "exported." Do you have a sump/refugium and are you running a skimmer?
Anyway, if you haven't been doing water changes, I'd start with a water change.
And FYI, nitrite isn't an issue with saltwater tanks. Even so, that should quickly convert to nitrate if your biology is up and running smoothly.
Anyway, if you haven't been doing water changes, I'd start with a water change.
And FYI, nitrite isn't an issue with saltwater tanks. Even so, that should quickly convert to nitrate if your biology is up and running smoothly.
so a quick update and a few questions:
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate .75ppm
dkh 9.5
mg 1600
calcium 450
salinity .35ppt
phosphates .02 i think?
im having a really hard time reading the colors on the red sea no3/po4 algae control test kit. my results are virtually clear with a slight green tint? the color dial makes no sense to me.... has anyone used this test kit? am i just color blind or is this like an inside joke at red sea?
any advice on these levels in general?
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate .75ppm
dkh 9.5
mg 1600
calcium 450
salinity .35ppt
phosphates .02 i think?
im having a really hard time reading the colors on the red sea no3/po4 algae control test kit. my results are virtually clear with a slight green tint? the color dial makes no sense to me.... has anyone used this test kit? am i just color blind or is this like an inside joke at red sea?
any advice on these levels in general?
I use the red-sea color test kit. Your parameters are fine. I wouldn't zero out your phosphates OR nitrates. SPS And most of the softies need them to some degree to function. I did find my tank likes a slightly lower alk -- around 8-8.5. Vrtually clear with a slight green tint sounds good to me. IF you want numbered values then you should save up and try to get the hanna checkers during the next group buy/easter sale/random % off/Reefapalooza or something. For me when testing only ALK and CALCIUM matter. Everything else as long as its really low or untraceable is good enough for me.
I really liked the Red Sea Pro kit for Ca, Mg and Alk. The Algae Control test kit for NO3 and PO4 on the other hand, was less than acceptable. Ultimately I would recommend getting a Hanna checker for PO4. The NO3 kit would work, but there seemed to be a large amount of particulate matter in the one reagent that made it difficult to get accurate drops from the dispenser, and I'd have to perform the test a couple times to get a reasonably accurate result.
mrehfeld
Officer Emeritus
I couldn't agree more. It drove me crazy trying to distinguish one shade from another. The Hanna Checker was the way to go. The Ca, Mg, and alk are more accurate because there is a definite color change that indicates the level your parameter is at.
downbeach is spot on.
Hi All,
i thought i would provide a update and thank you all for the help. so far so good. the tank is running smoothly and i have even seen some growth in my mushrooms and zoas.
My numbers seem to be in check, nitrates are right around 20 but seem to be coming down slowly. My mg is dropping a bit along with my dkh, though my ph and ca remain stable. im going to start dosing b ionic and mg, but any suggestions before i do?
thank you all for the help so far...here is a link to my youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaQJx5pkF5A
also, i was thinking about attending a meeting, but i wasnt sure what they were about...any feedback?
i thought i would provide a update and thank you all for the help. so far so good. the tank is running smoothly and i have even seen some growth in my mushrooms and zoas.
My numbers seem to be in check, nitrates are right around 20 but seem to be coming down slowly. My mg is dropping a bit along with my dkh, though my ph and ca remain stable. im going to start dosing b ionic and mg, but any suggestions before i do?
thank you all for the help so far...here is a link to my youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaQJx5pkF5A
also, i was thinking about attending a meeting, but i wasnt sure what they were about...any feedback?
