Genaral questions and answers

[awilson500]

I started this thread to get some answers to my questions, dealing with my 55 gallon reef tank. If anyone else has any questions feel free to use this thread.

So I will go first.

Q: I got a reef keeper elite and my pH is reading 7.71. Now How do I get my pH up to 8.2?

 

[jener8tionx]

Did you calibrate your probe? I would be wary of changing the PH. Is everything alive and well? If so, I wouldn't mess with it.

One thing that causes PH to be high is CO2, is there enough ventilation for the tank and your home?

 

[faze07hd]

Mrs. Wages Pickling lime. Do some research on it.

 

[awilson500]

I did calibrate the probe.... And yes everything is alive and doing good. I don't get the growth from my zoo's that I have seen other people have.? Would the pH have something to do with that? I do weekly water changes. I don't understand why the pH is low.

And who in the heck Mrs. Wages and why do I care if she is pickling limes? Researching is what I had in mind when I started this thread. Say hi to Artie Lang for me would ya

 

[snorvich]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14815696#post14815696 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by awilson500
I did calibrate the probe.... And yes everything is alive and doing good. I don't get the growth from my zoo's that I have seen other people have.? Would the pH have something to do with that? I do weekly water changes. I don't understand why the pH is low.

And who in the heck Mrs. Wages and why do I care if she is pickling limes? Researching is what I had in mind when I started this thread. Say hi to Artie Lang for me would ya

Mrs. Wages pickling lime is a high quality (food quality) equivalent to kalk. A useful fact acquired as part of your "research".

 

[awilson500]

HA HA That is awesome Thank you some much for that clarification....I thought he was telling me to do some....well nevermind then...Now I feel like a dope.... That is funny!

sorry

 

[jasoncw]

Do you have a calcium reactor? And as mentioned above, is the room with the aquarium ventilated? What are you using for aeration (do you have a skimmer)? Too much CO2 will lower the pH.

 

[jrw]

Re: Genaral questions and answers

Q: I got a reef keeper elite and my pH is reading 7.71. Now How do I get my pH up to 8.2? [/B][/QUOTE]

To answer your question......

There are many ways, but the bottom line is you are trying to make your tank more alkaline right?

You can use pH buffers. Seachem makes one with directions on the bottle to raise to 8.3 I think.

You could use baking soda (NOT POWDER), this is sodium bicarbonate, but you need to figure out how much to add for your tank.

This is a handy calculator that you may look into with many different products supported.

Good luck.

http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

 

[IslandCrow]

This article should answer your question much better than I ever could:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

 

[drummereef]

awilson500, keep your alkalinity and calcium in balance first. Then make sure your tank is getting fresh air. pH falls as carbon dioxide rises. Fresh air is needed to boost pH.

 

[awilson500]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14817216#post14817216 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drummereef
awilson500, keep your alkalinity and calcium in balance first. Then make sure your tank is getting fresh air. pH falls as carbon dioxide rises. Fresh air is needed to boost pH.

Alk and calcium is in check.

 

[Beals123]

my question is " i am new to this and looking to find some colorful but very easy coral to start out with to spruce up the tank. i only currently have a odyssea power compact lighting right now but want something that will do ok in it. any suggestions?

 

[jener8tionx]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14821793#post14821793 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Beals123
my question is " i am new to this and looking to find some colorful but very easy coral to start out with to spruce up the tank. i only currently have a odyssea power compact lighting right now but want something that will do ok in it. any suggestions?

I would think zoanthids, kenya tree, xenia, leathers or any other soft coral. Most of the time you can find fellow reefers who will help you out and get you these types of coral cheap of sometimes free.

 

[awilson500]

I would like to have my 55 full of zoanthids. I was going to look and see if anyone wants to sell some frags.

 

[awilson500]

Ok here is a new one on me. My leather toad stool has been closed for two days now the parameters in the tank are ok. the only thing that I changed was the temp on my RKE from 79.5 to just 79 degrees. Oh yea and I also had some scummy build up on the top water of the tank, but I skimmed it all out today. tomorrow I am scheduled for a water change. Let me know if anyone else has had a problem like this and what you might have done to fix it.

 

[awilson500]

bump

 

[awilson500]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14847466#post14847466 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by awilson500

Pull up a chair and have a drink. I have some questions.

Ok I changed the water this morning. And my leather is still closed. So I run all my test 3 times. Here it is as follows.

Temp 79

Alk 2.5 dkh

Ammonia 0

Nitrate 0 to 5

Nitrite 0

Calcium 420

pH is 8.4 according to my test kit, but my probe is reading 7.94 after calibrating it 3 times just 2 days ago.

I do not have a magnesium kit, sorry.

Let me tell you a little bit about this leather that I have got. I bought it from coral farmer here in northern Indiana about 2 months ago and has been doing fine the hole time it has been living with me.

and then 3 days ago it closed up and has pretty much stayed that way. Only to open slightly before retreating back into it's self.

I know the picture isn't great but you get the idea....right.
So help me out.

 

[jrw]

How do other things look? Is it only this leather that is retracted?

I used to freak out all of the time when something didn't look right, but with experience I have learned that corals and anemones will expand and contract for who knows what reason.

Thanks for the drink

 

[jrw]

Has the water flow on that coral changed?

 

[awilson500]

All Corals are exceptionally good better then ever.

Yea I usely wouldn't say anything either, but I was reading in one of my books that says quote. "the coral should show no sighs of discoloration and should be expanded, with the polyps stretched. Unlike it close relative Sarcrophyton ehrenbergi, it does not remain retracted for prolonged periods."

Yes the flow did change slightly after the leather closed.