Help with new 125 gallon build

[SimonSKL]

Yes, now is a good time to get them.

 

[tassod]

Yes, now is a good time to get them.

What would you suggest, i have no idea what to get for that. LiveAquaria seems to have packages but they say for example a minimum tank size of 50 gallons you would get a crew that contains:

15 Scarlet Reef Hermit Crabs
30 Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crabs
1 Sally Lightfoot Crab or
Fighting Conch
1 Arrow Crab
5 Emerald Crab

That is there Hair & Bubble Algae Caribbean Cleaner Package

 

[SimonSKL]

I ordered my CUC from Reefs2go.com. Their price is quite reasonable and with free shipping. Their medium Carribean CUC package is a good starter kit for a 125g tank. LA is also a good place to get them too. You don't need any algae CUC yet. You may later when you see signs of them.

 

[tassod]

That chromis still lives! actually they all looked fine today and they all are eating to. Except for that injury that he seems to have, he's behaving ok today for now. PH came down to 8.3 overnight, now its up to 8.38. What would i do to manage it if it keeps going to high?

I seen the CUC at reefs2go and seems reasonable compared to LA. How does it work with shipping those? Do they overnight it and someone needs to be home to accept? Also would I just put them in the DT directly or do they need some acclimating?

 

[tp5056]

My experience with Chromis is that they start picking each other off 1 by 1 until there is only one left.

I've tried doing groups of them twice with the same results.

 

[tassod]

My experience with Chromis is that they start picking each other off 1 by 1 until there is only one left.

I've tried doing groups of them twice with the same results.

Wow, really? Did not know this about them. Should they not be in schools of 3-4?

 

[tassod]

I ordered my CUC from Reefs2go.com. Their price is quite reasonable and with free shipping. Their medium Carribean CUC package is a good starter kit for a 125g tank. LA is also a good place to get them too. You don't need any algae CUC yet. You may later when you see signs of them.

Is this the CUC you are referring to?

http://www.reefs2go.com/product/INV_CARIBCREW-MED/Medium-Caribbean-Crew.html

there is another called medium carrribean package saltwater with more inverts

http://www.reefs2go.com/product/INV_CUC-MEDIUM/Live-Saltwater-Algae-Eating-Crew.html

 

[SimonSKL]

I have two tanks both started with Chromis. One started with 4 fish five years ago and all 4 fish are still with me. The other started a year ago with 4 also but one died shortly after I put it into the tank but the other 3 are still doing fine. I never saw them picking or fighting each other. As I said before they are schooling fish in the wild so I would not recommend getting just one or two of this fish.

 

[SimonSKL]

Is this the CUC you are referring to?

http://www.reefs2go.com/product/INV_CARIBCREW-MED/Medium-Caribbean-Crew.html

there is another called medium carrribean package saltwater with more inverts

http://www.reefs2go.com/product/INV_CUC-MEDIUM/Live-Saltwater-Algae-Eating-Crew.html

If you can afford the $99 package that's what I would get. I had ordered the $69 package and ended up ordering more later.

Typically they ship in two days, not overnight and they will notify you when you will receive the package. Yes, it will be better if someone is home to receive it so it won't sit by your front door in the cold for hours. In cold weather, they normally would put some kind of chemical warmer in during shipping but they don't last 2 days. If any of them DOA, all you have to do is take some pictures of the dead animals and document on the paper that came with the package and send to them. They will give you credit on future order. There are instructions included for acclimmation of the the animals.

 

[tassod]

They have a 10% off tuesday sale today so got 10$ off the 99$ package. I hope this CUC can help with they Cyano all over the place.

 

[tassod]

My PH is back up to 8.49....is it the lights that is causing this?

 

[SimonSKL]

Did you calibrate your PH probe?

 

[tassod]

Did you calibrate your PH probe?

Yes, I did when i first got it.

 

[SimonSKL]

You haven't started to dose alk and calcium, correct? How's your alk?

 

[tassod]

no i have not started dosing yet. Last time i test alk it was at 7.39 dkh on Sunday.

 

[SimonSKL]

Do you have any other ways to test your PH?

 

[tassod]

i have a test kit from Seachem i originally got that has a PH test. I will test it when i get home. If it checks out to be in the same range as my probe, what would be the next step?

 

[SimonSKL]

There is nothing to panic about your PH being at 8.49. I suggest you do another test to confirm if the PH is indeed at that level using a different method. Here is a link that you can read about PH. It suggests several ways to lower it if necessary.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-03/rhf/index.php

 

[tassod]

Thanks for the link Simon, it is very informative. One thing the article mentioned was that

" Also, when not adding limewater or other high-pH additives, a pH reading above pH 8.5 is most likely an error. "

Perhaps my meter needs to be re-calibrated. I will test with the test kit to confirm. Now my reading is 8.51

Seems that the best way to lower it if indeed it is a valid reading is to add distilled white vinegar to the sump.

 

[SimonSKL]

Don't forget to try the aeration first to induce CO2 into the water. Leave the doors to the sump and canopy top open if you can to get more CO2 into your tank.