its hip to be square....

Well as everyone know, I have been battling high nitrates in my tank for a number of reasons. Last 4 weeks or so I have been really trying to reduce them. Cut back on feedings, new skimmer online(I depict help) filter socks on drain lines, carbon dosing, and last week put the above ATS online. Nitrates were 100+ to start. Tested a few days ago and they are coming down. Looks to be around 50-75 for now. Slowly dropping but it appears to be working. All other parameters seem to be fine. Nitrites-0. Alk 10.3. Calcium 510. Phosphates I need to check. I need a new kit for them. But they havent been an issue this whole time. High nitrates due to about 30 fish, and super heavy feeding with little to no excess removal. Ready to get this underway and resolved so I can make it to a few swaps near me coming up and get some coral in there.

Corey
 
Thanks!!
I played a ton of golf over the summer to try and lower my handicap back to a respectable number. Fed the fish, but maintenance on the tank slacked. :(

Corey
 
Nitrates down again this week. Water quality appears to be getting better. But my damn anemone is on the move :(. He's walked across the entire back pane of the tank. He was directly under an led and now he's moving. Had been there for a year or so. I have a spot I wish he would go. Isolated rock on the sand bed would be a perfect fit for him but he doesn't care where I want him. :lol:

Corey
 
Welcome to the wacky world of anemones. What's really bad is when your tank is full and they wander about stinging the crap out of the rest of the tank's inhabitants.

Dave.M
 
ATS screen has a brown film over pretty much the whole thing. I'm guessing green is next color in line. Tank is looking better. I leveled out at 13/30ml of vodka/vinegar and my nitrates gave came down. Corals seem to be gradually looking better also.
Dropped my skimmer into about 10inches of water to help stabilize it. I guess I don't have quite the load for it yet, but I emptied it today and man it stinks. :D
Hope to drive down nitrates another week or two then maybe add a few small frags. However, the more I read the more I wish my LEDs had an acclimation period built into them, but they don't and it's not necessarily a reason to buy new lights. And if it was, I would probably go all T5, as I've kicked that idea around lately. First tho, need to get water parameters stable and go from there.
Also need to get out my camera and start taking pictures to record the growth, I'm just such a horrible picture taker! :lol:

Corey
 
You can ameliorate light shock by either starting your frags lower in the tank temporarily and then gradually moving them higher over the space of a few weeks, or by putting a piece of tinted glass or plastic above the new frags.

This is after you have quarantined the new frags for 6-8 weeks before adding them to your display tank, of course.

Dave.M
 
.....about that 6-8 weeks....space limitations of an apartment. :( my buddy I'm buying them from, cut them for me 2 months ago and has them in his quarantine for me.

Corey
 
It's better.....considering I do not have one at the moment.....:lol:

Here is a quick shot of my ATS before the lights come on.
4d53d4a91a9bbb15206b64c2eb157d17.jpg



Corey
 
I'd say it was in the pink category. Isn't there a phone app that's supposed to help interpret colourimetric test readings?

Dave.M
 
I don't know. What is the app called. When you say pink what number do you associate at with. It looks even lighter from the top


Corey
 
Yes, pink. That was my point. I can't ever be sure with colourimetric tests. We hates 'em. We hates 'em forever!

I don't have a cell phone, but I'm sure I read about an app over on Beef Ruilders.

Dave.M
 
Hi there. new to this forum and yours was the first thread I found. What a great introduction to Reef central. Keep up the great work, I love this tank.
 
Thanks Craig. It's been a fun journey and the fun is really about to start! :lol:
Got some frags coming from my friend who also runs LEDs. He's having "good" success with them and I might change my spectrum close to his. We run 2 different brands but should be able to closely mimic it. Or I hope so.

Corey
 
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