My Aquapod24

[tenwhiteduke]

I am into my first week of cycle, and have the following tests results.

Amonia .8
PH 7.8
Nitrite Low Range .2
High Range 0
Nitrate 0
SG 1.022
Temp seems a little high at 82

have another week to go.

Any comments or suggestions

 

[Scuba_Steve]

what are you planning on keeping? I know you were battling salinity, but i would now get it up just a tad more. Most of us keep it around 1.026, but it should be at least 1.023. Also your ph is a bit low. If your going to keep corals i would just go ahead and get a 2 part calcium/alk additive, and use the recipe that will increase your ph some. Here is a good cheap website, and an RC sponsor.
http://www.twopartsolution.com/
Also get a test kit for both calcium and alk, if not magnesium too.
Ever get your fan noise down?

 

[Scuba_Steve]

Oh and on your temp, what do you have the heater set at? The reading are sometimes off on them, try to turn it down a degree or 2 for a day and see if your temp drops with it.

 

[tenwhiteduke]

I dont have a heater in it. I live in Florida and though it not hot yet about 80 outside, its still sitting at 82 in the tank. I guess Im going to need a chiller?

So how do I bring up the salinity? Adding more salt water from the LFS or do I just put more sea salt into it now since I dont have any livestock in it?

 

[tenwhiteduke]

I have been running mj1200 and the hydro kolaria 1, have not been using my lights but just to look at my tank when I come home from work, my LFS told me i should use them during cycle it will just cause the algae to grow.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

82 isnt to hot, but you dont want it much warmer than that. What is your house ac set to? I doubt your lights would affect your heat much, cf doesnt produce much heat. Again how is that fan working? Does it only come on with the lights? or is it on all the time?

 

[Scuba_Steve]

Hey I just read a good idea on how to bring up your salinity easily. Just make up a few gallons of new salt water at the proper salinity, then stop adding top off water to your tank till your salinity raises to the proper level. Then fill it back up with the new saltwater.

 

[tenwhiteduke]

The fans come on when you turn on the white lights only, when the blue lights are on the fans are not working, but I am not using the lights at all yet. Only for a little bit when looking into the tank. I will try the salt water top off water.
Thanks

 

[tk1360]

So I see you went with the Aquapod. Good job, I haven't regretted my choice over the nanocube.

How much substrate/LR do you have in there?

You may be a bit high with 82. I run mine at 79 just so I have that few extra degrees in case something happens. Where you are sitting you do not want that tank getting too much warmer before things start complaining.

Must be nice living in Florida, especially Clearwater. I managed to finangle my way down there a few times with my summer job last year and loved it. Unfortunately here in Toronto going without a heater is unheard of unless your collecting some sort of artic aquatics. lol

 

[tenwhiteduke]

So me going out and getting a chiller is not necessary?

 

[Scuba_Steve]

I would run it for a normal day with the lights/fan on and see if that helps your temp at all. You would be surprised how much a fan helps

 

[tenwhiteduke]

Now this morning i see the temp dropped to 80, however it is chilly out this morning too maybe 65 or so. The temp in the house is 75. Its so cold down here in Fl. LOL. I do hate the heat in the summer. HOT and MUGGY!!

 

[tenwhiteduke]

OK temp is down to 78 after a cool day in FL. No I didnt run the lights.

Why is it that the fans dont turn on when the blue lights are on??
Dont they cause heat too?

What I was told that you turn them on for an hour in the morning like the sun is coming up, then turn on the white light and off with the blue until sunset and reverse them again for an hour then turn off afterwards. Is that the correct timing of these lights?

 

[Scuba_Steve]

no leave the blues on all day, have the whites kick on after an hour or 2 to simulate "noon" then have white turn off 1-2 hours before sunset, last blues off

in summary, but use your own times

9am moonlights off
9am actinics on
10am 10k on
8pm 10k off
9pm actinics off
9pm moonlight on

If you dont have a seperate switch for moonlight just leave them on all day

 

[FZ1Rider]

I leave my PC's on all day even when the MH is on. It makes the tank look a bit nicer IMO

 

[tenwhiteduke]

So I should reverse the lamps so the fan comes on with the actinics lights. If they are on for two hours before turning on the white lights, that would cause a lot of heat right?