My First Reef Tank
- Thread starter AtomHeart
- Start date
AtomHeart
New member
I'm using Reef Salt by SeaChem. I'm using Sera test kits, and admittedly, am not terribly confident in its accuracy. I tested twice, and got between 5 and 6 both times, but I have had the tank up to 11 when dosing with SeaChem Reef Builder, but soon as I stopped it started dropping so something is still bringing down the Alk. I'm wondering if its the same decaying matter that is causing the phosphates and feeding all the algae in there, that's causing an issue with the alkalinity. My pH is steady as a rock at 8.3 however. I may want to get a different brand of test kit and see what it says before dosing, now that I have snails and crabs in there.
All other parameters are great though, so I would think I'd start having calcium issues if the alk was really that low.
Something is preventing my coralline algae from spreading, so its either the low alk, or the presence of phosphates that my test kit can't pick up. A month ago my phosphates were at 25ppm, and now they are undetectable. The algae is all brown and getting "melty" spots on it, so I think I'm about to kick the phosphate problem, but I expected coralline algae to start spreading when the phosphates got low.
All other parameters are great though, so I would think I'd start having calcium issues if the alk was really that low.
Something is preventing my coralline algae from spreading, so its either the low alk, or the presence of phosphates that my test kit can't pick up. A month ago my phosphates were at 25ppm, and now they are undetectable. The algae is all brown and getting "melty" spots on it, so I think I'm about to kick the phosphate problem, but I expected coralline algae to start spreading when the phosphates got low.
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spleify
Premium Member
I would agree with this statement. If nothing else have someone else cross test your water for you, LFS, or a local buddy, with a confirmed test kit. I am in NE Denver, if I can help you out I would be happy to.
According to billybeau1's testings the Seachem salt is a pretty solid product.
Good luck
Spleify
AtomHeart
New member
Here is a current picture showing my algae jungle:
You can see that the algae is brown and thin and dying back. The snails have also done a wonderful job with it. Everything in that picture used to be covered in solid algae and the snails have now cut it back significantly leaving most of my rock now bare and clean. Now if I could just get my coralline algae to spread from the one encrusted rock to the rest of the system I'd be set.
You can see that the algae is brown and thin and dying back. The snails have also done a wonderful job with it. Everything in that picture used to be covered in solid algae and the snails have now cut it back significantly leaving most of my rock now bare and clean. Now if I could just get my coralline algae to spread from the one encrusted rock to the rest of the system I'd be set.
evergreenreeftank
New member
Your setup looks great! I am getting ready to start on the same journey with a 180. What kind of temp control gage is that mounted on the wall to the right of the tank?
AtomHeart
New member
Hi,
I got that thermometer/monitor at:
http://www.reefgeek.com/care_&_main...rs/Big_Digital_Temp_Alert_by_Rainbow_Lifegard
I got that thermometer/monitor at:
http://www.reefgeek.com/care_&_main...rs/Big_Digital_Temp_Alert_by_Rainbow_Lifegard
AtomHeart
New member
Well, we are at about 6 months now, with the tank up and running so I thought I'd buy my first fish today. A Diamond Watchmen Goby. Maybe it will pair up with the pistol shrimp I have in the tank, if it doesn't leap out and commit suicide by cat.
Took some pictures of the tank with the new light *8 lamp tek lamp t5*. Just the actinics and blue plus lamps are on in this picture, hence the purple/blue tint. As you can see my algae has almost completely given up. Will have a shiney clean tank in another week or so. Good water parameters make all the difference.
Took some pictures of the tank with the new light *8 lamp tek lamp t5*. Just the actinics and blue plus lamps are on in this picture, hence the purple/blue tint. As you can see my algae has almost completely given up. Will have a shiney clean tank in another week or so. Good water parameters make all the difference.
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AtomHeart
New member
Wow do those Diamond Goby's take their work serious or what?! I had quite a detritus problem on my sandbed from all the pounds of algae the snails had eaten over the last few months. The goby has now clouded my water up to a milky gray color, and has thoroughly sifted at least half of the tank. Soon as my skimmer gets all this pulled out of the water column, I'm going to have pristine sand. VERY COOL!
Hoosier daddy
Member
Yes they do alot of work on the sandbed. They just bug me when you start filling up with corals, they will start spitting the sand on top of them. I use a cucumber and a conch to keep mine clean. How do you like the T5s so far? What other fish do you plan on adding?
Tank is looking sweet!!! Keep up the good work.
Tank is looking sweet!!! Keep up the good work.
AtomHeart
New member
well it's been a year and three months and everything I put n the tank seems to thrive, but I do have quite an algae problem. my water parameters are ideal so I'm just not sure about this algae. I want to get the algae cleared up before adding a bunch of corals but I can't seem to get that algae to die back.
