Tomoko Schum
New member
You're welcome 
Tomoko
Tomoko
New tank up and running.
- Thread starter KingRicky
- Start date
8BALL_99
New member
Easy way to set your sump level is to cut everything off and let it sit for a few mins.. Then add water to your sump up to a couple inches from the top of the sump.. Cut your pumps back on and you have your max running water level for your sump.. Its much better to do it this way then to add water cut the pumps off.. Add more cut them off again lol.. Just add water while they are off and problem solved! If you pump still runs dry after doing this but your display doesn't overflow then your sump/return area is to small.
I reworked my Aquascaping this morning. I got some good ideas from another thread and decided to make a change.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=746318
There will be a lot more space for fish to swim in and around the rock formation. It should look better once it fills in.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=746318
There will be a lot more space for fish to swim in and around the rock formation. It should look better once it fills in.
I have a couple of questions about the cycle. My tank has been running for almost 2 weeks.
1. My Ammonia never got above .50, it is now at 0. Is this good or bad?
2. My Ph is holding steady at 7.8?
3. My SG is 1.024, what can I do to get it up?
4. My Nitrate is between 20 & 40ppm, will a water change help get this down?
1. My Ammonia never got above .50, it is now at 0. Is this good or bad?
2. My Ph is holding steady at 7.8?
3. My SG is 1.024, what can I do to get it up?
4. My Nitrate is between 20 & 40ppm, will a water change help get this down?
I have a couple of questions about the cycle. My tank has been running for almost 2 weeks.
1. My Ammonia never got above .50, it is now at 0. Is this good or bad?
2. My Ph is holding steady at 7.8?
3. My SG is 1.024, what can I do to get it up?
4. My Nitrate is between 20 & 40ppm, will a water change help get this down?
1. My Ammonia never got above .50, it is now at 0. Is this good or bad?
2. My Ph is holding steady at 7.8?
3. My SG is 1.024, what can I do to get it up?
4. My Nitrate is between 20 & 40ppm, will a water change help get this down?
SG should be fine at 1.024 fish and inverts will be quite happy with the that. pH is still a little low though as a last resort you might try a product such as pH+ works great and doesn't mess with your other parameters. A water change will help some to get your nitrates down and may help out your pH issue as well. From what i've been told the brand of salt your using to mix your water may affect your pH.... Also on the trates if you can add some macro algae to the sump/fuge it will help bring them down too.
stephish, Thanks for the info.
I am planning to get my sump running this weekend. I am having trouble finding something to use for the fuge that will fit in the cabinet. I am going to use a 20 for my sump and that only leaves me with 15" in the cabinet. Do you think a 10g would work for a fuge? Also where can I find some cheato around this area?
I am planning to get my sump running this weekend. I am having trouble finding something to use for the fuge that will fit in the cabinet. I am going to use a 20 for my sump and that only leaves me with 15" in the cabinet. Do you think a 10g would work for a fuge? Also where can I find some cheato around this area?
Tomoko Schum
New member
Sounds like your tank is cycled, if your ammonia has dropped to zero and nitrate is 20 to 40 ppm. Some tanks don't generate a huge amount of ammonia during cycling - probably did not have too much decaying matter on rocks.
I agree that sg of 1.024 is fine for a reef tank.
Have you measured your alkalinity level? You pH would be low generally if your alkalinity is low. If your alkalinity is low, you can add some baking soda to raise it.
Another cause of a low pH level is some acid dissolving into your tank. CO2 and nitrate are both weak acids. So is phosphate.
If your house is air tight, CO2 can build up enough to cause your tank pH to run a little lower. The pH level of my tank in my kitchen tends to run lower if I do not maintain high enough alkalinity in it since I cook with gas stove and I have people and pets running through there all the time, both generating tons of CO2.
A good surface agitation will help dissipate CO2 out of your tank water. Water changes will bring down your nitrate. You can take a cup of your tank water and aerate it (by bubbling air into it) for several minutes in the outside of your house to see if CO2 is the main cause of your low pH. If CO2 is the cause, your pH in the cup will rise in several minutes (CO2 will be driven out of the water by agitation.)
As Stephish pointed out, macroalgae in your sump will help, too. Macroalgae will take up both nitrate and phosphate.
Tomoko
I agree that sg of 1.024 is fine for a reef tank.
Have you measured your alkalinity level? You pH would be low generally if your alkalinity is low. If your alkalinity is low, you can add some baking soda to raise it.
Another cause of a low pH level is some acid dissolving into your tank. CO2 and nitrate are both weak acids. So is phosphate.
If your house is air tight, CO2 can build up enough to cause your tank pH to run a little lower. The pH level of my tank in my kitchen tends to run lower if I do not maintain high enough alkalinity in it since I cook with gas stove and I have people and pets running through there all the time, both generating tons of CO2.
A good surface agitation will help dissipate CO2 out of your tank water. Water changes will bring down your nitrate. You can take a cup of your tank water and aerate it (by bubbling air into it) for several minutes in the outside of your house to see if CO2 is the main cause of your low pH. If CO2 is the cause, your pH in the cup will rise in several minutes (CO2 will be driven out of the water by agitation.)
As Stephish pointed out, macroalgae in your sump will help, too. Macroalgae will take up both nitrate and phosphate.
Tomoko
8BALL_99
New member
I would worry with Ph after you get your Sump up and running. Also did you ever connect your skimmer? You could also try pointing one of your power heads at the surface of the water. Like Tomoko said good surface agitation will help if its a build of Co2. Alot of the time thats the problem. Very easy fix
SG is fine, I run mine 1.024-1.025 Alot of people run it lower. Also if your using a swing arm Hydrometer you want to stay in the middle anyway incase its readings drift.. They will...
You can do a water change to bring down nitrates. Really though with the tank not even 2 weeks old yet.. I'd probalby leave it alone for a little while longer.. Some do it different.. But every time I've ever cycled a tank. I tried to just leave it alone and let the levels come down on there own..
SG is fine, I run mine 1.024-1.025 Alot of people run it lower. Also if your using a swing arm Hydrometer you want to stay in the middle anyway incase its readings drift.. They will...
You can do a water change to bring down nitrates. Really though with the tank not even 2 weeks old yet.. I'd probalby leave it alone for a little while longer.. Some do it different.. But every time I've ever cycled a tank. I tried to just leave it alone and let the levels come down on there own..
8Ball_99, I just got through installing the baffles in my 20g sump so the skimmer will be running tomorrow. I am going to let the silicone cure overnight before I put water in it.
I got a really good deal on 2 SEIO 2600's. I think that they are to big for my tank. I will probably try and sell them and go with a smaller powerheads. I will say that they do create a current in the tank.
I got a really good deal on 2 SEIO 2600's. I think that they are to big for my tank. I will probably try and sell them and go with a smaller powerheads. I will say that they do create a current in the tank.
