Newbie Corner Feedback Thread

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13101161#post13101161 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rbr493c
I am a newbie and had a question concerning water. I understand issues with municipality water, but what about starting out with well water?

BTW...
I'm also a newbie to this site, and the article is great!
Click to expand...

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

suggest you invest in a good ro/di filter right from the start

IMG_4897.jpg
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13047818#post13047818 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bpursell
Hello to all!! As a newbie to the soft coral reef tank all I can do is look around in awe at the tanks that I have seen. If I had not been totally bitten by the bug before I was directed to this site I am hopelessly sunk now! About my tank... 75 gallon starter, three months old tank, with twelve (who-hoo) shiney mushrooms two feathers and a starburst that looks fabo some damsels and a nemo/anemo...plenty of hermit crabs, two feathers and lotsa live rok. I am itching to move ahead... i kno patience is a virtue but can someone tell me if I am ready??

Ok, this is the part where I show my lack of intelligence, lol...
running: 4 Coralife 10,000k 55watt compact florescent 21 inch lights
two filters, Aqua Clear one for 75 gal and one for a 60 gal
one small power head:Rio 180

Tank measurements:
Ammonia= 0
Nitrite=0
Nitrate=20 i dunno why this is staying high??
PH=7.8-8.0

Either way, my name is Chris and you guys are such the jam when it comes to tanks. Cudos to Progressive Marine for sending me here, the most awsome unsolicited non-advertised shop in mobile alabama!

Nice to meet everyone! Upwards and onwards...

[welcome]

re nitrates high--have you started to do water changes?








20
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Re: So stoked to be here!

Re: So stoked to be here!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13056663#post13056663 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by herozero
A super noob! Hi everyone, very glad to be here. I'm a scuba diver who has too much dust on his (scuba) equipment and have decided to take the plunge and put a little bit of the beautiful ocean I don't see as much anymore in my apartment. Due to size and budget, I've started small, 20G (24x13x16) with 24 lbs. Fiji rock. Tank has been up since Friday 6/25/08, stable pH just over 8.1, SG about 1.0226, sand and rock are in and we have the beginnings of some brown looking algae hitting the scene. I know the 20G won't be able to handle a ton of livestock and am aware of the difficulties of maintaining smaller tanks, but I figure some extra TLC are in order if I want to go big in the new home that is in sight within 24 months. Patience is not my strongest virtue, so this is a true test! I am looking forward to ammonia levels going above zero pretty soon and adding some algae eaters and such before adding some fish after August vacation.

I love the forums, all kinds of great information and I can't wait to post my little coral paradise!
Click to expand...

[welcome]

we will look forward to seeing your pictures
 
one question i have is about bio balls . shuold i be using them and why? i heard that they willl start running my nitrates up eventually.is ths true
 
Bio balls help process waist to Nitrates quickly, but don't process them from their. I don't think they are helpful in most situations and I usually suggest removing them. Just my two cents though.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13135851#post13135851 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dragenfire0
one question i have is about bio balls . shuold i be using them and why? i heard that they willl start running my nitrates up eventually.is ths true
Click to expand...

[welcome]

Bioballs should be replaced---live rock, sand bed and a protein skimmer are all you need for a good filtration system

There are three kinds of bacteria that work on biological filtration
aerobic bacteria which break down ammonia to nitrites
anerobic bacteria which break down nitrites to nitrates
anoxic bacteria which break down the nitrates to nitrogen gas and it leaves your tank

Anoxic bacteria live in deep layers of the substrate and innner most parts of the live rock.
Bioballs can't support anoxic bacteria so any waste collected with them is turned to nitrates by the above processes but the nitrates can't be converted to nitrogen gas because of the lack of anoxic bacteria.
Therefor over time nitrates can build up on the bioballs and eventually make it back into your system.
 
to capn: yes, just finished 2o% water change so we will see how that helps, also changed the filters, etc you get the idea. Everything is tip top shape EXCEPT for the nitrates. Grrr. Now that I have done a bit more research I realize that it was most likely due to over feeding at the get go and poor poor tank maintence on my part. I thought that I was still cycling and should have been changing water before now. Currently I am dealing with either red hair algae or cyanobacteria (aka the dreaded red slime) I have had no fish loss or any sign of stress but plenty of red algae... slap the noob here, I could not distinguish good red algae from bad. I was sooo proud. Lol.

I added three snails, three emerald crabs, and a Hawiian flame angel to the tank before I realized the deal. Following my water change the nitrates are now still too high.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13143519#post13143519 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bpursell
to capn: yes, just finished 2o% water change so we will see how that helps, also changed the filters, etc you get the idea. Everything is tip top shape EXCEPT for the nitrates. Grrr. Now that I have done a bit more research I realize that it was most likely due to over feeding at the get go and poor poor tank maintence on my part. I thought that I was still cycling and should have been changing water before now. Currently I am dealing with either red hair algae or cyanobacteria (aka the dreaded red slime) I have had no fish loss or any sign of stress but plenty of red algae... slap the noob here, I could not distinguish good red algae from bad. I was sooo proud. Lol.

I added three snails, three emerald crabs, and a Hawiian flame angel to the tank before I realized the deal. Following my water change the nitrates are now still too high.
Click to expand...

start posting some pictures of your tank--it will make it easier for us to follow your progress and answer your questions:cool:
 
One possibility, which I have found to b the case a lot of the time, is that you could have hair algae covered in cyano bacteria. Address the cause of the problem before you focus on removal.

If you do start manual removal I would start a slow siphon with some tubing so when you pull or brush things off you can remove 99% or the pieces.

Good luck
 
Suggestions for RO filter for 55 gal tank?

Suggestions for RO filter for 55 gal tank?

Ok, I dropped and did 50... now can I ask my first question?
Newbie here willing to go as s l o w as I need to go in order to do this right.
I have an empty 55 gal tank I want to turn into a Reef tank. I read the water article and agree. What size RO system do you suggest that I buy? Can they be bought at Lowe's or are they only available at Aquarium shops?
Thanks!

I mean THANKS SIR!

Mike
 
Air, Water & Ice

Air, Water & Ice

Just found your filter. It was listed as Water & Ice, but I found it under Air Water & Ice. I assume it's the same folks.
Thanks
 
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