newbie needs direction

[merctech]

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HERE MY 55..... its got a wet dry, in tank protein skimmer, 2 96watt pc (white and blue bulbs), dual 4" conopy fans (intake and exhaust). its been running since 12/17/05. has just 12 pds of live rock, 40 pds of live sand, brain coral, budha cardinal, 3 chromis, 2 yellow head jawfish, 2 cleaner shrimp, 30 snails, 20 blue legged hermit crabs. just removed a sea bae from tank b/c condition.

water parameters

2/12/06
ph: 8.0
salinity: 1.024
ammonia: .25
nitrate: 20
has a bag of phosguard in wet/dry, added alkalinity and calicum as per last test.

i am using aquarium pharmaceuticals saltwater master liquid test kit. i amplaning to get the test strips b/c of ease. but i also want to get the phosphate, alkalinity, and calicum test very soon. i been having it tested at the local fish store and just did myself and got these readings....could this be true??

2/5/06 water parameters

ph: 8.5
salinty: 1.022
ammonia: 1.0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 0
phosphate: 0.1
alkalinity: high
calcium: high

i did a mild 10 gallon water change for the hell of it last week b/c i am always on the water. dont worry i got it off a patch reef. (took a small boat ride). last water change was 15% and was done on 1/21/06. thanks in advance.

 

[NetFish]

your tank is still cycling!!??

 

[mg426]

Looks like you may be moving a bit to fast. Your readings dont look so stable. take your time, Slow down. i would get some good test kits (salifert works great for me) might want to think about ditching the bioballs and adding some more LR 1 lb / gal minimum

 

[merctech]

no

 

[ratziel]

Hi merctech. The reason netfish asked if your tank is still cycling is that you should have ammonia readings of 0 before you add fish. Any ammonia readings and it means your tank is still cycling.

 

[mg426]

i agree with ratzeil you got something going on with cycle.

 

[merctech]

my readings for 1/21/06 where 8.0 1.021, 0.0, 0.0. that well over a month from when i started the tank. then i did a 15% water change. that same day. i thought i am already over witht he cycle??

 

[jwhitlow1031]

if you plan on having coral you need more lr and you should slowly bring your salinity up to 1.026 as this is more natural

 

[merctech]

but the fish look great!! the clown fish are dancing, budha really active when feeding, jawfish also really active, lets not forget the chromis. they doing great!! i was planing to get a second opinion tommorrow.

 

[jwhitlow1031]

in general it sounds as if things are going ok, but just because things look ok may not be an indication of the long term health of your tank. you lr is really your main filtration and without enough of it your tank will adventually overload itself...you should have a pd/gallon at least. especially if you want coral, if not for the health of the tank than to make it look more natural and to have adequate places to set your corals, also many fish and everts will do better with ample hiding places

 

[merctech]

so how much more rock?? and should i do another water change??

 

[jwhitlow1031]

well, most people will agree that at least a pound for ever gallon of water is a fairly average amount, you may want to buy some large peices as your main structure and then add smaller peices on top of those. i have about 70-80 pounds worth in a 54 gallon and that looks/seems to be a good amount...as far as water changes go, many people say you should do 10% or so once every week or two, it really depends on you bio load and also the amounts of coral you have, the easiest way to keep your water full of the proper neutriance ie. calcium etc is to do regular water changes.....

 

[merctech]

well went to another lfs store to have my water tested and to buy a new test strips.

water paramenters

salinity: 1.024
ammonia: 0
ph: 8.0
nitrite: 0
nitrite: 0

when i got home i tested it with the strips and i got the same readings. could my other test be not strile?? or old/expired? i also bought some kent marine phytoplex to feed the brain coral i have. i stiill intrested in buying some more rock

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[jwhitlow1031]

if i were you i would load both sides of the tank with rock and leave the center lower, that usually looks really nice

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

I'd get that hair algae out of there before adding more live rock -- better now when you can see it and get to it...

 

[Joshthenosh]

That tank is so bare it reminds me of tanks Fish stores sell there fish in you could get another 50lbs of LR in there easly, i have more LR than you do and my tanks only 17G

 

[tsutherland]

I was using the aquarium pharmaceuticals saltwater master liquid test kit and stopped because it was not accurate IMO.

 

[IslandCrow]

I have to agree with everyone who's saying to slow down a bit. Moving to fast (as you'll hear time and time again on this board) is the single biggest mistake I've made in my short time in this hobby, and I didn't add any fish until I'd had my tank for two months. Fish, especially captive bred seem to be pretty tolerant to many conditions, but you probably won't be so fortunate with corals. Fortunately, I haven't killed any corals yet, but I'm managed to kill one anemone because I moved too fast. I'd say everyone here is just trying to keep you from making the same mistakes we have all made.

 

[merctech]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6737676#post6737676 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tsutherland
I was using the aquarium pharmaceuticals saltwater master liquid test kit and stopped because it was not accurate IMO.

i agree with you and the facts are that it is incorrect after doing both test. i am now throwing that test kit in the trash. tank is doing great but i know i need more live rock. i will getting some more live rock as soon as this cold weather passes. i believe that my anemone died b/c i was feeding once a week. see i was told from a friend from work feeds his once a week. he has a atlantic anemone in his tank with pacifc clowns believe it or not!! when i get the pics i will post them. it unbelieveable!!

 

[WaterKeeper]

Which wild goose chase would you like me to lead you on?

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MercTech