pLEASE HELP ME FIX MY WATER PARAMETERS

[SaltSolutions1]

so, the plan is to wait it out then.......when i get home tonight I will do a water change.

how much of a water change should i do with a 45 gallon tank and a 10 gallon refugium?

 

[Playa-1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13114748#post13114748 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SaltSolutions1
the ro/di?

because I used it to fill my tank originally and water parameters seemed good then

If you've used an ammonia binder in the tank, you could be getting a false ammonia reading,

If your water utility company is using chloramines to treat the water and your di is shot then that could potentially give you a positive ammonia reading as well.

Just some additional ideas to consider. My first guess would be the new rock added is the culprit.

 

[SaltSolutions1]

WHAT IS AN AMMONIA BINDER?

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

ammonia binder is something like prime or amaquel+ it will basically turn ammonia and make it harmelss. very good to have in certain situations.

also your test kits could be off. your using the dip strips correct? I would get another test kit to double check.

as for the rodi filter, buy a TDS meter that will tell you if you are makeing good water. also when was the last time the filters were changed in it?

 

[SaltSolutions1]

NO STRIPS, JUST DROPS IN LITTLE VIALS OF 5ML OF WATER

NO IDEA WHEN THE FILTER WERE LAST CHANGED.....SOMETHING I AM GOING TO LOOK INTO TONIGHT.....WHEN I ORIGINALLY RECEIVED THE TANK FROM MY FRIEND I HAD TO DRAIN THE WATER DOWN ABOUT 90% FOR TRANSPORT TO MY HOUSE.......WHEN I GOT TO THE HOUSE I NEEDED TO FILL IT UP VERY QUICKLY.....I USED VERY BAD TAP WATER AND SALT TO MIX THE WATER AND I DID ADD SOME OF THE TAP WATER PURIFIER STUFF....I FORGET THE NAME NOW BUT I HAVE IT AT MY HOUSE STILL......BUT THAT WAS A MONTH AGO THAT I DID THIS.......COULD IT STILL HAVE THAT EFFECT.....GRANTED I ONLY CHECKED MY WATER ONCE AND IT WAS FINE ONLY 3 DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL FILL UP AND SINCE THEN LAST NIGHT WAS THE ONLY OTHER TIME I DID A WATER TEST.........

LOOKS LIKE I HAVE A WATER CHANGE TO DO.......HOW MANY GALLONS FOR A 45 GALLON TANK DO U SUGGEST?

I WILL ALSO CHECK ON THOSE FILTERS FOR THE WATER......WHERE DO I GET A TDS METER FROM?

 

[SaltSolutions1]

I went to my LFS and bought some stuff called 60 gallons revolutionary bacteria for saltwater.

When I got home I moved the soon to be refugium to my dresser and made a platform for it so it sits about 2" higher than my 45 gallon (below is how I set it all up. I need some help guys and gals, please help!)

I finished setting it up and added this stuff to my refugium and let it go feed my big tank some needed bacteria. it supposedly makes the tank cycle quicker so my livestock does not die

next step, not sure yet.

please read below

I have a 10 gallon tank that I made into a refugium

I set it up next to my 45 gallon reef tank 2" higher so I can use a u-tube for flow from the 10g to the 45

I also have a rio 400 pumping water from the 45g to the 10

instead of using that little flex tube to get the flow going thru the u-tube (45 to the 10) , I drilled a tiny hole in the very top and stuck a valve in it so i have the ability to open and close the valve, crazy gelled it sealed and attached a small piece of flex tubing so I could suck air out when i need to. then just close the valve.

Problem is that I am very scared the flow make get too much air one day and stop flowing when i am not around. Disaster to my wood floors.

Any help from anyone that can advise of a better solution. I would like to keep the 10 gallon refugium where it is. I plan on sticking a sea horse in it so I would like it to be visible. Also, dont have a drilled tank so I would be looking at spending another 100.00 on a pump to get it from my floor up and over the lip of my 45g.

Advise is greatly appreciated!


__________________
Why are the best hobbies always the most expensive ones?

 

[Playa-1]

So you just left the livestock in there with the elevated ammonia level, and went for the quick fix at the recommendation of the lfs?

 

[SaltSolutions1]

had no choice......no place put my livestock while I fixed the problem