DIGH
New member
Hi, I'm not really new to the hobby, but I'm still an amateur looking to learn as much as I can for a successful tank. I recently went from a 100 gallon FOWLR that was 17 years old, with a few upgrades here and there to a 72 gallon bowfront.
Details of the swap and tank:
Basically started over, brand new with a refugium, with live rock and a skimmer. In tank are two hydor fans on a controller for wave action. I moved over liverock only, and maybe 25 gallons of water from the old tank (I am pretty sure that is where my issue is) to the new tank. It's been up and cycling since January 13th. Only livestock in it are 5 nerite snails, 1 brittle star and 6 red clawed hemits. I placed live sand, 80 lbs, on the base. Using a 48 led light system, will be adding more.
Now, to the issue. I've been adding water for top off, the skimmer is working well using a wet method, I clean the socks, and the filter. 8.4 ph, 1.025 sg, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 160 nitrate and 500 calcium. Using a master test kit good til 10/2017. I was using tap water (ya, I know) for the rest of the initial fill up. I went back and read our city water report and did my own test on it, and well, we have very hard water with about 25 ppm nitrates. So, I got a BRS 5 stage plus universal RODI that I have been using since. (City had approximately 350 tds to 0 with my system).
So, as you can see clearly I have really high nitrates (180) and pretty high calcium (550). Nitrates are my biggest issue, I have caeto in the refugium, but it's only about the size of a baseball. I've done my first partial water change at 10 gallons of Rodi water, and I started carbon dosing with vodka at 1.5 ml per day. I expected to see a small change with the water change, but nothing.
Because I am cycling, what would a complete water change look like? Recommended? Should I keep on my same track and just wait til I get to 5 ppm or less before any other livestock addition? I have been leaving the light off as well.
With regard to high calcium, I think over time with water changes I will bring it down now that I have the Rodi system, but what do you all think of that number, is it detrimental? I'm not even sure it's in an available form for corals.
My planned tank is to go with eaiser care corals, percula or other clowns and anemones. But, we all know how things and ideas change. Lol I appreciate your thoughts and inputs
Details of the swap and tank:
Basically started over, brand new with a refugium, with live rock and a skimmer. In tank are two hydor fans on a controller for wave action. I moved over liverock only, and maybe 25 gallons of water from the old tank (I am pretty sure that is where my issue is) to the new tank. It's been up and cycling since January 13th. Only livestock in it are 5 nerite snails, 1 brittle star and 6 red clawed hemits. I placed live sand, 80 lbs, on the base. Using a 48 led light system, will be adding more.
Now, to the issue. I've been adding water for top off, the skimmer is working well using a wet method, I clean the socks, and the filter. 8.4 ph, 1.025 sg, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 160 nitrate and 500 calcium. Using a master test kit good til 10/2017. I was using tap water (ya, I know) for the rest of the initial fill up. I went back and read our city water report and did my own test on it, and well, we have very hard water with about 25 ppm nitrates. So, I got a BRS 5 stage plus universal RODI that I have been using since. (City had approximately 350 tds to 0 with my system).
So, as you can see clearly I have really high nitrates (180) and pretty high calcium (550). Nitrates are my biggest issue, I have caeto in the refugium, but it's only about the size of a baseball. I've done my first partial water change at 10 gallons of Rodi water, and I started carbon dosing with vodka at 1.5 ml per day. I expected to see a small change with the water change, but nothing.
Because I am cycling, what would a complete water change look like? Recommended? Should I keep on my same track and just wait til I get to 5 ppm or less before any other livestock addition? I have been leaving the light off as well.
With regard to high calcium, I think over time with water changes I will bring it down now that I have the Rodi system, but what do you all think of that number, is it detrimental? I'm not even sure it's in an available form for corals.
My planned tank is to go with eaiser care corals, percula or other clowns and anemones. But, we all know how things and ideas change. Lol I appreciate your thoughts and inputs
