First time on this forum.

[josh88]

Ok so here's my problem I Just started my tank a week ago. And the ph has already dropped from 8.3 to 7.9. Now I know this could be due to the sand. But the only life I have in there is my live rock. And a few snails and about 5 hermit crabs. And they really cleaned the diatom I had in The tank. But I'm wondering what I can do to keep my ph up. And I don't want to have to use a kalk drip. It's a jbj 28 gal. Two 260 gph returns, and two 500gph power heads in The tank It's self. I have 32 lbs of live rock. And a 2 inch bed of black carribbian sand that was mixed I'm guessing with crush coral. But really fine. My test today were ammonia 0.0ppm, ph 7.8, alk 9, cal 440 ppm, phosphate 0.0 ppm, nitrate 0.0ppm, nitrite 0.0ppm, sg 1.024 which I need to raise, temp 78 degrees, mag 950ppm. Any suggestions on how to keep the sg raised to?

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[mcoomer]

7.9 for pH isn't an issue. My pH is a bit high right now because I'm using kalk paste to clear out some mushrooms but typically I run between 7.9-8.1. I do regular water changes and dose BRS two part twice daily. Given that your tank is very young you will see things change and begin to settle down as it cycles. Keep your pH, alkalinity, and calcium where it's at now and you'll be in good shape.

For specific gravity, you shouldn't have too much trouble maintaining that. I don't know whether you have an auto top-off but if not, as freshwater evaporates from your tank your SG will rise. To maintain the proper level you simply need to replenish the freshwater that is being lost through evaporation. When you do your regular water change, mix your saltwater in a clean bucket using a quality salt and good RO water, drop a Maxijet in the bucket to agitate/aerate, and let it mix for a day. At the end of that time check the SG again and adjust it for 1.026. If you need to make a large adjustment to do this I'd let it aerate for a few more hours but if it only takes a small adjustment, or none, it's ready to go into the tank. Always mix your fresh saltwater to the same SG and you should have no problem maintaining the level in your tank.

Welcome to the hobby.

Mike

 

[josh88]

Thanks mike, that makes a lot of sense. I'll watch everything for now. Should I perform a water change while my tank is cycling?

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[mcoomer]

You'll get mixed opinions on this. Some folks will advocate dropping a piece of shrimp in the tank and just let it run, only topping off fresh water lost to evaporation. I say drop a piece of shrimp in the tank and get into the habit of performing regular maintenance. Clean the glass (even if it's clean), use a turkey baster to blow off your rocks, gently sift the top layer of sand, and do some small, regular water changes. On your 28 gallon you can get away with probably 5 gallons a week. I'd break that up and do half a bucket every 3-4 days. Smaller quantities of water are easier to lug around, less likely to shock your system than a large water change, and don't require you to keep 30-40 gallons of water on hand. The simpler you can make your maintenance routine the more like you'll stick with it and the more likely your tank is to succeed.

Mike

 

[Boomer]

Mike is correct Josh, the tank is new and needs time to settle in. However, your is that of almost all, the CO2 is to high and why the lower pH and good Alk. In your casae it may be from high room CO2 and/or the live rock releasing organics and lowering the pH, a common live rock thing that should be OK in time. You can raise the Sg up 1 unit / day. Meaning, from 1.024 to 1.025, then to 1.026 or two days. As far as Mike's shrimp, that is fine or just some fish food. Mike's s advice here is pretty sound.

 

[josh88]

This is what it looks like as of yesterday. I'm going to.turkey base the diatom off, and do little 5 gallon water change. Then ill do a 2.5 gal water change every 4 days. I was also think of buying additives for future use in case I would need them. Instead of rushing out after doing water test. And ideas since eventually I will have coral in The tank

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[josh88]

So the turkey baster isn't working on it. What can use to get it off my rock.

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[josh88]

Oh and it looks as though its turning into green hair algae

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[DolphinLVR]

Green Hair algae is pretty much the norm for a new Tank. You could get a Sea Hare to take care of it, but you will want to catch it after all hair algae is gone otherwise it will starve to death.

 

[Krish]

Here's a link to a little write up I did on algae that i posted last night. Might help understand how to control them etc http://www.reeffrontiers.com/showthread.php?t=63768


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[josh88]

Ah.... Thanks again buddy.

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[josh88]

Weird wouldn't let post on your article, said I didn't have permission

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[Krish]

Weird wouldn't let post on your article, said I didn't have permission

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Hmmm...Let me check.


Edit: You should be fine to post. Try again.

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[josh88]

Ok so I Just that describes in detail how aerobic and anaerobic bacteria work to help complete water cycles, And how the benefit the tank also there o2 use and the conversion of nitrates. If they are breaking down the No2 and Co2. What's breaking down the No3. Much less how is being created. Unless its a by product of the bacterium. Which to My understanding is made up of thousands of different bacteria

Still wouldn't let me post it to your atticle. But I'm also trying from tapatalk. Oh Well. Also in your article. Would I be able to brush it off in The tank or would I actually need to remove the live rock, and take it off then.

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[Krish]

Nitrates simply put is the result/bi-product of bacteria converting nitrites into it. So say a fish poops which inevitably results in ammonia in the tank. An aerobic bacteria comes in and converts it into a less toxic form called nitrites. Once nitrites are present another aerobic bacteria steps in and converts it into nitrates which is how nitrates are formed/accumulated in a tank. When I can get back on my computer, I will look for a thread I posted a while back showing how the cycle works. It's a detailed diagram. Should clear up some things.

As for you not being able to post on that thread that is strange. You must not be cool :lol:. Naw, might be tapatalk although I can post on it from my phone which is why I suggested to get an iPhone!!


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[josh88]

Again with the iphone. The bb you have converted me. But as for apple products that's a big no no. I may need to redownload the app to My phone?

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[Krish]

Again with the iphone. The bb you have converted me. But as for apple products that's a big no no. I may need to redownload the app to My phone?

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LOL!! Possibly. Here is that link. I have the diagram of the nitrogen cycle I came up with as well as a version Mojo came up with in post number 2. Should help explain things a bit.


http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/f14/submit-your-sketches-61726/