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Finally getting started - Page 5

post #81 of 133
9/17/10 at 3:51pm

Hey Daking! It's good to see another Jville member on the boards.

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post #82 of 133
9/17/10 at 3:59pm

and oh yeah, I have the same light fixture that you do. the only downfall is you can't turn only the actinics on.

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post #83 of 133
9/17/10 at 5:10pm
Thread Starter 
Yea I know bought it from a store off beach. What stores do u shop at?
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post #84 of 133
9/17/10 at 5:16pm

I will PM you, they don't like you posting competitions...

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post #85 of 133
9/18/10 at 12:03pm
Thread Starter 
Well I'm exactly at the 2 week mark of my cycle and decided to perform my 1st water tests. I performed all tests with water from my sump and used the API test kit.
Ph:8
Ammonia: .25 ppm
Nitrate(no3) 0 ppm
Nitrite(no2) 0 ppm
Salinity: 31 or 1.023 specific gravity
Is this looking ok?

0fda46ee.jpg
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post #86 of 133
9/18/10 at 12:26pm

I like the pretty colors, LOL.

 

Looks kinda like my tank tests, but I have the tank setup for just over 48 hours.

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post #87 of 133
9/18/10 at 12:59pm
Thread Starter 
Being that I dont have fixed lighting schedule can this affect my ph level or is it normal for it to be low during the cycle?
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post #88 of 133
9/18/10 at 1:39pm

I'll let you know when I test tonight after the lights have been on for 10 to 12 hours.  If the PH is back up, I would assume that the lights help.  I started low with a 7.8 on the ph and then late last night when the lights were on for about 4 to 6 hours, I got an 8.  then when i tested again really late last night when the lights were off for about 4 hours, i got another 7.8.

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post #89 of 133
9/18/10 at 1:57pm
Thread Starter 
Ok cool, just making sure that this is normal. Maybe I'm color blind but of all the tests the ph was the hardest to differentiate between the colors.
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post #90 of 133
9/18/10 at 11:31pm

you two have the same profile pic it thros me off

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post #91 of 133
9/18/10 at 11:37pm

My tank effed up so no water test tonight.  I will start the regular testing again once i can prevent the tank from effing up again.

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post #92 of 133
9/25/10 at 9:56pm
Thread Starter 
Hello again, it's been awhile and not alot happening as I just hit the 3 week mark of (dum dum dum dummmm) "The Cycle". But since the first pics I have added a lot more live rock. I'm up to about 48lbs and don't plan on stopping there. All my water tests were good except the ph. So I picked up some marine buffer. So since nothing other than that was wrong he game me 2 pieces of koi food and told me to put in my tank and watch my tests. Next day ammonia was high. So I've been testing daily since that. The most recent pieces of rock were Fiji.





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What do you guys think?
Edited by daking - 9/25/10 at 10:31pm
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post #93 of 133
9/25/10 at 9:59pm

I like the caves you have made in there.  Should look real nice once all is said and done.

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post #94 of 133
9/25/10 at 10:34pm
Thread Starter 
Water tests for today read:
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 0ppm
Ammonia .25
Ph 8.2
Specific gravity 1.023 or 31

It's been 1 week since adding 10lbs Fiji live rock and the fish food. Not adding anything until livestock.
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post #95 of 133
9/25/10 at 10:46pm

Heres hoping your ammonia continues is journy downward toward that magical 0!

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post #96 of 133
9/26/10 at 6:53am

Your aquascape looks good.

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post #97 of 133
9/26/10 at 7:15am

Yeah, love the aquascaping.  Great job.

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post #98 of 133
9/26/10 at 10:06am

yup i got this film in my freshwater in the beggining too

over feeding lols

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post #99 of 133
10/1/10 at 6:03pm
Thread Starter 

hello again guys. Well im at the 4 week mark and just finished another water test, everything is what it should be 0 except for the ammonia. I am between .25 and .50 on that reading. I havent done a water change or anything but I think this will be my next step. About 2 weeks ago i added 10 lbs of lr and ghost fed the tank which i think is the reason for the ammonia. Now it seems that my ammonia will not go down. Do you guys recommend a water change at this point or should i wait it out. And if you do recommend the change how much?

 

Tank parameters: 55gal, 2 powerheads, t5 ho 220 lamp w/ 2 blue and 2 white bulbs, wet/dry trickle filter w/ overflow box. No skimmer or heater yet( i live in florida)

Only inhabitants are hitchhikers from live rock which are some small snails and looks to be some copepods there also. 48 lbs lr and about 30-40 lbs live sand

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post #100 of 133
10/4/10 at 5:31pm
Thread Starter 
Bump. Any recommendations?
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