Recent content by phil l

Thanks for the reply...I should have know better on the calcium/carbonate thing...minored in chemistry but its been along time..The tank is a smaller tank 37 high... Will the B ionic throw my magnesium levels out of whack?...they seem good as they are now. The phosphate levels are perplexing...

Out of curiosity, from my low calcium reading went out and got a Salifert Mag test...Tested newly made salt water that had aged 24hrs before I did a water change... Here are my results... Newly made water... Specific Gravity: 1.024 Temp: 80 pH: 8.2 calcium: 360 kH 130mg/L which equals an Alk of...

Yeah, that thread was awesome...also made me think that I am not testing magnesium levels and perhaps if they are low, that is contributing to my issue... Phil L

Here are my parameters in my 37 high... Specific gravity: 1.023 Temp: 80 pH: 8.2 ammonia:0 nitrite: 0 nitrate: 40 ppm (high) phosphate: .5-1 ppm (high) calcium: 360 kH: 140 mg/L, which if I did my math right= a alk of 2.8 mg/L and a dkH of 7.84 The tank has been up and running for 6 weeks and I...

Okay, so I am in week four of my cycling process of a 37 gallon high, with an aquaclear 500 power filter, aquaclear 20 powerhead and CPR Bak pak skimmer, 2" Argonite sandbed and 40lbs of LR(uncured when I added it) My parameters are: Specific gravity: 1.024 Temp: 81 pH: 8.2 Ammonia: 0 (yeah)...

So should I do a water change, or has sitting two weeks at 8ppm or greater ammonia pretty much done my hitchhikers in already?? Phil L

I added the 40lbs of uncured at one time to start my cycle... Phil L

Yes, the rock was uncured. My filtration is an Aquaclear 500 power filter and Aquaclear 20 powerhead. Also have a CRP Bak-pak protein skimmer, so I should have adequate water movement. Should I do a water change? I was under the impression that you dont do water changes whiles cycling...

I'm two and half weeks into my cycle since I added 40lbs of uncured live rock to my 37g tank. My water paratmeters are Specific gravity: 1.024 Temp: 80 pH 7.8 (evening) Ammonia: 8ppm Nitrites: 5 ppm Should my ammonia still be this high after this long in the cycle? I thought that it would...

Have a question about the Bak pak 2. Just set mine up..it came with the max-jet 1200. The pump is making a ton of noise and the unit is returning a large bubbles and microbubbles to the tank. Is this normal for the breakin period? Anything I can do to quiet this thing down and reduce the...

Update..just tested the walmart RO water and it is at 0...so I am really at a loss as to where it came from????? Help..... Phil L

Hi all, Just recently set up a 37 gallon AGA high tank. My equipment is a Aquaclear 500 power filter, Aquaclear 20 powerhead, CPR Bakpak 2 protien skimmer... For the initial fill up I used RO water from walmart and have used that water for topping off, cleaning of testing tubes, ect... Put in...

Just wanted your opinions if I have enough turnover rate and movement in a 37 high tank. Aquaclear 500 power filter-500 gph Aquaclear 20 powerhead-200 gph I am figuring I am somewhere around 700 gph or almost 20x turnover rate. Watching particles moving...seems like I have good flow and no dead...

Just added my live rocks yesterday...tested this morning for the heck of it...ammonia at around 8(ppm ?)...impressive..didnt think I'd get a spike so quickly... Phil L

Had a couple of questions on a new tank... the set up is a 37 AGA high with an Aquaclear 500 power filter and 400 powerhead and 40lbs of Agramax sand from Coralife. Water used is RO water for everything. water parameters are specific gravity: 1.023 temp: 80 Phosphate:0 (with the Sailfert) Just...