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  1. phil l

    Calc/kH/Alk/Mag partII..Boomer/Bangguy or anyone else..any direction

    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...
  2. phil l

    Calc/kH/Alk/Mag partII..Boomer/Bangguy or anyone else..any direction

    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...
  3. phil l

    Water parameter question..particularly alk, kH, and calcium

    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
  4. phil l

    Water parameter question..particularly alk, kH, and calcium

    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...
  5. phil l

    Cycling question????

    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)...
  6. phil l

    Cycling question

    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
  7. phil l

    Cycling question

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

    Cycling question

    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...
  9. phil l

    Cycling question

    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...
  10. phil l

    CPR Bak pak 2 question

    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...
  11. phil l

    Water quality issues/questions...help please

    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
  12. phil l

    Water quality issues/questions...help please

    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...
  13. phil l

    Enough water movement?

    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...
  14. phil l

    Ammonia at 8

    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
  15. phil l

    New Tank questions

    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...
  16. phil l

    Bubbles/microbubbles from a Penguin 350 power filter

    Does anyone have any suggestions to reduce the amount of bubbles and microbubbles produced by a Penguin 350 power filter. I have the filter set up with the intake tube low in the tank using the provided extension. I try to keep the water level up to the lip on the filter and have also tried...
  17. phil l

    Cleaning up sand silt?

    A quick noob question. After adding sand to my tank yesterday and the ensuing dust storm, everything has settled. What I noticed is that there is dust which has adhered to the inner glass in spots. How does on go about cleaning this? Also there is some of the fine particulate dust on the...
  18. phil l

    Is this sand ok?

    Just an update for you guys, as I have been following this thread and looking for the sand myself. I called Southdown(Old Castle) today and asked about the sand. The woman told me the sand they market as southdown and yardright tropical playsand is discontinued this year as they lost their...
  19. phil l

    Deionization Units

    I was thinking the same thing myself and bought a Aquapharm unit yesterday...I made about 16 gallons and the cartridge was used up. Its supposed to make 50-125gal before being exhausted..guess my tap is really nasty. At 20 dollars a replacement cartridge, its cheaper to buy RO water and invest...
  20. phil l

    Interesting observations on starting a tank

    Finally after years of thinking about setting up a saltwater tank, I took the plunge. Setting up a 37 gal high tank with Marineland 350 filter and Aquaclear powerhead with add on filter. Couple of interesting observations right off...bought an Aquapharm tap water DI maker to try it...thinking...
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