A few more starting questions?

[lazuruskfp]

This board is damn addicting with the speed of responses.
Here a few more questions that have been sparked by many of the posts I've read here...
1. I am using RO/RI water I bought from my LFS but its registering at 7.0-7.2 Ph currently can't check right now I'm at work . Every post I've read about synthetic buffers and Ph modifiers pretty much ends with 'its a balancing act and don't add them.' So how exactly do I get my ph to a level that will allow me to add live rock for curing?
2. I have read alot about the benefits of the refugium (sp?) HOB in a couple of posts and have visited several sites that sell them with lights and protien skimmers attached. If I have a protien skimmer on my tank already will I need it after I get one of these?
3. Also related to the refugium what other function does it serve beyond filtration?... I've heard its like a quarantine tank for sick fish or something along those lines... but every time I see pictures of them they look packed to the rim with rocks and plants with no room for fish...??
Any info on these subjects would be much appreciated.

 

[dmjordan]

Originally Posted by LazurusKfP
This board is damn addicting with the speed of responses.
Here a few more questions that have been sparked by many of the posts I've read here...
1. I am using RO/RI water I bought from my LFS but its registering at 7.0-7.2 Ph currently can't check right now I'm at work . Every post I've read about synthetic buffers and Ph modifiers pretty much ends with 'its a balancing act and don't add them.' So how exactly do I get my ph to a level that will allow me to add live rock for curing?
2. I have read alot about the benefits of the refugium (sp?) HOB in a couple of posts and have visited several sites that sell them with lights and protien skimmers attached. If I have a protien skimmer on my tank already will I need it after I get one of these?
3. Also related to the refugium what other function does it serve beyond filtration?... I've heard its like a quarantine tank for sick fish or something along those lines... but every time I see pictures of them they look packed to the rim with rocks and plants with no room for fish...??
Any info on these subjects would be much appreciated.
yes these boards are addictive and welcome...

1. go ahead and add your live rock to cure it and start your cycle (as long as there are no fish or clean up crew already in your tank) RO/DI water in my opinion is the best water to use. You should never add buffers into your tank without knowing what your current levels are and why they are high or low. ph will fluctuate up and down depending on your lighting schedule and what time of day you test. ph will be lower at night and before your lights come on and will raise as the day goes on and your fish get more active. this is normal and i wouldn't add buffers to keep a constant 8.2 ph. ph is also effected by calcium and alkalinity so you can test those as well to see if there is a problem there.
2. if you use a refugium that has a skimmer already with it you can get rid of the least effective one.
3. a refugium is different than a quarentine tank. you should not use a fuge to quarentine sick fish or new fish. if you put new or sick fish into your refuge you will run the risk of crashing your main tank. any medications or disease the fish have will go right into your main tank. a refuge also provides a place for pods to multiply and slowly feed into your main tank as food for some of your fish ( mandarin goby's for example eat pods as the primary food source)

 

[alyssia]

3. A fuge is not a QT for sick fish. It is a place to grow macroalgae (which helps to lower nitrates) and allow pods to multiply unchecked.

 

[dogstar]

The pH of pure fresh water should be 7.0....the salt mix should have/add the proper balance of carbonates and bicarbonates and other hardening minerals to bring levels to a proper balance to control alkalinity, calcium, ph, ect. and make the pure water as seawater....if not then look for a better one or dose whatever is lacking......
IMO, if you have a good skimmer already then a second is not needed but cant hurt...
The benefits of a fuge are endless, and can be used for many different purposes....from nitrate reduction to food farming, coral fragging, extra water in system, refuge for pets in trouble, ect...build them to suit your need...

 

[lazuruskfp]

Thanks for the speedy replies
What salt is readily recommended...
I currently use instant ocean mix... but I can easily scrap that plan and search for a more dependable salt if one is known.
Also if I have to dose any of the three balancing act components calcium, ph, alk what product line is best I've only seen Kent brand thus far.

 

[dmjordan]

there are alot of opinions as to which salt is recommended. people that use the same brand (any) will have had different experiences with it...some good and some bad. it is the luck of the draw i guess. i have read where people have used instant ocean for example and have had no problems with it but you never know if you are going to get a bad batch of salt. i use reef crystals and so far have not had any problems with it. some people will say that tropic marine is the best one. you will have to see which salt is right for you and fits your budget.
always test first but i used to use the b-ionic 2 part buffer. this will buffer your calcium, alkalinty and ph. right now i don't add any buffers.