Another Newbie Post

[firehungry]

First of all...GREAT SITE!!! Just had to get that out of the way.
Here is my situation:
75 Gal tank
50 pnds LS
50 pnds Crushed Coral
Filter: Cascade 1000 by penn Plax
2 Blue Damsels
Water Temp: 75
Test Kit: Aquarium Pharmaceutical SW Liquid TK
Amquel +
Up and running for about 6 weeks
Used tap water to fill tank
Hope that is everything. Now, the problem:
This setup was recomended by the LFS and I am getting concerned as my Nitrite and Nitrate levels are high (they should both be 0, right?) The PH is perfect and so is the salitity. Amonia registers at 0ppm . I have just found this site and found some good articles, but I want to see what advice is offered for this setup to help with the cycle. I have a chance to get 80 pnds of LR + 125 pnds of LS from a tank that a friend doesn't want anymore as he can't keep up with the cost. He is also going to throw in the CLown and his clean up crew from his 75 gal tank. Should I just transport his water to my tank since he has been up and running for about a year? Is my filter a reccomended filter for SW? I know I need to invest into a lot more equipment and I also know that I can not put any other fish in the tank until I get my chem levels where they should be. Should I just do a 25% water change? So many questions in my head. UGH! Any help is really appreciated.
Thanks,
Jason

 

[lesleybird]

Hi, How high is the nitrite? Both the amonia and the nitrite should be zero in a fully cycled tank that has enough biological filtration.....meaning enough good bacteria growing in the tank. The nitrates can still creep up in a fully cycled tank. How high are we talking? If your friend has not used any copper based medication or had an outbreak of disease, I would take the live rock if it looks good, and the fish if you want it. The live rock will help bring benificial bacteria to speed up your cycle. Keep it wet during transport with some tank water. I would not bother with the water as it is too much trouble and may have problems of it's own. Most of the good bacteria is in the rocks and substrate anyway. I have never heard of your filter so can't comment on it.
Good luck, Lesley

 

[rbmount]

Welcome to the board. Iwouldn't use tap water,it probably has phosphates(which add to bad algae growth),and other harmful metals in it. Ipersonally don't have a RO unit. I use distilled water from the grocery store. You can get RO water at your lfs.

 

[firehungry]

Here is a link to the filer:
http://www.worldpetstore.com/worldpets/ca10cafi.html
Nitrite is at 2.0
Nitrate is at 10
They weren't that high last week! I am wondering if I do a water change if that will solve the problem. When I do the water change, do I mix the salt in the water prior to dumping it in there...maybe a dumb question, but I want to make sure.
Thanks for any help!!!

 

[oregonbud]

Welcome to the boards.
Yes you would want to make your saltwater up in a separate container prior to adding it to your tank. Most of us on here mix our saltwater, and aerate it with a powerhead for a few hours prior to adding it to our tanks. This makes sure the salt is completely dissolved, allows us to adjust our salinity so it is correct (if you mix up a batch measure the salinity right away, then measure it again in an hour the reading will be vastly different)
Personally I would not suggest a water change at this point, since it sounds like your tank has not finished the cycle yet. Adding the LR and LS will help finish the cycle out (as long as the person you are getting this stuff from didn't have problems in his tank)
When you do your water change I would STRONGLY recommend using RO/DI for your water changes, as it will help your water chemistry tremendously.

 

[dacia]

I would suggest getting a good protein skimmer as well. Your filter is a good one, I have a smaller version on my 20 gallon FOWLR and it works wonderfully. However, skimmers can take out some crud that even the best carbon filters let slip by. Maybe try to CPR Dual Bak Pak 2? I have the single on my 30 gallon reef with excellent results.

 

[timo]

Get the rock if your pal didn't have problems like hair algae.
Never use tap water (unless you filter it thru a RO/DI purifier). Remember, it's not really the water that cycles, but bacteria in the tank, so taking your friends water could give you his problems.
And do get a quality skimmer, for the 75g that would run you about 100$.
HTH

 

[dburr]

The PH is perfect and so is the salitity.
What is perfect? Whats perfect for you may not be for someone else. Can you post them.