chemical level check

[leopard_babe]

i just started my tank. It has been filtering for about 3 days. i have a 46 bowfront with live rock and live sand. This is going to be a FOWLR tank. I read the levels of my water this morning and I was wondering how I am doing.
PH 8.2
ALK Normal
Ammonia between 0-.25
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0
Salt 1.022
Temp 78 F
Are these good for a new tank. Also I want to add more water to my tank. Do i add it directly to the tank, or should i add it to the return arrea in the sump. Another quick question is, if i wanted to add more salt to my tank how would i do that. Dump it in the water, or make more salt water, or add it to the water in the sump area? Thanks everyone you have made this hobby very easy, fun, and knowledgable for me!
Sarah

 

[bbuck_camelback]

Yes that is normal readings for a tank only 3 days old, it might be a week before you notice a increase in nitrite and nitrates. I mix my salt in a plastic garbage can, mixing salt directly into the tank will cause your tank parameters to go nutty, and might send something in the tank into a state of shock. Mix the salt with the freshwater in the garbage can and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Test the salinity and PH and wait until you have ideal water then add the water good luck.

 

[leopard_babe]

Thank you very much that was what I needed to know.

 

[calvindo]

leopard, looks like we're in the same boat... actually, im still waiting for my tank to arrive. but all this information is helpful when the tank arrives.
i guess, since its a brand new tank... i can do my mixture direct from the tank?

 

[leopard_babe]

well i guess you could however...
I used two 5 gallon buckets and put 2 1/2 cups of salt in each bucket and added the water. making sure to stir it up so that the salt is dissolved. Then I added it slowly to the tank. By pouring the water with a pitcher over a plate. This kept the sand from turing into a huge strom cloud. I would recommend mixing it somewhere else first, and then adding it to the tank. What are you putting in your tank?

 

[birdy]

I do have one question, Did you order your rock online or buy it fully cured from the LFS, same with the LS?
If it is all from the LFS you may not have enough die off to really get your cycle going. You may want to consider adding a couple grocery store shrimp.
If you did get your LR and LS shipped to you, from an online source then you will probably have plenty of die off and won't need the shrimp.

 

[nas19320]

I usually mix my water in a 32 gallon container with a heater and powerhead for at least 24 hours after I have gotten the correct salinity. This allows for the salt to completey dissolve and the temp and ph to stabilize. If undissolved salt gets into the aquarium it can cause problems for its inhabitants.

 

[calvindo]

leopard,
it's going to be a brand new reef setup. nothing in the tank yet, so i figure i can just dump the salt and water in the tank and mix it up with a spaghetti spoon... hehehehe jk, probably stir it up with my hands and the power head and filtration will do the rest.

 

[leopard_babe]

I did get the ls and lr from the fish store. However when I bought everything the owner gave me some bacteria to add to my tank. I added that this morning. Will that give me die off? Or should i do the shrimp thing?

 

[birdy]

I have never used the bottled bacteria, I have never heard very good things about it, the cycle is not started by bacteria it is started by a source of ammonia or something decaying in the tank. I would put a couple shrimp in there otherwise when you add fish you may go through another cycle because the tank never really cycled in the first place.

 

[dreeves]

Is your tank full of water? If not..fill it up...keep your lighting on short intervals...keep the water circulated, heated and filtered...
As for your levels...each and every tank will be different at each and every stage...amonia on the rise is a good thing for the cycle...
You should toss a shrimp or 2 in just to be sure and get the cycle started with a bang...
What are you using to check your salinity with? Also...you should pre-mix your saltwater prior to adding it to the tank...letting it set for a period of time enables a gas exhange to take place thus further stabilizing the mix...as mentioned a 32 gallon trash can (new) is ideal for this...Keep the water circulated and heated.
Adjusting your salinity within the tank itself is difficult and should be avoided. For now though...if it isn't proper just either add high salinity water or lower to compensate for whichever direction you need to go.

 

[leopard_babe]

Yes my tank is full of water. i started running the filter about 5 days ago. I checked all of my levels. i am using a thermometer/hydrometer to check my water. It just floats in the water at the amount of salt. So then I should do the shrimp thing. Do i just leave them in there? Do i clean any of the remains up? How will I know when the cycle is complete?

 

[moopiespoo]

Leopard, I have used that bacteria cycle bottled stuff and IMO it didn't speed anything up I still had low levels of amm an no No2 for two weeks. Just throw a couple shrimp in, they work wonders.

 

[leopard_babe]

i will try that. i have a 46 gallon tank so 1 or 2 shrimp? I leave them until they decay or what? Do I clean there remains up or won't there be any?

 

[daniel411]

Did you get the bacteria bottle from "Day One"? They usually try and pawn it off. I tried it once, didn't notice any real difference. Pretty much only lfs around that carries it.....

 

[leopard_babe]

Funny you say that. Everyone tells me not to go there. So I didn't. I got it from a newer store called tanks alot. Would you buy your fish from Day one?

 

[moopiespoo]

I would go with two shrimp. I forgot about mine and when I checked the parameters it was cycled=about 2 weeks 30g tank. The shrimp will develop like a white blanket over it, it is decaying. When I saw my tank had cycled I took the shrimp out.

 

[leopard_babe]

Thank you. I will do the shrimp thing. Should I take readings on my tank everyday to see if it has cycled? What should my ph, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia levels be?

 

[birdy]

When the cycle is starting every three days is plenty, you will see a rise in Ammonia first, then a rise in Nitrite then a rise in Nitrate, Ammonia will be the first to go to 0 then nitrite will go to 0, and Nitrate will be under 40 (hopefully closer to 20). When these levels are stable for at least a week then you want to do a 25% water change this should bring your alk and pH back into the correct range and replenish trace elements. Do not worry about your pH and alk levels during the cycle. You will also go through several different types of algae blooms, keep the lights on for a short amount of time each day will help keep the algae from growing out of control.
Good Luck, Carla

 

[daniel411]

Originally posted by Leopard_babe
Funny you say that. Everyone tells me not to go there. So I didn't. I got it from a newer store called tanks alot. Would you buy your fish from Day one?
I don't want to put them down. They have unrealisticly cheap prices. But they also usually have some unhealthy fish. Also some shoddy advice, the few times I've been there.
If you don't mind me asking, where is that new lfs you're talking about? I lived in wyandotte up till about 9 months ago. Have you been to tropicorium yet?