Day 18: API Test #8 (Tank setup is FINALLY complete: See Photos)

[dutchswan]

Day 18 Notes: Today was a milestone. I purchased a better light for the tank, purchased the last two pieces of LR, and finished aquascaping. 6 of the 19 pieces of live rock are uncured (I am sure I will get chewed out for this). I used 16oz of epoxy to ensure my structure will not crumble. Some of it is white and some is gray...I hope it eventually "cures" as well and will be less conspicuous. Today's water test may be less than reliable as it was done merely 5 hours after adding live rock with epoxy, 3-4 hours after a 20% (9 Gallons) water change, and there was no natural light for the photos of the test results.
Ammonia spiked to 0.50, Nitrate to 1.0, and Nitrate to 80. pH seems to hold steady at 8.4 no matter what I do to the tank. There is now a quite noticeable amount of greenish brown algae all over the inside tank glass. I look forward to tomorrow's test, as it will be a lot more accurate depiction of the tank's condition. I brought the heater back to the LPS. With MH lighting, I need to figure out how to get the temp from 83.3 to under 80. Well, the tank is finished...now all I have to do is wait and test, wait and test, wait and test. From here I will do a 10% (5 Gallons) water change every Saturday.
P.S. I will wait until there is a consensus on the forum before adding additional animal(s).
Tank: 47 Gallon Column = 20"(L), 18"(W), 30"(H)
Filtration Used: Emperor 400
Live Sand: Nature's Ocean Bio-Activ Live Aragonite Reef Sand (40 Lbs) 2" - 3" Deep
Live Rock: 19 Melon size cultured Fiji Live Rock (more to be added)
Lighting: 150W 14,000K Metal Halide Clip-On (Coralife Aqualight)
Water Movement Pump: 750gph
Heater: None
Thermometer: Digital
Age of Tank: 18 Days
Water Temperature: 83.2 Degrees F
Inhabitants: 6 Red Leg Hermit Crabs, 4 Astrea Snails, & 1 Ocellaris Clown

 

[geoj]

Ok now look at the wave shape that your test data shows when you plot it on a chart. Look at how the waste number drops after a water change and how it raises after you add more live rock that is not completely cured… cool right
Now a mature tank like the others have said would have been able to handle a little waste bump like a small piece of live rock. This is how you will know the tank has matured. If you add a small bio-load and the waste numbers don’t move up. The bio-filter will grow as more load is put on it until it can’t grow any more…

 

[luvmyreef]

I think with those results, I would be doing another 20% water change, or more. Looks like you are having die off from the new rock you added. How is your livestock?

 

[dutchswan]

Originally Posted by luvmyreef
http:///forum/post/3286063
I think with those results, I would be doing another 20% water change, or more. Looks like you are having die off from the new rock you added. How is your livestock?
Crabs and Snails are acting normal. Nemo has kind of picked a spot in the corner to tough it out. When I feed him, he goes right for it, eating up everything in there (about 1/3 of a shrimp cube). I don't know how reliable yesterday's test was, having introduced more live rock, the water change just a few hours before, etc. Today's water test will be more telling and will adjust from there.

 

[geoj]

Originally Posted by luvmyreef
http:///forum/post/3286063
I think with those results, I would be doing another 20% water change, or more. Looks like you are having die off from the new rock you added. How is your livestock?
+1
The test was in keeping with the trend your bio-filter was going in and the changes you made. The tests look, as they should for this age of set-up. So trust your skill at using the kit because I believe the numbers you are getting are correct. Experience will allow you to make better judgment as to why the tests are where they are…