Help with parameters

[fish1031]

:help: My local fish store is not the greatest... there was a kid working there but I finally got my water tested today... It sat in the car all day in a glad container is this okay?
They are:
nitrate- 30
nitrite- 0
he said hardness is way up whatever that means...?
Alkalinity 100
ph 7.6-8.0
He said to add buff which is a alkalinity booster and continue it weekly... should I?
Do i need to do anything else to fix anything. fish like fine. just don't want anything bad to happen. I am new at this.

 

[poniegirl]

You really ought to invest in your own test kit. They are very simple, but very necessary.
We need to know if your tank is cycling. How long has the system been running?

 

[fish1031]

I know what kit do you recommend. Yes it has been cycling for about two months.

 

[poniegirl]

It's a bigger picture than just alkaline.
Your alkaline and your PH run hand in hand. IMO, you should deal with the source of the problem. Additives are not a good idea for a beginner. I often think, not needed.
Are your fish having trouble? Breathing hard? Lethargic? Do they feed?
Your water sitting idle (no pun intended) could have affected the results. You need to test your water fresh from the tank.
Truly, get your own test kit. They are VERY user friendly and a must. Read the instructions for each test before you begin, and you will be fine. It's a 10 or 15 minute investment that you won't regret.

 

[poniegirl]

I use Saltwater Master.
Sorry, more questions.
Do you have sand? Live rock? What filtration?

 

[fish1031]

Yes to sand. no live rock. Fish act great. They eat and swim. Do not breathe hard. I have two regular large biowheel filters.
What do you mean by additives?
Is Saltwater Master a test kit? Is it easy to use and read? Where did you get it?

 

[poniegirl]

Yes to sand. It sounds like the tank may have reached the end of its cycle. Ideally, at this point, you would test the following basic readings:PH - Good range 8.1 to 8.3
Ammonia - should be 0
Nitrite - should be 0
Nitrate - 0 is rare, 20 is doing okay
Specific Gravity (SG) = bteween 1.023 and 1.026 is safe generally speaking

Fish act great. They eat and swim. Do not breathe hard.

What kind of fish?

I have two regular large biowheel filters.

You should change 10% of your tank water (about 11 gallons) soon. Mix the replacement water well and be sure it is declorinated.
Reserve a bucket of fresh saltwater to "swish and clean" your biowheels. DO NOT put that bucket in your tank after you clean the wheels in it. Discard.

What do you mean by additives?

Additives are processed chemicals that you purchase to solve a natural chemical problem. If the problem is natural, you can probably solve it with nature (clean water, good water flow and a filter system that is working at it's best.

no live rock. Buy 5 or 10 pounds at a time of cured live rock. This will help your water filter itself, really. A 55 gallon tank can look nice with 70 pounds or so, and be healthy.
Only add 10 pounds every few weeks, since you have fish in there already.
Originally Posted by fish1031
Is Saltwater Master a test kit? Is it easy to use and read? Where did you get it?
Yes Saltwater Master is a kit. Yes easy. And probably most fish stores that stock marine supplies.

 

[fish1031]

Thanks A Lot
I Have For Fish:
Foxface
Atlantic Blie Tang
Percula Clown
2 Green Chromies
Royal Gramma
Toby Puffer
Flame Angel
They Are All Under 3in

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by fish1031
Thanks A Lot
I Have For Fish:
Foxface
Atlantic Blie Tang
Percula Clown
2 Green Chromies
Royal Gramma
Toby Puffer
Flame Angel
They Are All Under 3in
How big is this tank?

 

[fish1031]

55

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by fish1031
55
Thats 9 fish in a 55, that is alot and your tank is newly cycled? You need your own test kit and should be testing every to every other day untill your water parameters are stable. Broken down wastes add acid to the water wich lowers the ph. I am wondering what your ammonia is at this point. Get a test kit ASAP and then post your correct readings. No live rock? what kind of filtration are you running? I can't see your system handling that bioload too well as it is now.

 

[fish1031]

i will but it was cycling for over a year and then i moved and its been two months

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by fish1031
i will but it was cycling for over a year and then i moved and its been two months
All of these fish were added within two months? That is very fast and some of the fish you have in there are messy. Can you take some back to the lfs? That is a seriously big bioload.

 

[fish1031]

no i had 5 when i moved. i got 4 from swf.com
is this a good test kit?
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Saltwater Liquid Master Test Kit
Tests saltwater aquariums for 4 important water conditions: high range pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by fish1031
no i had 5 when i moved. i got 4 from swf.com
is this a good test kit?
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Saltwater Liquid Master Test Kit
Tests saltwater aquariums for 4 important water conditions: high range pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
Yep, thats the one I have

 

[fish1031]

cool i will check some lfs tomorrow. if not i will order it.
thanks for all the help
if i get it i will post parameters tomorrow.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by fish1031
cool i will check some lfs tomorrow. if not i will order it.
thanks for all the help
if i get it i will post parameters tomorrow.
Anytime!

Lfs should have it. I wouldn't wait for delivery, you need the kit now. And yes, please post your readings so we can get to the bottom of the low ph issue. Have a great night!

 

[poniegirl]

Originally Posted by fish1031
Thanks A Lot
I Have For Fish:
Foxface
Atlantic Blie Tang
Percula Clown
2 Green Chromies
Royal Gramma
Toby Puffer
Flame Angel
They Are All Under 3in
That is a lot of fish for a 55. And remember, 3" now but they will grow. The tang is not a good fish for a 55. I would be concerned about the puffer, also. I understand they can be nippy.
Cool fish are so hard to resist! I keep my limit at 7 fish in my 55, no tangs.