lion_crazz
Active Member
kH is carbonate hardness, and is a measure of how stable your pH is.
Help!!!
- Thread starter clown boy
- Start date
lion_crazz
Active Member
Sounds good. Let me know of the results.
lion_crazz
Active Member
Well, your water quality is definitely a very big issue. None of the levels are really good. How long has this tank been running?Also, what is your temperature?Ideal water parameters
pH: 8.0-8.4
alkalinity: 2.86 - 4.29 or dkH: 8-12 or alkalinity (ppm): 142 ppm - 214 ppm
ammonia: must be 0 ppm
nitrite: must be 0 ppm
nitrate: as close to 0 as possible, at least under 10 is where you want it for reef, at least under 20 is where you want it for FOWLR
temperature: 76-82 (stability is key here)
specific gravity: 1.025-1.026
calcium: 400-460 ppm
magnesium: 1290-1350 ppm
pH: 8.0-8.4
alkalinity: 2.86 - 4.29 or dkH: 8-12 or alkalinity (ppm): 142 ppm - 214 ppm
ammonia: must be 0 ppm
nitrite: must be 0 ppm
nitrate: as close to 0 as possible, at least under 10 is where you want it for reef, at least under 20 is where you want it for FOWLR
temperature: 76-82 (stability is key here)
specific gravity: 1.025-1.026
calcium: 400-460 ppm
magnesium: 1290-1350 ppm
lion_crazz
Active Member
Can you describe how you have the tank set-up and what is in the tank?
clown boy
Active Member
Well, I don't think my Blue Hippo Tang has ich, but I definitely want to get this issue with my levels resolved.
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
Can you describe how you have the tank set-up and what is in the tank?
Well, there is a wet/dry filtration system, and two Iwaki Walchen pumps. I have a Sealife Systems Protien Skimmer. There is plenty of rock and a 3-inch deep sand bed.
One more question: My LFS guy said that I don't need a powerhead for my 55 Gallon QT..... Is this true?
A lot of coraline has grown since I took these:
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=229433
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
Can you describe how you have the tank set-up and what is in the tank?
Well, there is a wet/dry filtration system, and two Iwaki Walchen pumps. I have a Sealife Systems Protien Skimmer. There is plenty of rock and a 3-inch deep sand bed.
One more question: My LFS guy said that I don't need a powerhead for my 55 Gallon QT..... Is this true?
A lot of coraline has grown since I took these:
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=229433
lion_crazz
Active Member
What kind of maintenance do you do to this tank?
How often are water changes done? How do you do water changes?
What is the livestock list in the tank?
How often do you feed the tank and what do you feed?
How often are water changes done? How do you do water changes?
What is the livestock list in the tank?
How often do you feed the tank and what do you feed?
clown boy
Active Member
Wow, those are some loaded questions, but I will answer them best I can. You asked for it!
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
What kind of maintenance do you do to this tank?
Empty my protien skimmer cup, do top-offs (Sometimes when my Specific Gravity starts to lower, I add a little salt in the top-offs.), every now and then I clean with my magnet cleaner.
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
How often are water changes done?
Once a month.
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
How do you do water changes?
I do a 10% water change:
1. Get my 30 gallon trash can and fill with 10% of my tank water.
2. Dump it outside where I don't want any plants to grow.
3. Go get about 15 gallons of Reverse Osimosis water.
4. Add salt by the cupfuls, testing now and then.
5. Put a powerhead inside the container to help dissolve and circulate the salt.
6. Make sure the Specific Gravity is at the desired level.
7. Pump the water back into the aquarium.
8. Clean up.
More info to come.....
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
What kind of maintenance do you do to this tank?
Empty my protien skimmer cup, do top-offs (Sometimes when my Specific Gravity starts to lower, I add a little salt in the top-offs.), every now and then I clean with my magnet cleaner.
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
How often are water changes done?
Once a month.
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
How do you do water changes?
I do a 10% water change:
1. Get my 30 gallon trash can and fill with 10% of my tank water.
2. Dump it outside where I don't want any plants to grow.
3. Go get about 15 gallons of Reverse Osimosis water.
4. Add salt by the cupfuls, testing now and then.
5. Put a powerhead inside the container to help dissolve and circulate the salt.
6. Make sure the Specific Gravity is at the desired level.
7. Pump the water back into the aquarium.
8. Clean up.
More info to come.....
lion_crazz
Active Member
These are probably where your issues are. If I can make some suggestions, they would be:
1. Do more freuqent water changes. I would start doing water changes every two weeks, and you will probably see much better results with your water levels. Once your tank is a lot more established, you may be able to cut back to monthly water changes.
2. Why is your specific gravity dropping? This should never happen. If anything, it goes up (and that only happens when the water evaporates.
3. I would do water changes a lot more carefully. Your way of doing water changes probably stresses the fish a lot because the water you are adding back in has a very high chance of being so different. Fish do not tolerate quick changes in salinity, temperature, or pH very well.
1. Do more freuqent water changes. I would start doing water changes every two weeks, and you will probably see much better results with your water levels. Once your tank is a lot more established, you may be able to cut back to monthly water changes.
2. Why is your specific gravity dropping? This should never happen. If anything, it goes up (and that only happens when the water evaporates.
3. I would do water changes a lot more carefully. Your way of doing water changes probably stresses the fish a lot because the water you are adding back in has a very high chance of being so different. Fish do not tolerate quick changes in salinity, temperature, or pH very well.
clown boy
Active Member
Fish:
1 Purple Tang
1 Blue Hippo Tang
1 Foxface
1 Possum Wrasse
1 Orange Hogfish
2 Maroon Clownfish
1 Royal Gramma
1 Diamond Gobie (That I haven't seen for two weeks)
Invertabrates:
1 Tiger Pistol Shrimp
1 Blue Urchin
5 Peppermint Shrimp
1 Medium Feather Duster
A TON of small white Feather Duster worm things
Aiptasia!!!
Corals:
3 Cabbage Leathers
About 5 Frogspawn pieces
Blue Mushrooms
Purple Mushrooms
Pink Mushrooms
Hairy Mushrooms
2 Different kinds of Zoos
One other coral that I'm not too sure about....
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/PICT0208.jpg
More info to come......
1 Purple Tang
1 Blue Hippo Tang
1 Foxface
1 Possum Wrasse
1 Orange Hogfish
2 Maroon Clownfish
1 Royal Gramma
1 Diamond Gobie (That I haven't seen for two weeks)
Invertabrates:
1 Tiger Pistol Shrimp
1 Blue Urchin
5 Peppermint Shrimp
1 Medium Feather Duster
A TON of small white Feather Duster worm things
Aiptasia!!!
Corals:
3 Cabbage Leathers
About 5 Frogspawn pieces
Blue Mushrooms
Purple Mushrooms
Pink Mushrooms
Hairy Mushrooms
2 Different kinds of Zoos
One other coral that I'm not too sure about....
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...s/PICT0208.jpg
More info to come......
clown boy
Active Member
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
How often do you feed the tank and what do you feed?
I feed Ocean Nutrition's Formula One and Formula Two. I also feed frozen brine shrimp. I usually feed one of each in the morning and a cube of brine shrimp in the afternoon and another in the evening.
How often do you feed the tank and what do you feed?
I feed Ocean Nutrition's Formula One and Formula Two. I also feed frozen brine shrimp. I usually feed one of each in the morning and a cube of brine shrimp in the afternoon and another in the evening.
lion_crazz
Active Member
Originally Posted by Clown Boy
I feed Ocean Nutrition's Formula One and Formula Two. I also feed frozen brine shrimp. I usually feed one of each in the morning and a cube of brine shrimp in the afternoon and another in the evening.
That is probably another problem also. With the way you clean and maintain your tank, I would be feeding no more than once per day.
I feed Ocean Nutrition's Formula One and Formula Two. I also feed frozen brine shrimp. I usually feed one of each in the morning and a cube of brine shrimp in the afternoon and another in the evening.
That is probably another problem also. With the way you clean and maintain your tank, I would be feeding no more than once per day.
clown boy
Active Member
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
1. Do more freuqent water changes. I would start doing water changes every two weeks, and you will probably see much better results with your water levels. Once your tank is a lot more established, you may be able to cut back to monthly water changes.
Okay.
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
2. Why is your specific gravity dropping? This should never happen. If anything, it goes up (and that only happens when the water evaporates.
I have no idea....
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
3. I would do water changes a lot more carefully.
How?
1. Do more freuqent water changes. I would start doing water changes every two weeks, and you will probably see much better results with your water levels. Once your tank is a lot more established, you may be able to cut back to monthly water changes.
Okay.
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
2. Why is your specific gravity dropping? This should never happen. If anything, it goes up (and that only happens when the water evaporates.
I have no idea....
Originally Posted by lion_crazz
3. I would do water changes a lot more carefully.
How?