I'm new, tank test level questions

M

mustang_gt_350

Member
Hello everyone. i have been wanting to give the salt tank a try for the last 20 years and finally figured i would give it a shot. I had a 10g already so thats what I'm going with. I set it up yesterday. Added 20lbs of carib sea live sand, and 3 medium live rocks from a big box pet store. I got the live rock from box store because the local shop was almost 3x as much in price than the box store, and i was within an hour from the box store anyway yesterday so i just went there, along with i wanted to check out what all fish they had too.

Anyway. I mixed the salt using the instant ocean brand, and RO water. It was at 1.024. I added the sand and rock, and the small crab that hitched a ride on one of the rocks. It was super cloudy, but in the morning it looked like this.




So after checking on the crab this morning and my temp. I figured i would test the water. Here are the results, Just looking for some pointers, suggestions on what next, and if the readings are normal for being up for less than 24hrs.


Temp is
SG is now 1.0225 (dropped from last night without me diluting the water)
PH 8.2
Ammonia .50-ish maybe just a tad higher, color matching is hard lol
No2 0
No3 0 It may be a little higher but it deff wasn't enough to make the 5.0 color


Recap, 20lbs of live sand, and 3 medium live rocks from box store.
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Ur good. If the crab lives add a smidge of food. Its like ghost feeding. Once ammonia is zero. U should be ok
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
mustang_gt_350 said:
Temp is
SG is now 1.0225 (dropped from last night without me diluting the water)
Click to expand...
This is fine, I just wanted to explain what happened.

A hydrometer measures water density (Specific Gravity, S.G.) not Salinity. To obtain the actual Salinity with a hydrometer you need the water temperature and a Salinity chart.

The Salinity of your water didn't change overnight, the S.G. did as the water warmed up.
 
M

mustang_gt_350

Member
The crab is crawling around on the rocks. I'm hoping it makes it. How long until i add food for the crab, when ammonia hits zero? Also what food should it be? And should i turn off my bubbler, and pump when i do it?

Thanks for the explanation. I figured it had something to do with the temp, as it did come up about 3-4 degrees since last night. its at 76.8 now.

Should i let the SG alone, or try to bring it up slightly?

thanks for the reply's.
 
jay0705

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Refractometer will help greatly. Temp doesn't effect them. The crab, I tiny bit of sw fish food. Frozen, flake, what ev. Get a pic of it . If u can
 
M

mustang_gt_350

Member
Ok thanks. I'll try to get a pic when he moves again. Its in the valley of one of the LR's and its hard to see. Its very small. Soo small i can't even see what color the legs are sticking out of the shell.

I may just buy a refractometer and get it over with. If this setup works out i plan to set up a 40g in the same place this is and maybe use the 10g for a sump


Also i have a 5gallon plastic odd shaped one my mom had. Do you think i should set it up and use it for a quarantine tank? And do you have any good links to setting one up?
 
lmforbis

lmforbis

Well-Known Member
Quarantine is a must. I have mine set up with no sand or rocks. A couple pieces of PVC Pipe and a plastic castle. I have a crappy LED light fixture on it more so I can observe the fish than for the fish. You want it easy to clean. I have a hang on the back filter and a small power head sponge filter. I also have a small skimmer but it isn't necessary. I cycled mine like a regular tank and have it up and going all the time. Nothing that goes into the quarantine ever goes into the display tank with out decontamination including my hands. The filter, decor, etc in mine will never be used for a regular tank because I have used copper in it.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
I like using macro algae (usually protected in some kind of refugium) to balance out and stabilize the tank.

my .02
 
M

mustang_gt_350

Member
jay0705 said:
Looks like a hermit
Click to expand...
So should drop a little bit of food onto the live rock he has been hanging out on? He has been on the same rock since the water cleared up and i could see him. I found him on the paper towel the live rock was wrapped in and i put him ontop of the sand. So he must like the rock because he hasn't moved from it in last 24hrs so far
 
M

mustang_gt_350

Member
jay0705 said:
Has it moved at all? Lol
Click to expand...
lol yeah. its about 4 inches away from where it was in the picture last night. But its been on the same rock the whole time. It doesn't seam to be moving around alot like the ones i have seen in the stores. It looks like it has light colored tips on its legs. I hope it makes it.
 
M

mustang_gt_350

Member
Ok i'll have to make a trip for some food today, i'll need it sometime anyway, hopefully lol

Tested my water I skipped the PH test

Ammonia .50 ppm looks actually a little lighter than the 5ppm mark, may actually be a little less than yesterday
Nitrite .25 ppm Up from yesterday
Nitrate 5 ppm Between the 5-10 shades, looks to be almost in the middle of them. Up from yesterday also.
 
M

mustang_gt_350

Member
So i'm looking for the ammonia and nitrites to hit zero? What is the normal level of Nitrates and what level do most use as a water change limit?
 
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