Is this normal?

rotarymagic

rotarymagic

Active Member
Originally Posted by salt nate
http:///forum/post/2782023
so if I have diatoms, does that mean I have phosphates???? Because I am getting a 0 reading?
What kind of test kit are you using??? I'd do a hob or something that serves the same purpose with a carbon unit and phosphate unit in it... maybe a filterpad to catch excess detritus and a backup to rotate each week. This won't replace a refugium though, only supplements it.
 
salt nate

salt nate

Member
I have an api test kit... I thought they were good.
but I am sorry to admit...I have used tap water for my water changes a few times when the lfs wasnt open. do you think thats what it is? I am going to go test my tap water out of the spicket to see how much P it has.
 
sueandherzoo

sueandherzoo

Active Member
Originally Posted by Aztec Reef
http:///forum/post/2780712
That said: why are people so inclined on recomending a fuge/sump to the New hobbiests??
Kudos to that, however most new hobiests can't tell the difference between a fuge/sump/macroalgea...or wheter it is needed..
Seems that there's a lot of confusion amongs hobiests..(No pun intended).
The less equipment the less chances of something going wrong. Keep it simple!
THANK YOU, Aztec! I am a newbie (and by the way, I took no offense to your post nor did I find it abrasive) and I was THRILLED to hear you say that there should be less of a push on newbies to do sumps, fuges, anything that requires drilling a tank, etc. I want to progress slowly and keep upgrading and expanding on this hobby as I learn and I read as many hours a day as I can to take in as much info as I can. But I have to admit, when I start seeing so much talk about the stuff that seems "over my head" it almost makes me want to throw in the towel, give up the hobby, and surrender with "I'm not cut out for this hobby - much too complicated for me". I don't WANT to give it up, I am enjoying it immensely even on the small scale I'm doing now, but when I read and try to comprehend all the things I "should" be doing to set up my next tank in the ultimate way it makes me want to quit.
I"m seriously thinking about buying a Red Sea Max and being content with a 34 gallon along with my current 12-gallon and being done with it. I was planning to make my Christmas present a 75 gallon set up but I may be willing to sacrifice the gallonage for the simplicity of a plug and play unit.
Thanks for remembering that some of us newbies aren't ready or willing to go to the extent that the more seasoned hobbiests are up to yet.
Sue
 
salt nate

salt nate

Member
yeah, let me make all the mistakes first! O-well even my mistakes have been a cool learning experience that I can help someone else avoid!
Its life, I have always learned the hard way....just my personality
 
thrilljunky

thrilljunky

Member
Thanks Sue for saying what was on my mind too. I have been getting worried that I don't have the perfect tank set up sometimes and keep forgetting that I have not had a death at all since I started and my water is healthy and my fish and coral seem happy (except maybe the ever-moving anemone haha).
Which is not to say that I don't LOVE every bit of advice I am getting. This is the best site EVER. I made the mistake of checking out a local fish forum hoping I would get more awesome information and found there are are TON of people in my area that don't know much, but love to bad mouth others. Everyone here is so helpful!
 
maryg

maryg

Member
Originally Posted by SueAndHerZoo
http:///forum/post/2783429
LOL That's one way to look at it. I think I'll just watch and learn from you for a while and THEN I'll decide.

Hey Sue,
I am a newbie also. I started with a 12 gallon, then a 29 gallon, and then a 55 gallon. The 55 has a sump. My water quality is always perfect and it is more easier to maintain then my small aquariums. It has never had nitrates. I fight nitrates with my smaller tanks all the time. Water changes every week. I do a small change in the 55 maybe every 3-4 weeks.
I would definitely upgrade and not get anything smaller than a 55. Then you have more options with fish. Also check your local craigslist. That's where I got mine. Got a cool deal.
 
rotarymagic

rotarymagic

Active Member
Originally Posted by salt nate
http:///forum/post/2783015
I have an api test kit... I thought they were good.
but I am sorry to admit...I have used tap water for my water changes a few times when the lfs wasnt open. do you think thats what it is? I am going to go test my tap water out of the spicket to see how much P it has.

API isn't a lowrange test kit, I threw mine in the trash because of it.
 
thrilljunky

thrilljunky

Member
We have a 75 with about 60 lbs of lr and 50 lbs of ls.
lights - coralife T5 and a coralife compact
two large canisters filters
a skimmer
3 powerheads
a heater (but I don't think we really need it)
We are a little lacking in overall watts. We are looking for something to suppliment that but just not sure what we want yet. We are still researching. We have a pigmy angel and a maroon clown. We have a green bubble anemone. We also have a TON of hitchhikers including some mushrooms, zoos, and a pretty cool rock covered in star polyps. Going slow with adding stuff.
 
rotarymagic

rotarymagic

Active Member
I think you should address the potential problems with your tank..
the cannister filters are nitrate traps.
the coralife t5 unit lacks individual reflectors and is only a 2bulb model not sufficient for that anenome to really have color or do well.
Thats probably not enough liverock for that tank, but since you only have 2 fish it might be working for you.
You need that heater for night time swings.
Either get a better 4bulb T5HO fixture with individual reflectors to replace what you currently have or buy my fixture.
I've got a coralife 48inch 2x250w MH, 2x96w PC ACT, 3x1w blue LED lunar light setup with 3 fans, two ballasts for $650+shipping. They're $1100 new and this fixture only has 6months use. You'll need a chiller though, but you can keep ANY coral under it.
 
socal57che

socal57che

Active Member
Originally Posted by Rotarymagic
http:///forum/post/2783891
and nobody else's lol...
Not the filter's fault. Poor husbandry. Same person uses tap water, overfeeds and does not acclimate livestock. They would have issues no matter what.
Canister's get a bad reputation because they are neglected by the aquarist, not because they are inherently "bad."
 
rotarymagic

rotarymagic

Active Member
so true, but you're forgetting one thing... their kids also sprinkle table salt into the tank on a daily basis.
 
thrilljunky

thrilljunky

Member
Wow that light is a deal. But I hate to get rid of what I have because I know I won't get anything out of em! I know I need something more though cause at some point I want to buy more coral!
We clean our filters weekly right now which does the trick. Like you said not much there.
About the LR..... I was afraid to buy more because I didn't want the tank to get too full of rock since some of the coral we buy will no doubt come on rocks. I was afraid of not having enough room for fish to swim around when we get more. How much more would you recommend? I am all about new rock. We have a store that ALWAYS has the most awesome hitchhikers. haha
 
rotarymagic

rotarymagic

Active Member
Originally Posted by thrilljunky
http:///forum/post/2783915
Wow that light is a deal. But I hate to get rid of what I have because I know I won't get anything out of em! I know I need something more though cause at some point I want to buy more coral!
We clean our filters weekly right now which does the trick. Like you said not much there.
About the LR..... I was afraid to buy more because I didn't want the tank to get too full of rock since some of the coral we buy will no doubt come on rocks. I was afraid of not having enough room for fish to swim around when we get more. How much more would you recommend? I am all about new rock. We have a store that ALWAYS has the most awesome hitchhikers. haha
running a million cheap fixtures will eventually get you in the end with electricity bills and a lackluster appearance within the tank. You get what you pay for I'm afraid to say.
 
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