my 55g & I are newbies
- Thread starter tarball
- Start date
tarball
Member
Just for the record, the reef master test kit. Does not test for ammonia or nitrites. I had to order test bottles separate.
Its all good
Test results from kit
Calcium : 440
Alkalinity: 180
Phosphates: 0.25
Nitrates: 20
Salt: 1.025
Looks like the tank is heading towards the end of its cycle!
Looks like I may be able to add a fish or 2 in a week or so.
Its all good
Test results from kit
Calcium : 440
Alkalinity: 180
Phosphates: 0.25
Nitrates: 20
Salt: 1.025
Looks like the tank is heading towards the end of its cycle!
Looks like I may be able to add a fish or 2 in a week or so.
tarball
Member
Thanks for your comment mcbdz, I always have fun when I'm learning
Question Please
Is ph a acronym for phosphates, last week I took a sample of my tank water to my LFS. One of the tests they did was a ph test: 8.4
In my new test kit, it tests phosphates, my reading 0.25 so obviously they are 2 different tests of water conditions.
If so, I need to order a ph test kit also. CORRECT?
Ph stands for ?? =
Question Please
Is ph a acronym for phosphates, last week I took a sample of my tank water to my LFS. One of the tests they did was a ph test: 8.4
In my new test kit, it tests phosphates, my reading 0.25 so obviously they are 2 different tests of water conditions.
If so, I need to order a ph test kit also. CORRECT?
Ph stands for ?? =
tarball
Member
pH.
The suggested reef tank range is 8.3 to 8.4. The pH should hold its own unless alkalinity is low. If alkalinity is OK but pH is low there is probably a buildup of organic acids or a serious lack of gas exchange resulting in the retention/accumulation of CO2 which lowers pH.
Note that it is perfectly normal for the pH of a tank to swing considerably. There is a daily pH cycle where the pH is lowest just after the end of the dark period and highest sometime before the end of the light period. Having a pH range from 7.9 to 8.4 is not unheard of. Larger swings are probably indicative of low buffer levels or poor gas exchange.
Phosphates.
Phosphates, along with nitrates, are a primary nutrient of algae. Tanks with "high" levels of phosphates tend to be infested with hair algae. All authors cite zero ppm PO4 as a good goal. An upper level 0.1 ppm is max
The use of kalkwasser has been closely tied with reduction in phosphate levels. This may be due to precipitation of the phosphates at the kalkwasser injection site, or, more likely, due to increased export via skimming due to the associated higher system pH.
High concentrations of phosphates are found in tap water, which can eventually cause an outbreak of algae
Info from about.com
The suggested reef tank range is 8.3 to 8.4. The pH should hold its own unless alkalinity is low. If alkalinity is OK but pH is low there is probably a buildup of organic acids or a serious lack of gas exchange resulting in the retention/accumulation of CO2 which lowers pH.
Note that it is perfectly normal for the pH of a tank to swing considerably. There is a daily pH cycle where the pH is lowest just after the end of the dark period and highest sometime before the end of the light period. Having a pH range from 7.9 to 8.4 is not unheard of. Larger swings are probably indicative of low buffer levels or poor gas exchange.
Phosphates.
Phosphates, along with nitrates, are a primary nutrient of algae. Tanks with "high" levels of phosphates tend to be infested with hair algae. All authors cite zero ppm PO4 as a good goal. An upper level 0.1 ppm is max
The use of kalkwasser has been closely tied with reduction in phosphate levels. This may be due to precipitation of the phosphates at the kalkwasser injection site, or, more likely, due to increased export via skimming due to the associated higher system pH.
High concentrations of phosphates are found in tap water, which can eventually cause an outbreak of algae
Info from about.com
oceansidefish
Active Member
Depending on what kind of fish you want to add, you may want to try an arrange your rock so you have reef shelfs. Also some fish will dig into you CC, so make sure to bury your base rocks in the CC. Otherwise you might find yourself with a crushed fish.
tarball
Member
Originally Posted by Oceansidefish
Depending on what kind of fish you want to add, you may want to try an arrange your rock so you have reef shelfs. Also some fish will dig into you CC, so make sure to bury your base rocks in the CC. Otherwise you might find yourself with a crushed fish.
Thanks for the advice Oceansidefish, It will be a couple more weeks before I add fish to the tank, most likely 3 weeks.
I'm busy, busy, busy with work...
I've also just about convinced myself to pull the CC out of the tank & add sand instead.
I can see me kicking myself a year from now because of the nitrate problem I would be having because of CC.
If i don't pull it....
Depending on what kind of fish you want to add, you may want to try an arrange your rock so you have reef shelfs. Also some fish will dig into you CC, so make sure to bury your base rocks in the CC. Otherwise you might find yourself with a crushed fish.
Thanks for the advice Oceansidefish, It will be a couple more weeks before I add fish to the tank, most likely 3 weeks.
I'm busy, busy, busy with work...
I've also just about convinced myself to pull the CC out of the tank & add sand instead.
I can see me kicking myself a year from now because of the nitrate problem I would be having because of CC.
tarball
Member
Originally Posted by peckhead
there are a couple mod that you can do to your g2 that will increase performance search google
I ordered my ASM-G2 today
So I guess I will be taking your advice peckhead & checking into performance info on the net.
Thanks for the help peckhead..
I also ordered a marineland C-360 canister filter..
Looks like this coming weekend I'll be building the sump..
there are a couple mod that you can do to your g2 that will increase performance search google
I ordered my ASM-G2 today
So I guess I will be taking your advice peckhead & checking into performance info on the net.
Thanks for the help peckhead..
I also ordered a marineland C-360 canister filter..
Looks like this coming weekend I'll be building the sump..