bbailey231
Member
Originally Posted by juice_1080
I have a Hydrometer to test my salinity. Are you talking about the liquid test kits?
Yea it pumps about 350 an hour then I have a Nano skimmer which doubles as a pump and filter(I know it prolly doesnt do much though)
I was planning on getting a powerhead this weekend. I just ordered an RO/DI unit so I will start using that once it shows up. I just changed water yesterday though so it should be here right around the same time that I need to change water again.
The filter has the carbon cartridges in it. I am planning on upgrading to like a Fluval 405 Canister but I have to see what I have for money right now (im in college). I have a 36" florescent 3 light strip with 2 10,000k's and 1 Blue Actinic lights. It's not a PC or MH setup.
Thanks alot for all the help, I am new to Marine so anything I can learn will be helpful.
Hydrometers are also not always accurate. A refractometer is dead on. They are NICE. Yes, the liquid test kits, salifert or red sea, are most accurate.
I see alot of people with the same filter as yours so I think it is sufficient, I'm not sure. I am using the Fluval 205 which is rated for up to a 40 gallon tank.
Get some powerheads for the bottom of your tank so the water circulates everywhere. I assume that since you don't have your ro unit yet your using tap water? BAD BAD BAD boy
! I have a four 5 gallon jugs and I go to walmart and fill them up out of the collegan (sp?) thing -- $1.66 each
Its ro water so I don't have to worry about getting an ro unit. You might want to think about that instead of running an ro unit for that small of a tank. Its much easier. I do a 5 gallon water change weekly and don't use a protein skimmer b/c of the size of tank and the amount of water change I was told I don't have to have a skimmer. I use the other containers for top off water.
Smaller tanks are much more difficult to take care of and can get out of wack MUCH easier than a large tank. Remember to only add one fish at a time and wait about 3 weeks before adding another and don't add too many fish! I think the rule of thumb is 2 inches of fish per 5 gallons water...I would say you could keep at max 5 small fish in that tank. I have 3 only.
As for your lights, depending on your type of coral they might not be enough and that might be the problem with your coral. Try to find out what type of coral it is by doing some research on corals and then check to see what its needs are. They have an extensive list of corals they sell on this site with a description of their needs, maybe you can find what you have in there.
Last, I would seriously consider trading the cc for live sand. cc traps nitrates and when you vaccum the cc if you mix it up too much it will make your nitrates go up. If you have live sand you don't have to vaccum because the critters keep it clean.
Well that is all I can think of for now...if I think of something else I will let you know.
Anyone feel free to correct me if you feel I have given wrong information.
I have a Hydrometer to test my salinity. Are you talking about the liquid test kits?
Yea it pumps about 350 an hour then I have a Nano skimmer which doubles as a pump and filter(I know it prolly doesnt do much though)
I was planning on getting a powerhead this weekend. I just ordered an RO/DI unit so I will start using that once it shows up. I just changed water yesterday though so it should be here right around the same time that I need to change water again.
The filter has the carbon cartridges in it. I am planning on upgrading to like a Fluval 405 Canister but I have to see what I have for money right now (im in college). I have a 36" florescent 3 light strip with 2 10,000k's and 1 Blue Actinic lights. It's not a PC or MH setup.
Thanks alot for all the help, I am new to Marine so anything I can learn will be helpful.
Hydrometers are also not always accurate. A refractometer is dead on. They are NICE. Yes, the liquid test kits, salifert or red sea, are most accurate.
I see alot of people with the same filter as yours so I think it is sufficient, I'm not sure. I am using the Fluval 205 which is rated for up to a 40 gallon tank.
Get some powerheads for the bottom of your tank so the water circulates everywhere. I assume that since you don't have your ro unit yet your using tap water? BAD BAD BAD boy
Its ro water so I don't have to worry about getting an ro unit. You might want to think about that instead of running an ro unit for that small of a tank. Its much easier. I do a 5 gallon water change weekly and don't use a protein skimmer b/c of the size of tank and the amount of water change I was told I don't have to have a skimmer. I use the other containers for top off water.
Smaller tanks are much more difficult to take care of and can get out of wack MUCH easier than a large tank. Remember to only add one fish at a time and wait about 3 weeks before adding another and don't add too many fish! I think the rule of thumb is 2 inches of fish per 5 gallons water...I would say you could keep at max 5 small fish in that tank. I have 3 only.
As for your lights, depending on your type of coral they might not be enough and that might be the problem with your coral. Try to find out what type of coral it is by doing some research on corals and then check to see what its needs are. They have an extensive list of corals they sell on this site with a description of their needs, maybe you can find what you have in there.
Last, I would seriously consider trading the cc for live sand. cc traps nitrates and when you vaccum the cc if you mix it up too much it will make your nitrates go up. If you have live sand you don't have to vaccum because the critters keep it clean.
Well that is all I can think of for now...if I think of something else I will let you know.
Anyone feel free to correct me if you feel I have given wrong information.