Ok tested my tank ph, alk, nitrite etc. Need help

[fats71]

Ok, so I bought thhe all in one kit for testing this is what i came up with.
1.) Nitrite -0.2
2.) Nitrate - Low 5.0 high 25 I am not sure which one im supposed to base off of.
3.) Ammonia tank temp 76 to 77 degrees ferh - 0.5
4.) Alkalinity - in between 2.9 to 3.6 It to me looks around 3.3
5.) Ph - 8.6
Now this is what I do not know. I can test it and see what it says but I do not know whats good or bad for it.
Can someone give me a heads up on what is wrong with my tank and what I can do to fix it. Now this tank has beenn up for exactly 6 days. It is a 75 gallon 3 damsels and one clown. I have two very small rocks in it live and 40 pounds of live sand I added thursday. I have 45-50 pounds of live fiji cured rock comming from swf.com and another 40 pounds of live sand from swf.com shipping out monday of next week. I know I should take the fish out to a LFS but thats not a option i have no qt tank they have to tough it out as bad as that sounds but I live a hour plus from a city one way annd their is 2 inches of ice on the road so thats that.
I really just need to know where my levels should be and what I can do to fix anything wrong without removing it all etc.
Thanks.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Fats71
http:///forum/post/2475286
Ok, so I bought thhe all in one kit for testing this is what i came up with.
1.) Nitrite -0.2
2.) Nitrate - Low 5.0 high 25 I am not sure which one im supposed to base off of.
3.) Ammonia tank temp 76 to 77 degrees ferh - 0.5
4.) Alkalinity - in between 2.9 to 3.6 It to me looks around 3.3
5.) Ph - 8.6
Now this is what I do not know. I can test it and see what it says but I do not know whats good or bad for it.
Can someone give me a heads up on what is wrong with my tank and what I can do to fix it. Now this tank has beenn up for exactly 6 days. It is a 75 gallon 3 damsels and one clown. I have two very small rocks in it live and 40 pounds of live sand I added thursday. I have 45-50 pounds of live fiji cured rock comming from swf.com and another 40 pounds of live sand from swf.com shipping out monday of next week. I know I should take the fish out to a LFS but thats not a option i have no qt tank they have to tough it out as bad as that sounds but I live a hour plus from a city one way annd their is 2 inches of ice on the road so thats that.
I really just need to know where my levels should be and what I can do to fix anything wrong without removing it all etc.
Thanks.
What brand of test kit do you have? You still have nitrites. You didn't say what the ammonia is. You have three fish in their already? When the rock comes from SWF, pull water out of your display into a rubbermaid tub. Put the rock in there with a heater and a powerhead. Mix up water now to replace the water that will be pulled out. Don't add the rock to the display, it will have die off and will make things worse. Keep water mixed to do changes on your display. Saltwater has to be mixed for at least 24hrs.

 

[fats71]

1.) Nitrite 0.2
3.) Ammonia tank temp 76 to 77 degrees ferh 0.5
those are what i posted for them
the kit is marine lab by red sea

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Fats71
http:///forum/post/2475429
1.) Nitrite 0.2
3.) Ammonia tank temp 76 to 77 degrees ferh 0.5
those are what i posted for them
the kit is marine lab by red sea
The ammonia is .5 and the temp is 76-77 degrees? Alright, you still have ammonia and nitrite which means that your tank is cycling. Your temp is low. It should be around 79 degrees. 78-81 is fine. Pick one and keep it there.
Cure the new rock seperately.

 

[fats71]

It is being cured as we speak thats why its a late delivery for me. I will have it same day. So should I cure it again ??? If so how ? The live sand I bought another 40 pounds so ill have a total of 80 pounds of live sand. and they said to just drop it in same with the LR as its cured. is their any special chemical or thing i should do to the lr before dropping it in when its cured ?

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Fats71
http:///forum/post/2475515
It is being cured as we speak thats why its a late delivery for me. I will have it same day. So should I cure it again ??? If so how ? The live sand I bought another 40 pounds so ill have a total of 80 pounds of live sand. and they said to just drop it in same with the LR as its cured. is their any special chemical or thing i should do to the lr before dropping it in when its cured ?
Anything shipped needs to be cured again. It may not take long, but there will be die off. The sand can go into the DT, pray for no die off. There shouldn't be any. Use a plastic pipe or something similar, to put the sand directly on the bottom without causing a sand storm. The rock needs to go in a tub of saltwater. Pull the water from your display, have a powerhead and a heater for the tub. You will need to do a water change anyway, after the sand goes in. Have water mixed and ready.

 

[fats71]

Ok, but what are highh levels accceptable levels for them are mine huge bad or are they ok ?
Is the test kit ok ?
My wife will not let me spendd another dime for till next payccheck other than maybe a few buckets so the LR and LS have to go into the tank as i do not have thhe money for a powerhead... I have dumped out 2k in the last week on this val gift to her and i just dont have anything left....
I do have a Koralia I overpaid for apparently its a koralia 4 I guess it will work as a power head eh ?? I do not have another heater though or a extra filter so I dont think thhe tub is a option at this point.
I keep asking in another thread if the koralia is better than a couple powerheads I was told so by the LFS guy but no one has answered me here they all say its super nice but nothing on if its better or not.

 

[fats71]

bump
I really have no idea if my levels are decent ?? I posted them at the top of the thread and have some suggestions on adding the LS and LR but nothing really on my levels. what are accpetable levels to be in.

 

[sepulatian]

The ammonia and nitrite should be zero, the nitrate below 20 for a FOWLR or below 10 for a reef, temp should be between 78-81, and the SG should be around 1.025, ph should be 8.2. Your ph is a little high. My main concern is the ammonia and nitrite. Any level is bad for the fish. It is going to spike much higher if you add the rocks directly to the tank. If fish were not in there then it wouldn't be so much of a problem. As for the Koralia, I have never used one so I cannot tell you if it is better or not.

 

[fats71]

Thanks. I added 2 smaqll rocks when i put the fish in. I am adding the other rock slowely to acclimtate and what im hoping for is that adding it slowely the fish will adapt. ( thats what the LFS toldd me yesterday when I drove 2 hours to saint louis. man you wanna see a awsome LFS its insane stongrays bigger than my son more rock than I see on the side of the mountain I live on its insane. Anyway SWF. com beats their prices which really makes me happy as I hate driving got a ticket on the way home 4 hour trip to get some colored sand and it ended up costing me a lawyer etc so SWF.COm is it from now on lol..
Anyway thanks guys.
Oh ya my rock I did get was a 35 pound chunk of tonga something cured. I will add the other rock slowely when it arrives as i know it will shoot the ammonia higher but as I said i think and was told they might adapt... my ammonia is actually lower today and the other things after adding the one 35 pound piece which is kinda weird.

 

[fats71]

Update. I did the other water change on the 16th and just did one now after addding my 35 pound rock yesterday and some more live sand.
1. Nitrite-0.1 it went down
2. Nitrate - high was between 25 and 12.5 on the low side of the card it was between 5.0 and 2.5 this also is lower than a couple days ago
3. Ammonia - between 0 and 0.25 closer to the 0 color it also went down
4. Alkalinity 3.6 this went up how bad is this ?? what should it be at ?
5. PH - 8.6 still
6. Specific gravity 1.025-1.026 but i have 4 gallons of pre-mixed salt with half a cup of salt in it to thin it out when the rock comes in tomorrow
7. Salinity
Ok, so these are my results. I like the ammonia went down I know thats good but I do not know what the other should be at. Is their a specific guide saying ok ph should be 5 and Nitrite should be 2 and nitrate should 2.5.. I mean I can test them everyday but I dunno what they are supposed to be at and how to fix each one of them. I see their is bufffer in my kit what do I use it for as it does not say what it is for..
Help thanks.
Oh ya my 45 pounds of medium and small fiji premiumm will be here tomorrow cured. w00t

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by Fats71
http:///forum/post/2478602
Thanks. I added 2 smaqll rocks when i put the fish in. I am adding the other rock slowely to acclimtate and what im hoping for is that adding it slowely the fish will adapt. ( thats what the LFS toldd me yesterday when I drove 2 hours to saint louis. man you wanna see a awsome LFS its insane stongrays bigger than my son more rock than I see on the side of the mountain I live on its insane. Anyway SWF. com beats their prices which really makes me happy as I hate driving got a ticket on the way home 4 hour trip to get some colored sand and it ended up costing me a lawyer etc so SWF.COm is it from now on lol..
Anyway thanks guys.
Oh ya my rock I did get was a 35 pound chunk of tonga something cured. I will add the other rock slowely when it arrives as i know it will shoot the ammonia higher but as I said i think and was told they might adapt... my ammonia is actually lower today and the other things after adding the one 35 pound piece which is kinda weird.
You should be curing the rock in a separate tub, not adding it to the display display. It will cause an ammonia spike no matter how you add it. It needs to be cured first.
Originally Posted by Fats71
http:///forum/post/2480132
Update. I did the other water change on the 16th and just did one now after addding my 35 pound rock yesterday and some more live sand.
1. Nitrite-0.1 it went down
2. Nitrate - high was between 25 and 12.5 on the low side of the card it was between 5.0 and 2.5 this also is lower than a couple days ago
3. Ammonia - between 0 and 0.25 closer to the 0 color it also went down
4. Alkalinity 3.6 this went up how bad is this ?? what should it be at ?
5. PH - 8.6 still
6. Specific gravity 1.025-1.026 but i have 4 gallons of pre-mixed salt with half a cup of salt in it to thin it out when the rock comes in tomorrow
7. Salinity
Ok, so these are my results. I like the ammonia went down I know thats good but I do not know what the other should be at. Is their a specific guide saying ok ph should be 5 and Nitrite should be 2 and nitrate should 2.5.. I mean I can test them everyday but I dunno what they are supposed to be at and how to fix each one of them. I see their is bufffer in my kit what do I use it for as it does not say what it is for..
Help thanks.
Oh ya my 45 pounds of medium and small fiji premiumm will be here tomorrow cured. w00t
I gave you the readings that your tank should be at. You will cause a disaster if you add this rock to the tank without curing it in a seperate tub. You are forewarned.

 

[fats71]

It has been curting for a week and a half it will be out of the cure tank for 2 hours. Does that mean I need to recure it ? The other 35 pound rock was done the same way. It lowered my ammonia level...
I understand your warning me but how long does it have to cure for ? Is this too long out of the cureing area and I need to redo it ?

 

[amyandbrandon2]

Originally Posted by Fats71
http:///forum/post/2480238
It has been curting for a week and a half it will be out of the cure tank for 2 hours. Does that mean I need to recure it ? The other 35 pound rock was done the same way. It lowered my ammonia level...
I understand your warning me but how long does it have to cure for ? Is this too long out of the cureing area and I need to redo it ?
Are you traveling with it, aquascaping...etc? If your traveling for two hours, get some newspaper. Get a gallon of your tank water, dip the news paper into the gallon on water you took out and wrap the pieces of LR and place them in a cooler. If your aquascaping get some of the water and place in into a cooler and then put your LR in it..
Hope this helps!

 

[rotarygeek]

Im new to this too, but i think i can help you out, with an exception to an alk test becuase my test kit didn't come with that.
Ph- 8.0 to 8.2
Ammonia- 0 (No higher)
Nitrite- 0 (No higher)
Nitrate- 0 (But a fish only with live rock tank can take a reading of 10 or so)
Temperature- Between 78 and 80
Hope this helps.
Oh as for your readings right now, your tank is still cycling. When it starts to cycle, you will see an ammonia spike. Once your biological filter builds up, it will drop your ammonia by converting it to nitrites. Then it will drop your Nitrites by converting them to Nitrates. Nitrates are much less deadly to fish that Ammonia or Nitrites. Once your other levels are 0 (Or as close to them as possible) do a couple small water changes to get the Nitrate level to an acceptable area (between 0 and probably 15). The buffer your speaking of is probably a ph buffer. It raises the ph to 8.2 and no higher. But since your already above that, i wouldn't use it. Do water changes regularly to get rid of it. Then you are done cycling and you can start choosing a fish. I also have a 30 gallon tank as my first set up (just finished cycling two days ago) and i know what your talking about. Remember to add one fish at a time because it will make your ammonia spike, then nitrites, then nitrates. Then do your water changes, and add another fish. We will only be able to keep about 3 to 4 fish in our small tanks, but its what i had to start with and ill upgrade soon. Someone correct me please if you see something wrong.

 

[morval]

just keep the rock wet on the way home from store then toss it in ur tank. dont add any more fish,inverts, or corals to ur tank for a few weeks... ur tank is to new and still cycling
u should have amonia and nitrites for awhile still. the fise u have may die because they were added to soon. only after ur amonia and nitrites read 0 for a few days in a row then do a water change to remove nitrates only then is it safe to add fish.and then slowly like 1 or 2 every few weeks then u need to do water changes every week to remove the nitrates good luck and remember salt water tanks take a lot of time to be done correctly and safely for the fish

 

[fats71]

THIS IS WHAT I WAS LOOKIN FOR !!!!
'Ph- 8.0 to 8.2
Ammonia- 0 (No higher)
Nitrite- 0 (No higher)
Nitrate- 0 (But a fish only with live rock tank can take a reading of 10 or so)
Temperature- Between 78 and 80
"
Now I know where I should be thanks.
The rest of you guys appreciate the help The rock is completely submerged in SW and has a heat pack etc with it to keep it at the right temp. I am now a bit more confused though as sep says to water change and your telling me to wait a bit which is what I get most of the time what does sep know that others do not. I am not meaning this in anywayy derogatory way but he is the only one saying to do it now. Why would I what purpose would it have and how is it beneficial ? I will do it honestly if its what im supposed to do i just get so much conflicting its almost like I should say ok what do I do in this situation people answer then I say ok now with your answer show me your setups and I will pick the best setup pic and then read their reply lol. I mean that in the funniest way possible.
I do appreciate everyones input and especially the one who posted what my stuff should be thats the best thing since sliced bread.

 

[mcbdz]

Welcome to SWF.
Sep was telling you to do the w/c so you would use the water you took out to put your rock in to cure it in another tub. If your ammonia stays below 1 wait it out. If it spikes again then you will need to do a water change to try and keep you stuff from dieing.
Just do your best to wait it out. When you are finished cycling you'll need to do weekly 10-20% water changes(w/c) to maintain levels and trace elements. Make sure you mix and mature your saltwater 24hrs. before water changes. And use RO/DI water for top offs and mixes.

 

[scopus tang]

Also get a hydrometer or a refractometer so you can test salinity (one of the first points Sepulation made, which you ignored)! You've never posted any true salinity results, which I assume means that you're not testing them (but perhaps you simply overlooked it). You will not be able to keep fish or corals if you don't keep your water at the proper salinity levels, and you will experience lots of algae blooms.

 

[fats71]

I posted it in number 11 but I did not write the number down it was 35 the specific gravity is there as well. I use a hydrometer or howevver you spell it. I have lowered my salinity and specific gravity when I added premixed saltwater 4 gallons I let sit in a covered 5 gallon bucket for four days
My specific gravity 1.024 and my salinity is now 33
I did wanna ask when I premix my sw I live in the country and have to use tap water. is it ok to take the water uncovered let it sit in the bucket on my sun porch and will that help distill the water ?I dunno just I figure that would help it lol..
Also how long should or can I premix my sw for covered ? Is a week too much ???