lee4029
New Member
OK ... so I am brand new to this forum. I have about 1 year experience in the hobby and like most others, I am coming here with questions.
A brief background. I started into the saltwater hobby December of last year and had been working with a 60 gallon setup purchased used at a local store. Over-flo system with a tidepool sump and coral life skimmer. Plenty of live rock and sand to let the system cycle. Unlike most new guys I was in no hurry to add fish or inverts. I wanted to make sure everything was done right. The only thing that killed me in my first system was nitrates, and at the time my lack of lighting knowledge. I could never bring the nitrates down below 15-20 ... no matter how many water changes or complete system break downs. Going off of advice I added snails, cleaner shrimp, and eventually a powder blue tang and tomato clown. The fish lasted 4-5 months until I took a vacation and asked a friend to look after the tank while I was gone. Wouldn't you know it, I left full written instructions and still came home to dead fish. The tank pretty much spiraled out of control. Nitrates hit 25 ... then 35 ... then 50 ... 75. It was doing this on top of big water changes and going through the sump looking for anything that could be causing this. Well. I had enough and started talking about taking it all down. Thats when I ran across the Red Sea Max 34 gallon system.
Now, I am by no means endorsing or trying to sell any products I mention on here, but this system has been a huge success. I completely started over. The system has been up and running for a few weeks now with live rock, base, torch coral and my cleaner shrimp (the only survivors from the 1st tank). The torch coral is doing so much better it's not even a joke!
Ammonia Levels - 0
Nitrite Levels - 0
Nitrate Levels - 0 (are you kidding me)
PH - 8.3 and holding well
AK - Normal
Calcium - 450
I have done one water change when my nitrate levels hit 15 and capped off. That was a week ago and been at 0 nitrates since.
Algae cleaning crew went in a few days ago and have been doing great. I have on order a yellow stripe maroon clown and expect to have him in a few days.
So all that to ask this question.
What the **** went right this time?
I am using a good quality buffer and 2-3 other calcium/stability additives, but nothing out of the ordinary.
I am happy this system seems to be working so well, but I don't want to just say "great it's perfect" and keep going. I would like to understand why. Other than the lighting being a little better, I don't think there has been many other changes.
Any comments or experienced reef guys that can toss in their opinions?
Thanks
