Water testing

[holloway]

Hello all. Brand new tank set up June 12th. I did my first water change last Sat. 7-26-03. I bought and tested the following with Salifert kits. How's my progress coming?
Temp. 78.6
PH 8.2
Amonia <.5 MG/L
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10 MG/L
Phosphate 1 MG/L ( I especially don't know what this means)
SG 1.021
Copper Clear at 1 MG/L
Livestock....
9 Damsels
2 Cleaner Shrimp
1 Horseshoe Crab
1 Lawnmower Blenny
10 Turbo Snails
25 Bumblebee Snails
1 Feather Duster
1 Green Zooanthid
1 Leather Toadstool

 

[jeo]

SG is a little low and so is the temp -although there are a lot of opinions on the right temperature. But I think most people would agree that your SG is too low. I keep mine at 1.024. You should get it up to at least 1.023. I think 82-83 is a good temp, but again, people have been successful with lower temps.

 

[jeo]

Wow I just noticed that you have 25 bumblebee snails! I have 2 in my tank, they are cool. I have never heard of someone having more than a few though.

 

[bheron]

So are you saying you have Copper in your tank? ANY copper, even a minute trace, is BAD.

 

[holloway]

I just retested.the copper.it's actually .05ppm. Is there a easier test for Copperthan Salifert? I do have .33ppm in the tap.

 

[holloway]

jeo, I purchased 25 b.bee snails for $20. I was wondering why you found it surprising to have more than a few in a tank? I don't know that much about them. Just Curious.

 

[sinner's girl]

you shouldn't have inverts in a tank that's not cycled yet...or fish for that matter...
what size is your tank and why do you have so much stuff in a brand new tank?
Ammonia should be at zero. If your cycle is not complete doing wc will just delay the cycle completing
"I do have .33ppm in the tap." you shouldn't use tap water either.
Nitrate should also be at zero
I think temp should be higher if you're going for a reef tank, 78 is fine for fish and inverts.
hth,

 

[holloway]

Sinner Girl[, Thanks for responding.
QUOTE]Originally posted by Sinner's Girl
you shouldn't have inverts in a tank that's not cycled yet...or fish for that matter...
I purchased tha tank from a LFS. They sold me cured LR (350lb) & LS. (150lbs) They also sold me 300 gals. of Catalina water. Unfortunately I had everything set up before I even new this forum existed.
what size is your tank and why do you have so much stuff in a brand new tank?
The tank is 300 gals w app. 45 gal sump. The LFS told me it was fine. (I Know better now.)
Ammonia should be at zero. If your cycle is not complete doing wc will just delay the cycle completing
The reason I did the water change was because I added a 18 gallon sump to my existing sump so that I can have more overflow protection and eventually add a refugium. Since I had to do the plumbing I had to remove partial water. You'd be surprised how many people said it was time for a w/c. At least 50% and i asked quite a few (posts mainly). I agree that it was premature but it was small (10%) not even...w/ the addition of the new sump.
"I do have .33ppm in the tap." you shouldn't use tap water either.
I try not to. The only time I used tap was to top off any pumps that needed to be resubmerged in the sump from evaporation. I hope to install a Typhoon III this week. The w/c came from a LFS that was premixed. I was in a hurry because my tank was dismantled and they were closest.
Nitrate should also be at zero
I've heard your always going to have some nitrates but of course less the better. Is this inaccuraty?
I think temp should be higher if you're going for a reef tank, 78 is fine for fish and inverts.
My chiller is set at 78. My Zooanthid has tripled in size w/ subpar lighting. I'd love to increase the temp so that my chiller works less. What temp do you recommend? What SG? Thanks again.
hth, [/QUOTE]

 

[bheron]

Copper in my tap water ruined my tank completely. It may do the same to yours. I'm surprised - usually any trace amounts of copper instantly liquifies snails.Thats how I learned about it and, eventually, the importance of water quality. Never use tap water for anything - even top offs , which is what i did.
I've learned that once copper is in your tank it will seep into live rock and even the silcone if your tank is glass! While you may get it out of the water it will stay in your LR for some time and will eventually be released back into your tank. I could go on about this but just do a search on copper. Sorry for the news, maybe I'm wrong.