water to top off and question about snails

[jba6511]

what type of water should I be using to top off with? I am assuming you would use tap water that has prime in it to dechlorinate it or distilled water from the grocery store. Is this correct?
Also, my s.g. is reading 1.021 right now and I would like to bring it up to 1.023. To do this should I top off with saltwater? The saltwater I have now is from the LFS and is reading 1.025.
Finally, I added 2 clown fish two days ago after doing a water change. Should I start doing a 20% water change every week from here on out?
I lied, one more unrelated question. I have some diatoms still in the live sand that the margarita snails, astera snails and nassarius snails do not seem to be interested in cleaning. Is there anything that can take care of this or help with maintenance so that I do not need to vacuum the sand? I also have 3 blue leg hermits in the tank and plan to add a cleaner shrimp. The tank is a 10 gallon if it matters.

 

[reefkprz]

I would reccomend topping off with ro/di, but you can use dechlorinated tap water. you can top off with mixed marine water to bring up your salinity.
for your inverts such as snails crabs etcetera, you should run your SG at 1.024-1.025. 1.021 is way to low.
Do not vaccume your sand bed you will suck out all kinds of beneficial critters.

 

[gwh57]

Yes, if you want to bring your SG up you can top off with saltwater. I use RO/DI with lime for my top off.

 

[jba6511]

just curious, why do you add the lime when you top off? Any suggestions for clean up crew that can help with the diatoms?

 

[gwh57]

Originally Posted by jba6511
just curious, why do you add the lime when you top off? Any suggestions for clean up crew that can help with the diatoms?
I use food grade lime "Mrs Wages" same thing that you get in the LFS called Kalk only much cheaper.

Crabs and snails ...

 

[saltn00b]

Originally Posted by jba6511
just curious, why do you add the lime when you top off? Any suggestions for clean up crew that can help with the diatoms?
i prefer lime to make the water taste like a corona
hehe i couldnt resist

 

[michaud65]

Do not vaccume your sand bed you will suck out all kinds of beneficial critters.
I did not know this. I have been vacuuming it because that was what my lfs told me to do. What should I do to clean my tank? Do you suggest just doing a partial without vacuuming the bottom? Thanks!

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by Michaud65
I did not know this. I have been vacuuming it because that was what my lfs told me to do. What should I do to clean my tank? Do you suggest just doing a partial without vacuuming the bottom? Thanks!
yes. partial waterchanges without vacuming the sand.
you need a proper clean up crew to maintain your tank and sand bed. if you have crushed coral you need to vacume it but not sand beds.

 

[reefrunner]

Originally Posted by reefkprZ
yes. partial waterchanges without vacuming the sand.
you need a proper clean up crew to maintain your tank and sand bed. if you have crushed coral you need to vacume it but not sand beds.
How often should I vacuum the crushed coral?
And an unrelated question....I have a 37g cube shaped tank (bout 36 inches deep) will an 18 watt hid actinic support most soft corals?

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by reefrunner
How often should I vacuum the crushed coral?
And an unrelated question....I have a 37g cube shaped tank (bout 36 inches deep) will an 18 watt hid actinic support most soft corals?

you should vacuum crushed coral every time you do a water change, recommend using a small siphon hose so you can go over your crushed coral very thoroughly, as opposed to a larger one that will siphon more water and give you less time to clean your substrate.
as to the lighting I have no Idea about the par rating on those so I couldnt tell you.

 

[reefkprz]

I just realized none of those questions came from the original poster of the thread. c'mon people lets not hijack, feel free to start a thread asking questions your more likley to get more answers that way, its also more polite not to jump in and hijack a thread. I want to apologize to jba6551 for answering those other questions on his thread.

 

[jba6511]

its ok, I understand people need to have their ?'s answered. Any recommendations for my clean up crew? see info around 1st post

 

[fishinboy]

Lime? how much do you add and How often and why

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by jba6511
its ok, I understand people need to have their ?'s answered. Any recommendations for my clean up crew? see info around 1st post
check into strombus macalatus snails they love diatoms.

 

[jba6511]

will those snails be able to survive once they clean up the diatoms or are they a short term solution?

 

[reefkprz]

they'll be fine, they only get about a quarter of an inch, and breed like crazy. great cleaners.

 

[jba6511]

thanks, now if someone could just explain the lime I think all questions will be wrapped up. Thanks for all of the help so far. I have learned alot form this community.

 

[reefkprz]

I dotn use it myself so I dont know a lot about it, its a cheaper way to drip kalkwasser.

 

[imfsub12]

when adding your new salt water batch.. did you test your new water .. ie.. ammonia and trates???? i just tested for my salt...

 

[jba6511]

no I have not done that yet but will tomorrow at the LFS. I want them to see if I need to start my weekly water changes yet and if I can safely add a cleaner shrimp to the tank. Any thoughts?