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Water parameters


thebrainbot

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thebrainbot

So when I bought this 24g NC tank... I did something stupid.

 

I didn't clean out the back area at all... I'm not sure how long the tank was established prior to me buying it, but I know it was for at least 2 years. When I was initially setting it up, I didn't think to clean the debris and crap out of the back. I figured that I would clean it out during my first water change...

 

However, I had forgotten when I did my initial fill that you aren't supposed to change the water during the cycle...

 

So right now, using the LS that I got from the guy and having replaced all the LR, my water params are a little screwy. I just got the 2nd part of my API test kit, so I can now test ammonia... I was going to post this later as I did a few more tests, but thought I'd ask some stuff now.

 

Current params are:

 

Ammonia: ~.25

Nitrate: 10-20

Nitrite : 0

KH : 143.2 ppm

Phosphate : (really hard to tell) 0-1 ppm maybe

PH: 7.4 (I know... super low!)

SG: 1.0195

Calcium; Can't get a reading to save my life...

Temp: around 77-79 with lights off. up to 83 with lights on.

 

My tank is stock except for replacing the pump with an MJ1200 (now with a wave maker) and a K1. I also cut the sponge in half (thoug I don't rinse it out as often as I should). I also threw some LR rubble in the middle chamber.

 

So... my first plan is to get to HD or Lowes, buy a big 5g bucket and mix my own salt water. I bought a bucket of Red sea salt and have 10 gallons of RO/DI water from the LFS. Figured I'd make 5g of salt water at a bit higher SG than whats in the tank (and get a refractometer later this month). Then I'll change out 5 gallons of water by suction cleaning the back chambers clean. I figured that the debris back there is causing my high ammonia and nitrates.

 

I was really hoping to add in a CUC this week (tanks been up for a month) but I guess not :( There is a crab that was in the tank when I got it from the guy I bought it from and I think he's still alive (I will poke around later)...

 

So is there anything else I should do to try to fix the params? I'm assuming the LFS did a piss poor job mixing the water considering the low ph.

 

And how the heck do you get a reliable reading for calcium with the API test kit? When I go to put drops of the 2nd bottle in there and shake after every drop, I get water loss due to water getting stuck around the cap and dripping out. If I mix it with a paper towel around the tube, it freaking gets wet. These test tubes suck.... By the time I get up to putting 15 or 16 drops in, I'm down to about 2 ml of water...

Anyone know how to give the tube a good stir and remove the cap without loosing the water?

 

*CUC*

I assume that I should go really slow with the CUC as well? I wanted to order from LiveAquaria, but I'd have to order my full stock of CUC to really save money... I was thinking of getting about 12-14 snails (probably 4 different varieties), 4 hermit crabs, and 2 shrimp...

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Current params are:

 

Ammonia: ~.25

Nitrate: 10-20

Nitrite : 0

KH : 143.2 ppm

Phosphate : (really hard to tell) 0-1 ppm maybe

PH: 7.4 (I know... super low!)

SG: 1.0195

Calcium; Can't get a reading to save my life...

Temp: around 77-79 with lights off. up to 83 with lights on.

 

 

 

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say your still cycling.

 

Your sponge, or any other drop in media, can produce nitrates due to decaying matter. Lose it and replace with some chaeto and grow light.

 

A water change should adjust your calc. Fresh salt has all the trace elements.

After the water change, check ph again. Should be ok.

Calc level isn't a big deal unless your keeping high need calc specimins, not recommended in a new tank.

Regular water changes will keep your trace elements in the green.

 

Time is your best friend here, nothing happens fast in a salt tank except problems.

 

Oh, and loose the sponge.

 

Best of luck -

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thebrainbot

Thanks for the fast reply. I found that the prvious owned had cut the sponge already... and left two pieces at the bottom of the first chamber. I was like WTH?!? Guess I should have checked it better.

 

So I removed the sponge (for now) and found a bunch of aptasia in it. Wish it was all of those little bastards. Glad I didn't get stung!

 

I've been trying to get some chaeto... no LFS has it and LiveAquaria is sold out. But I was under the impression I add that after it's done cycling? I'm still in need of the refugium light. I've already removed some of the back vinyl so I can have it mounted externally.

 

I looked in chamber 3... It's a mess. Nasty stuff all over. Going to clean that up with the water change (probably do that Friday) and I will try to get some of that floss everyone seems to love :-p

 

I'd be a bit surprised if it was still cycling... The sand has been in the tank for a long time and the LR I bought was from established aquariums.

 

Also... Just found what appears to be a dead snail... Could be helping the ammonia. Going to check from the crab. Going to reaqua-scape to see if I can come up with anything better than what I have now (some thing more stable).

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I'd be a bit surprised if it was still cycling...

 

I thought detectable ammonia was textbook cycling. <shrug>

 

-hank

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Looks like you're still in your first cycle. The Ammonia will continue to fall, while the Nitrites will soon top out if they haven't yet. Then the Nitrites will fall and the Nitrates will rise and then you're good for your first water change!.

 

Sounds like you're a little under halfway there!

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thebrainbot
I thought detectable ammonia was textbook cycling. <shrug>

 

-hank

 

Generally. But I believe any decaying material will cause an ammonia spike. And considering the crap in the 3 sections... yikes...

 

I did find the crab. He's still alive. Found a few more snails. All dead, though unsure if they were alive when I got the tank.

 

I'm definitely going to hit a water change friday. All the gunk needs to be cleaned out the back...

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