New tank? New member? Read this, please!

Sk8r · 12/29/2014, 04:05 PM

THIS IS A FREE!!!!! how-to book. Read it. Print it out. Highlight the bits you need to remember. Tuck a copy into your tank stand, with clips on the parts about proper test readings, procedures, etc.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1031074

Second: do not rely on freshwater experience for testing (marine uses alkalinity, not ph, as a standard) or acclimation (acclimation is a very dangerous process: set your qt to store/shipper salinity and have it ready to receive fish immediately, no drip.) And we use different lights for different kinds of tanks.

Third: most all marine fish are wild-caught and exposed to parasites, which may manifest in quarantine, and which you absolutely, dead-certain, do NOT want reproducing in your display tank. Have a quarantine (qt) ready for new purchases, and keep new specimens in qt for 4 weeks. We have details on how to do that.

Fourth: ask before buying---fish stores naturally want to sell you things. We (who have absolutely nothing to gain) will happily tell you our experiences and which things will work best for your situation.

12/29/2014, 04:05 PM	#1
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	New tank? New member? Read this, please! THIS IS A FREE!!!!! how-to book. Read it. Print it out. Highlight the bits you need to remember. Tuck a copy into your tank stand, with clips on the parts about proper test readings, procedures, etc. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1031074 Second: do not rely on freshwater experience for testing (marine uses alkalinity, not ph, as a standard) or acclimation (acclimation is a very dangerous process: set your qt to store/shipper salinity and have it ready to receive fish immediately, no drip.) And we use different lights for different kinds of tanks. Third: most all marine fish are wild-caught and exposed to parasites, which may manifest in quarantine, and which you absolutely, dead-certain, do NOT want reproducing in your display tank. Have a quarantine (qt) ready for new purchases, and keep new specimens in qt for 4 weeks. We have details on how to do that. Fourth: ask before buying---fish stores naturally want to sell you things. We (who have absolutely nothing to gain) will happily tell you our experiences and which things will work best for your situation. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%. Last edited by Sk8r; 12/29/2014 at 04:19 PM.