Inherited a setup.

izumi5188 · 09/07/2014, 03:42 PM

I inherited a 28 gallon nano tube. It was heavily over run with hair algae. Upon transferring it to my house I have heavily cleaned the live rock upon resetting up the tank.

I got my temperature probe now setup to turn on the heater and the fan when, it leaves the suggested range. What I am hoping to find out is a good place to start learning about this hobby.

I have 2 clown fish, a firefish goby and a yellow assessor. Several polops and an anomee(?) that I don't know what it is.

My question right now outside of a good place to start leaning is all of these chemical test kits, what levels I should probably be at and how to get there.

I have a PH, NO3, PO4, KH, and a Mg tester.

Please help, I'd prefer not to kill these lovely creatures.

A sea K · 09/07/2014, 03:59 PM

To Reef Central

This should get you started with some very helpful information http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1805742. Also note there is a lot of information for getting started at the top of this forum page

izumi5188 · 09/07/2014, 04:06 PM

Thank you. I will take a look.

izumi5188 · 09/07/2014, 04:50 PM

This was great initial read. I'm going to test everything and compare it to their recommendations. I'm sure I'll be back to figure out what I need to do to fix my levels.

izumi5188 · 09/07/2014, 05:58 PM

Hi A Sea K
Going through the test kits that I have, based upon what I can tell.
My Alkalinity is 10.5 dkh, which is acceptable, but high.
and I have calcium and magnesium at 0, which I understand is bad for my corals.
I also have a ph of 7.7

I probably have a calcium or magnesium mix I can add, but how di I raise my PH and lower my Alkalinity?
Thanks,
Izumi5188

izumi5188 · 09/07/2014, 05:58 PM

Hi A Sea K
Going through the test kits that I have, based upon what I can tell.
My Alkalinity is 10.5 dkh, which is acceptable, but high.
and I have calcium and magnesium at 0, which I understand is bad for my corals.
I also have a ph of 7.7

I probably have a calcium or magnesium mix I can add, but how di I raise my PH and lower my Alkalinity?
Thanks,
Izumi5188

Sk8r · 09/07/2014, 06:43 PM

THat's weird. Forget about ph. It's pretty useless in a marine tank. I'm suspicious of those readings on cal and mg. I can't see how any salt mix could deliver those results.
Re-run those tests. Be very careful about steps. Mg test is particularly cranky. If it says wait x seconds, count them.
And get a gfo reactor---like Phosban. That will get rid of the hair algae by getting rid of the phosphate in your water.
Use only ro/di for topoff.
Start a program of weekly 10% water changes.

izumi5188 · 09/07/2014, 07:30 PM

Thanks Sk8r.
I'll run the those tests again tomorrow. Since I'm new, I'm sure there is a potential for error.

izumi5188 · 09/08/2014, 05:56 PM

Hi Sk8r,
I tested my again today, and both test came back with basically 0 again. I have a bottle of Tech M Magnesium and a two part B-Ionic Calcium treatment. Should start putting that in?
Thanks,
Izumi5188

A sea K · 09/08/2014, 07:01 PM

I still would'nt trust your test results, seems highly unusual to have -0- calcium and magnesium. Don't start throwing anything in the tank just yet. Do you know what the tank salinity is or do you have a means of testing it?

izumi5188 · 09/08/2014, 08:17 PM

When I have tested my salinity it has been right around 1.027.

izumi5188 · 09/08/2014, 08:26 PM

The salt I have is Instant Ocean Reef Crystals.

scott71 · 09/08/2014, 11:00 PM

Just do 5 gallon water changes every other day for the next 2 weeks and everything will come back to normal. Keep temp 76-79.

bundybear1981 · 09/09/2014, 01:24 AM

Do you know how old are your test kits are? The reagents may have gone bad. Welcome to the hobby!

A sea K · 09/09/2014, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Start a program of weekly 10% water changes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott71

Just do 5 gallon water changes every other day for the next 2 weeks and everything will come back to normal. Keep temp 76-79.

I agree with the water changes as well. Somewhere in between the every other day and weekly (4-5days) till things get turned around.
I'd also suggest obtaining a reliable test kit or perhaps locate someone in your area that can validate your test results.

izumi5188 · 09/09/2014, 05:58 AM

Thanks everyone. Will do. I'll test again in a few days after several water changes and see where I'm at.

izumi5188 · 09/14/2014, 07:13 PM

Hi everyone,
Thanks again for the advice. I have done several water changes and I can now read my magnesium and calcium. Everything is currently going good. Got some algae growth, but have added a lawnmower blenny today, based upon other threads for that issue.
-Izumi5188

09/07/2014, 03:42 PM	#1
izumi5188 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 25	Inherited a setup. I inherited a 28 gallon nano tube. It was heavily over run with hair algae. Upon transferring it to my house I have heavily cleaned the live rock upon resetting up the tank. I got my temperature probe now setup to turn on the heater and the fan when, it leaves the suggested range. What I am hoping to find out is a good place to start learning about this hobby. I have 2 clown fish, a firefish goby and a yellow assessor. Several polops and an anomee(?) that I don't know what it is. My question right now outside of a good place to start leaning is all of these chemical test kits, what levels I should probably be at and how to get there. I have a PH, NO3, PO4, KH, and a Mg tester. Please help, I'd prefer not to kill these lovely creatures.

09/07/2014, 03:59 PM	#2
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	*To Reef Central* This should get you started with some very helpful information http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1805742. Also note there is a lot of information for getting started at the top of this forum page __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

09/07/2014, 06:43 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	THat's weird. Forget about ph. It's pretty useless in a marine tank. I'm suspicious of those readings on cal and mg. I can't see how any salt mix could deliver those results. Re-run those tests. Be very careful about steps. Mg test is particularly cranky. If it says wait x seconds, count them. And get a gfo reactor---like Phosban. That will get rid of the hair algae by getting rid of the phosphate in your water. Use only ro/di for topoff. Start a program of weekly 10% water changes. __________________ 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%.

09/08/2014, 07:01 PM	#10
A sea K Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Branford Fl Posts: 3,024	I still would'nt trust your test results, seems highly unusual to have -0- calcium and magnesium. Don't start throwing anything in the tank just yet. Do you know what the tank salinity is or do you have a means of testing it? __________________ I am not a pro so excuse me if I'm wrong. Current Tank Info: 30gal Deep Blue rimless 9/10/2014, 80gal Deep Blue rimless 40gal sump/refugium 9/11/16 LPS reef, 2 x Kessil A160 with a single Maxspect Razor, RO Prime 150INT skimmer, Sicce 3 return pump, Vortech MP40 and MP10

09/09/2014, 01:24 AM	#14
bundybear1981 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia Posts: 685 Blog Entries: 1	Do you know how old are your test kits are? The reagents may have gone bad. Welcome to the hobby! __________________ Tank inhabitants : 2x Clownfish, 1x Blue Koran, 1x Foxface Lo, 1xCoral Beauty, 1x Blue Tang, 1x Sailfin Tang Current Tank Info: New Build : 250g (6x3x2) with 2x RW15 pumps, 2x 2200lph return pumps, Tunze ATO, Jebao Dosing Pump, AquaOne G220 Skimmer

09/07/2014, 04:06 PM	#3
izumi5188 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 25	Thank you. I will take a look.

09/07/2014, 04:50 PM	#4
izumi5188 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 25	This was great initial read. I'm going to test everything and compare it to their recommendations. I'm sure I'll be back to figure out what I need to do to fix my levels.

09/07/2014, 05:58 PM	#5
izumi5188 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 25	Hi A Sea K Going through the test kits that I have, based upon what I can tell. My Alkalinity is 10.5 dkh, which is acceptable, but high. and I have calcium and magnesium at 0, which I understand is bad for my corals. I also have a ph of 7.7 I probably have a calcium or magnesium mix I can add, but how di I raise my PH and lower my Alkalinity? Thanks, Izumi5188

09/07/2014, 07:30 PM	#8
izumi5188 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 25	Thanks Sk8r. I'll run the those tests again tomorrow. Since I'm new, I'm sure there is a potential for error.

09/08/2014, 05:56 PM	#9
izumi5188 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 25	Hi Sk8r, I tested my again today, and both test came back with basically 0 again. I have a bottle of Tech M Magnesium and a two part B-Ionic Calcium treatment. Should start putting that in? Thanks, Izumi5188

09/08/2014, 08:17 PM	#11
izumi5188 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 25	When I have tested my salinity it has been right around 1.027.

09/08/2014, 08:26 PM	#12
izumi5188 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 25	The salt I have is Instant Ocean Reef Crystals.

09/08/2014, 11:00 PM	#13
scott71 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Fort Worth Texas Posts: 51	Just do 5 gallon water changes every other day for the next 2 weeks and everything will come back to normal. Keep temp 76-79.

09/09/2014, 05:58 AM	#16
izumi5188 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 25	Thanks everyone. Will do. I'll test again in a few days after several water changes and see where I'm at.

09/14/2014, 07:13 PM	#17
izumi5188 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 25	Hi everyone, Thanks again for the advice. I have done several water changes and I can now read my magnesium and calcium. Everything is currently going good. Got some algae growth, but have added a lawnmower blenny today, based upon other threads for that issue. -Izumi5188