Will B-Ionic cloud water for days? - Page 2

Paintbug · 03/16/2006, 11:03 AM

for starts your tank isnt even cycled. there is no reason to be adding ANY additives at this point. it sounds like what you have is calcium precipitation going on. basicly your tank cant adsorb the calcium and its clumping together. ditch the Reef Solution all together. and you should NEVER add anything to your tank without testing for it. Oceanic salt is a little high on the calcium to start with. so unless you test your tanks calcium level how do you know if you need to add any? same for the alk. your tank will go through a cycle with the calc and alk as well, then they will balance out, and start dropping as your tank uses them. thats when you need to start a calc/alk dosing scheme. until then just worry about getting your tank cycled. not getting coralline to grow. it will come on its own, then you will be wishing it would stop.

heres some articles on water chemisty you need:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu.../chemistry.htm
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.php

JRPhd · 03/16/2006, 01:18 PM

One word as to what LFS told you and how you are approaching things right now:

"It sounds like what you have is calcium precipitation going on" - Exactly what I was thinking. And look out for that precip. as it can muck up your powerheads.

Just chill on the additives. Much later if and when you dose, get exact numbers from tests. If you dose B-ionic, get exact numbers for Ca and Alk.

21Reefman · 03/16/2006, 01:52 PM

I do want to know; why did you put a cocktail shrimp in the tank? I assumed to cycle it? I would say that using a gal or so of dirty water from the water change(gravel siphon) of an established tank would work MUCH better!
I have never heard of this cocktail shrimp method, who told you to do this?

Paintbug · 03/16/2006, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 21Reefman
I do want to know; why did you put a cocktail shrimp in the tank? I assumed to cycle it? I would say that using a gal or so of dirty water from the water change(gravel siphon) of an established tank would work MUCH better!
I have never heard of this cocktail shrimp method, who told you to do this?

its a very common practice to use a raw whole shrimp to help kick off the cycle of a new tank. much better than buying a couple of damsels like most LFS will say do.

yogisfriend · 03/16/2006, 03:47 PM

Hi folks,
Thanks for all the great advice!

I think it was indeed the salt that created the cloudiness- it was gone the next day. I have calmed down on trying to get my tank done faster, faster, faster and am letting nature take its course. I took the cocktail shrimp out after 1 1/2 days, put the B-Ionic in the closet, did a water change and am testing like a madman. Everything looks good:

Nitrite, Nitrate, Ammonia = 0
Ph = 8.3
Mg = 1350
SG = 1.025
Alk = 10
Ca = 450
Temp = 82-83
DSB = 4"-5"

I just got an ASM G2 today to replace my Aqua C. I am running a phosban reactor and carbon. The tank is clear and running well. I'm going to wait a while to put anything in it, just to make sure it's stable. My numbers have stayed steady this week but I have gotten over the impatient stage; I just want to do it correctly.

Craig Lambert · 03/16/2006, 03:59 PM

Congrats...Your numbers look very good! Have you begun testing for Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate as well?

yogisfriend · 03/16/2006, 05:38 PM

Hi Craig,
Yes, those I tested daily from the very first day. The fact that I never had any ammonia was a cause for concern--that's why I was trying to bump a cycle. I didn't want one to sneak up on me at a later date. I did get some nitrite but never much, and my nitrate never got above 50. All are now 0 and have been all week.
Since you're here, I have another question. Do you qt your corals? I was searching forums, but found only fish qt, which I do when buying for my 80g. I have clowns in qt now, waiting for the 120 to be ready.

Craig Lambert · 03/16/2006, 05:42 PM

I do not, but I know some people do. I do not keep SPS, but if I did I would QT them. From reading posts about red planaria (flat worms), it seems to me that they are more likely to arrive on SPS corals. I suppose the danger is there if SPS were housed in the same tank as lps and softies at the lfs, or online retailer but from the posts I've read on the topic the incidents seem to be scured towards sps.

yogisfriend · 03/16/2006, 07:17 PM

Ok, thanks. I guess the smart thing would be to either qt or iodine dip.

03/16/2006, 11:03 AM	#26
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	for starts your tank isnt even cycled. there is no reason to be adding ANY additives at this point. it sounds like what you have is calcium precipitation going on. basicly your tank cant adsorb the calcium and its clumping together. ditch the Reef Solution all together. and you should NEVER add anything to your tank without testing for it. Oceanic salt is a little high on the calcium to start with. so unless you test your tanks calcium level how do you know if you need to add any? same for the alk. your tank will go through a cycle with the calc and alk as well, then they will balance out, and start dropping as your tank uses them. thats when you need to start a calc/alk dosing scheme. until then just worry about getting your tank cycled. not getting coralline to grow. it will come on its own, then you will be wishing it would stop. heres some articles on water chemisty you need: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu.../chemistry.htm http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.php __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

03/16/2006, 01:18 PM	#27
JRPhd Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SE WI for now Posts: 392	One word as to what LFS told you and how you are approaching things right now: "It sounds like what you have is calcium precipitation going on" - Exactly what I was thinking. And look out for that precip. as it can muck up your powerheads. Just chill on the additives. Much later if and when you dose, get exact numbers from tests. If you dose B-ionic, get exact numbers for Ca and Alk. __________________ Me fail Inglish, that's unpossible. Current Tank Info: 40g Oceanic stretchhex. 24" PC Aqua Lunarlights. 50lbs. Marshall LR. 2"SB. Heater. Maxi-900x2. Aqua C Remora Skimmer w/ maxi-1200. DIY HOT Fuge with Chaeto. mmmmm chaeto.

03/16/2006, 01:52 PM	#28
21Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago/NW IN Posts: 403	I do want to know; why did you put a cocktail shrimp in the tank? I assumed to cycle it? I would say that using a gal or so of dirty water from the water change(gravel siphon) of an established tank would work MUCH better! I have never heard of this cocktail shrimp method, who told you to do this? __________________ "The significant problems that we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein

03/16/2006, 03:47 PM	#30
yogisfriend Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern CA Posts: 141	Hi folks, Thanks for all the great advice! I think it was indeed the salt that created the cloudiness- it was gone the next day. I have calmed down on trying to get my tank done faster, faster, faster and am letting nature take its course. I took the cocktail shrimp out after 1 1/2 days, put the B-Ionic in the closet, did a water change and am testing like a madman. Everything looks good: Nitrite, Nitrate, Ammonia = 0 Ph = 8.3 Mg = 1350 SG = 1.025 Alk = 10 Ca = 450 Temp = 82-83 DSB = 4"-5" I just got an ASM G2 today to replace my Aqua C. I am running a phosban reactor and carbon. The tank is clear and running well. I'm going to wait a while to put anything in it, just to make sure it's stable. My numbers have stayed steady this week but I have gotten over the impatient stage; I just want to do it correctly. __________________ Never to be squandered, this miracle of a human being. "To educate a man in the mind and not the morals is to educate a menace to society" T. Roosevelt

03/16/2006, 03:59 PM	#31
Craig Lambert Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,897	Congrats...Your numbers look very good! Have you begun testing for Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate as well? __________________ "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day in a boat drinking beer." Current Tank Info: 75G Tank, 29G Sump, 100lbs LR, AquaC EV-180, Iwaki MD-20RT return Tunze nano streams 4X54 t-5/Icecap Ballast & SLR's 2x110 vho actinic

03/16/2006, 05:38 PM	#32
yogisfriend Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern CA Posts: 141	Hi Craig, Yes, those I tested daily from the very first day. The fact that I never had any ammonia was a cause for concern--that's why I was trying to bump a cycle. I didn't want one to sneak up on me at a later date. I did get some nitrite but never much, and my nitrate never got above 50. All are now 0 and have been all week. Since you're here, I have another question. Do you qt your corals? I was searching forums, but found only fish qt, which I do when buying for my 80g. I have clowns in qt now, waiting for the 120 to be ready. __________________ Never to be squandered, this miracle of a human being. "To educate a man in the mind and not the morals is to educate a menace to society" T. Roosevelt

03/16/2006, 05:42 PM	#33
Craig Lambert Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,897	I do not, but I know some people do. I do not keep SPS, but if I did I would QT them. From reading posts about red planaria (flat worms), it seems to me that they are more likely to arrive on SPS corals. I suppose the danger is there if SPS were housed in the same tank as lps and softies at the lfs, or online retailer but from the posts I've read on the topic the incidents seem to be scured towards sps. __________________ "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will spend all day in a boat drinking beer." Current Tank Info: 75G Tank, 29G Sump, 100lbs LR, AquaC EV-180, Iwaki MD-20RT return Tunze nano streams 4X54 t-5/Icecap Ballast & SLR's 2x110 vho actinic

03/16/2006, 07:17 PM	#34
yogisfriend Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern CA Posts: 141	Ok, thanks. I guess the smart thing would be to either qt or iodine dip. __________________ Never to be squandered, this miracle of a human being. "To educate a man in the mind and not the morals is to educate a menace to society" T. Roosevelt