Dirt-simple chemistry MUST-knows for tank health - Page 6

Scsmith2002 · 08/14/2014, 11:45 AM

I see that this is a hobby of ups and downs...
Has anyone ever used a 60 gallon Hexagon to make a sump out of?

Jimbo530 · 08/21/2014, 01:04 PM

you can use anything fish or food safe as a sump. have at it max out water volume and natural filtration.

Jimbo530 · 08/21/2014, 01:14 PM

I have had fresh water aquariums since i was a small child. got fairly good at it. moved to the marine environment and it is much more complex and challenging. i am trying to stay as natural as possible but it is a much larger challenge for marine tanks. i would say it is always a good idea to increase water volume. makes your tanks more forgiving to an accident. as well as get some cool stuff in there if you look close. i also like to just add lighting to see what grows. usually yucky stuff from excess nutrients. but helps remove them and every once in awhile you see sum thing cool.

scottneeld88 · 08/28/2014, 09:59 PM

I always try to keep my tanks at 10.8 alk 430 cal 1350 mag on the display tank 550 gal I find I get the best color and growth with it running a Little higher and it's more safe to me instead of worrying bout the cal reactor crashing or something even though It's set up on apex just had a scare last week with a pump going out at the tank dropped to 9.2 alk 360 cal over a day that's why I don't like to run it low like some ppl do but everyone has there own thoughts on water values lol there are over 70 colony's of coral in the 550 and it eats up the cal and alk in the water

Eac7466 · 10/18/2014, 01:10 PM

I am new and appreciated the info!

renato120 · 11/02/2014, 05:54 PM

Very good! Thank you!

Yourmedic · 12/02/2014, 05:04 PM

Newbie here, so this question may seem obvious, but here goes anyways. My tank is about 5 months old, 40 gallon breeder. Crushed coral sub straight. I have a lion, a fire angelfish, a striped sail fin tang, 2 black ice clownfish, a chocolate chip star, and 2 hitch hiker crabs, look a lot like emeralds. This is a "get my feet wet tank" and better under stand saltwater tanks and all that live inside before I get a 125 gallon. My question is this, should I start doing the 3 tests, alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium now along with keeping the levels correct to get in the habit of it, or is there really no need for that at this point if I have no corals?

Thanks

sirpreet · 12/23/2014, 05:16 AM

A great article ..... many thanks for such valuable information...

highly appreciate it....

Mooseburgers · 12/24/2014, 12:34 PM

Thnx sk8r, good info. I never thought too much about the "good range" much in ca and alk, but aiming for the middle is perfectly sensible. 1st post of many!

Lmax8rn · 12/27/2014, 10:27 AM

I finally got my Mg level up to 1350! Took me months of careful dosing, but it's there. I have never had a problem with Ca, however it is probably because I do frequent water changes. Still trying to get the nitrates under control, but my tank seems to be doing well despite this. LPS are THRIVING!

Blek · 01/13/2015, 08:52 PM

Straight forward and too the point, glad to have read!

Splot · 02/22/2015, 04:30 PM

Great practical information! Served as a nice refresher.

koko maung · 03/13/2015, 02:21 AM

Thank you!

jdl242 · 03/21/2015, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yourmedic

Newbie here, so this question may seem obvious, but here goes anyways. My tank is about 5 months old, 40 gallon breeder. Crushed coral sub straight. I have a lion, a fire angelfish, a striped sail fin tang, 2 black ice clownfish, a chocolate chip star, and 2 hitch hiker crabs, look a lot like emeralds. This is a "get my feet wet tank" and better under stand saltwater tanks and all that live inside before I get a 125 gallon. My question is this, should I start doing the 3 tests, alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium now along with keeping the levels correct to get in the habit of it, or is there really no need for that at this point if I have no corals?

Thanks

Yes. Do the tests. What kind of lighting do you have on the 40gl? Maybe you could get some soft coral or even some LPS and practice on that too.

oldbones · 04/12/2015, 07:19 PM

Ok, here's today's numbers (Red Sea Reef Foundation kit just came in the mail today, yeah, on a Sunday).

78.4*
SG 1.0225
NH3/4 - 0
NO2 - 0.05
NO3 - 25
MG - 1500
KH - 9.8
Ca 470

Nitrates are a little high, but coming down. This is a new to me, but semi mature tank that was FOWLR now converting to softies and LPS.

Surprised at the high MG and CA!

What do you think?

las · 04/15/2015, 05:10 PM

Great tutorial thread

peter fumo · 04/16/2015, 11:25 AM

thanks for the info ....very helpful !!!!

peter fumo · 04/17/2015, 08:41 AM

what product do you use to Dose Magnesium ???

smittysmith2 · 04/17/2015, 02:17 PM

Thanks great information!

MrRBW · 04/25/2015, 06:54 AM

Well done, and I like the bit on not obsessing over ph. Too many people go nuts of this. The big "5" are the key, alk, ca, mg, po4, no3

wooglin · 06/12/2015, 12:14 AM

I quit testing anything other than salinity years ago. Tank has been up for 13 years. Like the premis though.

Thomas_Guzman_ · 06/14/2015, 01:34 PM

Good info. Thanks

jijunjbu · 07/08/2015, 08:10 AM

Very good information. Thanks for taking the time to write it all down

bnbjk · 07/09/2015, 07:56 AM

Very good information. Thanks for taking the time to write it all down

Cpetroski15 · 08/11/2015, 12:37 AM

Thanks for putting the time in to
Do that very informative

10/18/2014, 01:10 PM	#130
Eac7466 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 52	Thanks I am new and appreciated the info!

11/02/2014, 05:54 PM	#131
renato120 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Nashua NH Posts: 509	Very good! Thank you! __________________ 60g cube in progress..... - Eshopps PSK 150 Skimmer - DIY 15g Sump - Mag 9 return pump - ATI Dimmable 6x24w - Jebao 1 WP25 - 2 RW4 - GFO/Carbon reactors - BRS Doser - JBJ ATO - 20g long refugium Current Tank Info: 60g cube

12/24/2014, 12:34 PM	#134
Mooseburgers Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Charlotte NC Posts: 14	Appreciation Thnx sk8r, good info. I never thought too much about the "good range" much in ca and alk, but aiming for the middle is perfectly sensible. 1st post of many!

12/27/2014, 10:27 AM	#135
Lmax8rn Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 286	Mag level I finally got my Mg level up to 1350! Took me months of careful dosing, but it's there. I have never had a problem with Ca, however it is probably because I do frequent water changes. Still trying to get the nitrates under control, but my tank seems to be doing well despite this. LPS are THRIVING!

04/17/2015, 08:41 AM	#143
peter fumo Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Branford Ct. Posts: 85	Magnesium what product do you use to Dose Magnesium ???

08/14/2014, 11:45 AM	#126
Scsmith2002 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: La Canada, Ca. Posts: 23	I see that this is a hobby of ups and downs... Has anyone ever used a 60 gallon Hexagon to make a sump out of?

08/21/2014, 01:04 PM	#127
Jimbo530 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 23	you can use anything fish or food safe as a sump. have at it max out water volume and natural filtration.

08/21/2014, 01:14 PM	#128
Jimbo530 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 23	I have had fresh water aquariums since i was a small child. got fairly good at it. moved to the marine environment and it is much more complex and challenging. i am trying to stay as natural as possible but it is a much larger challenge for marine tanks. i would say it is always a good idea to increase water volume. makes your tanks more forgiving to an accident. as well as get some cool stuff in there if you look close. i also like to just add lighting to see what grows. usually yucky stuff from excess nutrients. but helps remove them and every once in awhile you see sum thing cool.

08/28/2014, 09:59 PM	#129
scottneeld88 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Dayton,Ohio Posts: 59	I always try to keep my tanks at 10.8 alk 430 cal 1350 mag on the display tank 550 gal I find I get the best color and growth with it running a Little higher and it's more safe to me instead of worrying bout the cal reactor crashing or something even though It's set up on apex just had a scare last week with a pump going out at the tank dropped to 9.2 alk 360 cal over a day that's why I don't like to run it low like some ppl do but everyone has there own thoughts on water values lol there are over 70 colony's of coral in the 550 and it eats up the cal and alk in the water

12/02/2014, 05:04 PM	#132
Yourmedic Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 9	Newbie here, so this question may seem obvious, but here goes anyways. My tank is about 5 months old, 40 gallon breeder. Crushed coral sub straight. I have a lion, a fire angelfish, a striped sail fin tang, 2 black ice clownfish, a chocolate chip star, and 2 hitch hiker crabs, look a lot like emeralds. This is a "get my feet wet tank" and better under stand saltwater tanks and all that live inside before I get a 125 gallon. My question is this, should I start doing the 3 tests, alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium now along with keeping the levels correct to get in the habit of it, or is there really no need for that at this point if I have no corals? Thanks

12/23/2014, 05:16 AM	#133
sirpreet Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 12	A great article ..... many thanks for such valuable information... highly appreciate it....

01/13/2015, 08:52 PM	#136
Blek Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 2	Straight forward and too the point, glad to have read!

02/22/2015, 04:30 PM	#137
Splot Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn Posts: 49	Great practical information! Served as a nice refresher.

03/13/2015, 02:21 AM	#138
koko maung Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: San Jose Posts: 212	Thank you!

04/12/2015, 07:19 PM	#140
oldbones Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 940	Ok, here's today's numbers (Red Sea Reef Foundation kit just came in the mail today, yeah, on a Sunday). 78.4* SG 1.0225 NH3/4 - 0 NO2 - 0.05 NO3 - 25 MG - 1500 KH - 9.8 Ca 470 Nitrates are a little high, but coming down. This is a new to me, but semi mature tank that was FOWLR now converting to softies and LPS. Surprised at the high MG and CA! What do you think?

04/15/2015, 05:10 PM	#141
las Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: chicago Posts: 1,012	Great tutorial thread

04/16/2015, 11:25 AM	#142
peter fumo Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Branford Ct. Posts: 85	thanks for the info ....very helpful !!!!

04/17/2015, 02:17 PM	#144
smittysmith2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Madison, MS Posts: 82	Thanks great information!

04/25/2015, 06:54 AM	#145
MrRBW Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Mtl, Canada Posts: 28	Well done, and I like the bit on not obsessing over ph. Too many people go nuts of this. The big "5" are the key, alk, ca, mg, po4, no3

06/12/2015, 12:14 AM	#146
wooglin Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 2,231	I quit testing anything other than salinity years ago. Tank has been up for 13 years. Like the premis though. __________________ 90 Gallon DBP RR, 20 Gallon Sump, Chiller, Aqua-C Urchin Skimmer 2x165watt Sbox wifi extreme led Pair Black Ocellaris Clown (12+ years old) , Arc Eye Hawkfish, Red-spotted Blenny, Bi-Color Angelfish Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon Reef

06/14/2015, 01:34 PM	#147
Thomas_Guzman_ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Central Texas Posts: 6	Good info. Thanks __________________ Using Tapatalk Current Tank Info: Fluval Spec V Reef

07/08/2015, 08:10 AM	#148
jijunjbu Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 3	Very good information. Thanks for taking the time to write it all down

07/09/2015, 07:56 AM	#149
bnbjk Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 4	Very good information. Thanks for taking the time to write it all down

08/11/2015, 12:37 AM	#150
Cpetroski15 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 18	Thanks for putting the time in to Do that very informative