Questions you should know, but don't....

Josh125 · 11/20/2006, 12:21 PM

I have been reefing for some time and there are still things I should know, but just don't for one reason or another. So, I thought I would start a thread for us all to ask and answer these pesky questions.

I'll start.

I am clueless as to the role of Mg in a reef tank. It seems to be getting a lot of press, however I haven't the foggiest idea what role it plays.

Your turn.....

jag1979 · 11/20/2006, 12:31 PM

If I go on vacation for 5 days will the fish be ok w/o eating?

Josh125 · 11/20/2006, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jag1979
If I go on vacation for 5 days will the fish be ok w/o eating?

Yes, most fish can easily go 5 days without being fed and not have any issues.

ACBlinky · 11/20/2006, 12:58 PM

For the Mg question, check out the chemistry forum. Here's what I've learned about it: if Mg is low, it gets very difficult to keep Ca levels up. Often when people post and say they're adding more and more Ca but can't get the levels to where they should be, the first thing I think of is low Mg. It's also essential for good coralline growth -- if you're having trouble growing the purple stuff and have Ca, alk, lighting, PO4 etc. in line, low Mg could be to blame.

SDguy · 11/20/2006, 01:23 PM

Are mysis fresh water in origin? Marine? Those things people see swimming around in their fuge (swimming, not crawling) and they call mysis, are they? They are similar in shape...

jimroth · 11/20/2006, 01:43 PM

Do the actinic bulbs actually do anything for the corals, or do they just make things look nice?

SDguy · 11/20/2006, 02:50 PM

BTW, is this just going to be a list of questions, or will answers also be included?

Josh125 · 11/20/2006, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDguy
BTW, is this just going to be a list of questions, or will answers also be included?

My hope is other members will chime in as they know answers as well

Keiths_Reefs · 11/20/2006, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jimroth
Do the actinic bulbs actually do anything for the corals, or do they just make things look nice?

I've wondered that myself.

Josh125 · 11/20/2006, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Keiths_Reefs
I've wondered that myself.

From my limited reasearch on it, it appears the answer is no. They are purley for asthetics. The PAR value is negligible and serve no purpose to stimulate growth.

There was a good article by Dana Riddle that talked about this, I will see if I can dig it up.

Gundo5000 · 11/20/2006, 03:47 PM

Is a ground probe really nessasary?

Keiths_Reefs · 11/20/2006, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by algundo
Is a ground probe really nessasary?

Lots of arguement there. Many say they are more harmful than beneficial.

techreef · 11/20/2006, 04:42 PM

Re: the actinic question, post that question in the lighting forum. They will def know the answer there. Smart people in that thar forum.

vanmo92 · 11/20/2006, 05:01 PM

Is putting your lights on a timer really neccecary?

I havnt yet, I just turn it on whne I get up and off before I go to bed.

srbball22 · 11/20/2006, 05:01 PM

I always heard that actinics didn't seem bright to us but are bright to corals...i have no idea this is true or not.

lllosingit · 11/20/2006, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SDguy
Are mysis fresh water in origin? Marine? Those things people see swimming around in their fuge (swimming, not crawling) and they call mysis, are they? They are similar in shape...

They are called Mysid shrimp....

Ecology: Mysids are small shrimp-like crustaceans found primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern coast of Florida. They commonly occur at salinities above 15-ppt and are found in greatest abundance at salinities near 30-ppt.

Sk8r · 11/20/2006, 05:08 PM

Lights on a timer is a must: you can prompt an algae bloom if you forget and leave them on.
Corals in particular thrive on routine: they want every day to be Groundhog Day, if that means good water and light.

I got my timer from Ace Hardware, nothing fancy about it. I have actinics on one timer, mh on the other.

Mel-E-Mel · 11/20/2006, 05:13 PM

heres a really dumb question............

Mg = Magnesium???

vanmo92 · 11/20/2006, 05:13 PM

I dont have coral, and my tank is in my room and I CAN NOT sleep with light, so i will never forget.

Sk8r · 11/20/2006, 05:20 PM

mg is magnesium. Fe is iron, Ca is Calcium, I is Iodine [I think], and probably Strontium is St. K is potassium. H is hydrogen, O is oxygen. Those are the common ones you'll see around RC.

ACBlinky · 11/20/2006, 05:37 PM

Strontium is Sr, Molybdenum is Mb. Can't think of many others that will come up with any regularity.

vanmo92 - you might still want to get a timer. It's not just a factor of whether you'll forget to turn the lights on/off; fish and corals learn what time their 'sun' comes up and goes down, IMO it's best if it's at exactly the same time each day. It also gives you peace of mind. What if you want to stay out late, or sleep in, or go away for the weekend? Timers are the best invention since sliced bread when it comes to fish tanks

Sk8r · 11/20/2006, 05:44 PM

Thanks, AC. It's been a couple or four decades since chemistry class.

SDguy · 11/20/2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lllosingit
They are called Mysid shrimp....

Ecology: Mysids are small shrimp-like crustaceans found primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern coast of Florida. They commonly occur at salinities above 15-ppt and are found in greatest abundance at salinities near 30-ppt.

There are lots of different mysids. I meant specifically the ones sold as food for fish. Further google searching and you might have found this, hence my question/confusion

http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/seagrant/G...ra.html#Mysids

ridetheducati · 11/20/2006, 06:20 PM

Here is a good one...

Most of us can explain the Nitrogen cycle, but few can explain the Carbon cycle.

For the profane, what is the carbon cycle? And why is it important?

vanmo92 · 11/20/2006, 06:23 PM

I think I will put my timers on lights, but my issue is that On weekdays I want to see the fish and I have to get up at 6 then, but on weekends I sleep in and if it comes on at 6 then the room is completely dark when the light comes on, which is really bad for the fish. So I think my solution will be to just set it for like 8:30 everyday, which is about when I get up on weekends, but then I wont see my fish 5/7 days (in the mornings), ohh well.

11/20/2006, 12:21 PM	#1
Josh125 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Fulshear, TX Posts: 979	Questions you should know, but don't.... I have been reefing for some time and there are still things I should know, but just don't for one reason or another. So, I thought I would start a thread for us all to ask and answer these pesky questions. I'll start. I am clueless as to the role of Mg in a reef tank. It seems to be getting a lot of press, however I haven't the foggiest idea what role it plays. Your turn.....

11/20/2006, 12:31 PM	#2
jag1979 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 982	If I go on vacation for 5 days will the fish be ok w/o eating? __________________ clowns, bi-color pseudo, coral beauty, yellow tang GBTA, crocea clam xenia, various polyps/zoa's, candy cane, tree leather, frogspawn, torch, various mushrooms, green/red plate, birdsnest Current Tank Info: 180 AGA, tunze 6100, 6025 and 6060, 3 x 250 mh's, 3 x 80 t5's, ASM G4+

11/20/2006, 12:58 PM	#4
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	For the Mg question, check out the chemistry forum. Here's what I've learned about it: if Mg is low, it gets very difficult to keep Ca levels up. Often when people post and say they're adding more and more Ca but can't get the levels to where they should be, the first thing I think of is low Mg. It's also essential for good coralline growth -- if you're having trouble growing the purple stuff and have Ca, alk, lighting, PO4 etc. in line, low Mg could be to blame. __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

11/20/2006, 01:23 PM	#5
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Are mysis fresh water in origin? Marine? Those things people see swimming around in their fuge (swimming, not crawling) and they call mysis, are they? They are similar in shape... __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

11/20/2006, 01:43 PM	#6
jimroth Moving Money Join Date: May 2001 Location: Rockaway, NJ Posts: 1,764	Do the actinic bulbs actually do anything for the corals, or do they just make things look nice? __________________ Jim Roth --------------- Current Tank Info: 250G custom SPS System w/3X Radions

11/20/2006, 02:50 PM	#7
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	BTW, is this just going to be a list of questions, or will answers also be included? __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

11/20/2006, 03:47 PM	#11
Gundo5000 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,534	Is a ground probe really nessasary? __________________ GUNDO

11/20/2006, 04:42 PM	#13
techreef Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 1,046	Re: the actinic question, post that question in the lighting forum. They will def know the answer there. Smart people in that thar forum.

11/20/2006, 05:01 PM	#14
vanmo92 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silverthorne, CO. Posts: 2,045	Is putting your lights on a timer really neccecary? I havnt yet, I just turn it on whne I get up and off before I go to bed. __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow Mixed Reef 1 fw tank

11/20/2006, 05:01 PM	#15
srbball22 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 268	I always heard that actinics didn't seem bright to us but are bright to corals...i have no idea this is true or not.

11/20/2006, 05:08 PM	#17
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Lights on a timer is a must: you can prompt an algae bloom if you forget and leave them on. Corals in particular thrive on routine: they want every day to be Groundhog Day, if that means good water and light. I got my timer from Ace Hardware, nothing fancy about it. I have actinics on one timer, mh on the other. __________________ 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%.

11/20/2006, 05:13 PM	#18
Mel-E-Mel Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Shark City San Jose, CA Posts: 1,950	heres a really dumb question............ Mg = Magnesium???

11/20/2006, 05:20 PM	#20
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	mg is magnesium. Fe is iron, Ca is Calcium, I is Iodine [I think], and probably Strontium is St. K is potassium. H is hydrogen, O is oxygen. Those are the common ones you'll see around RC. __________________ 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%.

11/20/2006, 05:37 PM	#21
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	Strontium is Sr, Molybdenum is Mb. Can't think of many others that will come up with any regularity. vanmo92 - you might still want to get a timer. It's not just a factor of whether you'll forget to turn the lights on/off; fish and corals learn what time their 'sun' comes up and goes down, IMO it's best if it's at exactly the same time each day. It also gives you peace of mind. What if you want to stay out late, or sleep in, or go away for the weekend? Timers are the best invention since sliced bread when it comes to fish tanks __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

11/20/2006, 05:44 PM	#22
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Thanks, AC. It's been a couple or four decades since chemistry class. __________________ 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%.

11/20/2006, 06:20 PM	#24
ridetheducati 20 and Over Club Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Bowie, MD Posts: 2,968	Here is a good one... Most of us can explain the Nitrogen cycle, but few can explain the Carbon cycle. For the profane, what is the carbon cycle? And why is it important? __________________ "Send more paramedics" Current Tank Info: 300g DD, SPS dominated, Apex, Tunze 6125s, ATB 1050, 400w MH, and Geo 618 Ca Reactor

11/20/2006, 06:23 PM	#25
vanmo92 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Silverthorne, CO. Posts: 2,045	I think I will put my timers on lights, but my issue is that On weekdays I want to see the fish and I have to get up at 6 then, but on weekends I sleep in and if it comes on at 6 then the room is completely dark when the light comes on, which is really bad for the fish. So I think my solution will be to just set it for like 8:30 everyday, which is about when I get up on weekends, but then I wont see my fish 5/7 days (in the mornings), ohh well. __________________ PBITAWA Current Tank Info: 72 gallon bow Mixed Reef 1 fw tank