Tests again

[Maxi]

Ok, so the cycling of my new tank continues. My tests are as follow:

nitrates - 5
nitrites - 0
ph - 7.8 (What do I do? I have water hitting the surface like crazy, I don't think theres even been more current than this on a smaller tank!) Do I add ph up? baking soda?
ammonia - .50
sg - 1.024 (refractometer, calibrated)

Should I do a water change? I can do 1 gallon water changes. I am also aiming for a salinity of 1.026 so I made a gallon of saltwater with salinity of 1.031 to raise it.

When can I start adding my Clean up crew?

[Michael]

no no, dont stick the 1.031 water in, just replace the water with 1.026 and keep doing it every time you change so it slowly gets to the level you want, baking soda will raise alk, to raise ph read this article by randy

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.php

[kau_cinta_ku]

do not add anything like pH up or baking soda to control your pH. those things will basically just raise your pH and alk. however the pH will drop back down alot faster than the alk.

the ammonia is still very high so you still have a few weeks of waiting.

add your cleanup crew only after a week of getting testing results of 0 ammonia, and 0 nitrates.

here is some good reading on low pH.
http://reefkeeping.com:80/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm

[Maxi]

Thanks for the article. I was thinking that my ph problem is probably because the airconditioner isn't that strong in my room. So I'm going to have to get a fan to help the PH.

I dropped the gallons salinity from 1.031 to 1.026. should I do a water change?

[kau_cinta_ku]

a water change wouldn't hurt. to raise your sg. just top off with SW till you get to the sg you want then go back to topping off with rodi water.

[Maxi]

Wow, waterchange helped a lot.

ammonia - 0
nitrates - 10
nitrites - 0
ph - 8.4
sg - 1.025

I'm going to do 1 more tomorrow and see how it turns out

[Michael]

Originally posted by Maxi
Wow, waterchange helped a lot.

ammonia - 0
nitrates - 10
nitrites - 0
ph - 8.4
sg - 1.025

I'm going to do 1 more tomorrow and see how it turns out

thats great news, however listen to sams advice about raising sg, you can do it with top offs or each time you water change keep it slightly above what you have now, like the next change 1.025 and a bit, although its probably best to just top off from now on 1.025 is near perfect anyhow, id probably leave it and raise to 1.026 very slowly through top offs now its at that level

[dots]

You have a refractometer, correct? Its easier to read them at the 35ppt mark.

Patience is a virtue here, to be quite honest if all you have is water in the tank, you can ignore it and let it run its course. The main thing to concentrate now is perfecting your testing methods, get into a habit for regular weekly, bi-weekly, etc. WC's that you will continue with in the future.

Every quarter, I clean and inspect the pumps, skimmer, drain and clean my sump. Prevenative maintenance and regularity is the key to long term success.

[Maxi]

Thanks.

I have done that topping off with saltwater in my previous tank because of salinity being low.

And correct dots, I have a refractomter. Its calibrated.
I'll test the water again after cutting the grass, and also change it.

Any tips on lowering the nitrates?

[kau_cinta_ku]

the water change should lower the nitrates.

[Maxi]

Salinity has reached 1.026

My ammonia test is confusing me - the color doesn't appear on the chart. It appears clearer than the one marked "0"

So I'm guessing it is undetectable.

My ph is slowly rising. I accidentally messed up during the test of the ph last time. It is 8.0 right now


I'm wondering, the nitates won't drop. Is it ok to add amquel + to the tank to remove it?

[kau_cinta_ku]

I wouldn't add the amequel to lower the nitrates. if a water change didn't bring them down with no livestock then there is something else going on.

how big of a water change did you do? what type of water did you use?

[Maxi]

I've done 3 gallons total.

I use RO/DI water

[kau_cinta_ku]

is this for your 3 gal. tank?

[Maxi]

No no.

It is for my new 26g bowfront. Here is a link to the build...

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...5&pagenumber=1

Sorry for the confusion. I forgot to say that it was for the new tank.

[kau_cinta_ku]

oh ok do about an 8-10gal. water change. also check the premixed water for ammonia and nitrates before the waterchange then test nitrates a couple hours after the water change.

[Maxi]

Alright, thanks!

I have to buy more salt now, which do you reccomend?

I just ran out of instant ocean (not reef crystals)

Do you think oceanic is good?

[kau_cinta_ku]

I used IO for a while and decided to try oceanic because of the higher levels of cal. and mag. but everytime I did a water change I would get burnt corals. not knowing the reason I have found out a couple ppl have had the same problem with oceanic salt. so now I am back to using IO and am happy with it again.

but don't get me wrong if you look at Travis's tank (tank of the month) he uses oceanic and gets great results. along with Travis and most of our reef club they use oceanic and get good results. I was the only one in our club to get bad results

[Maxi]

I used to use oceanic but switched to IO and the results in my 3g have been drastic. Zoanthids dissapeared, candy cane shrunk, feather duster shrank. And my inverts always died because of molt failure.

I guess I am going to try Oceanic again and see what happens then