Coming back to saltwater, but with a reef this time

Collinrb · 10/27/2011, 12:30 PM

Hello everyone,
So in high school I got the chance to work with a group of people on a 250 gallon display at school.(went to an aquaculture vocational school) Well since then I've been limited to freshwater by money until now. Recently got a 55 gallon from a buddy about a month ago. It's had a couple pieces of LFS live rock and sand. I got the chance to get the rest of my needed LR off craigslist and jumped at the chance. There's actually a few corals on them.(xenia zoa mushroom) Since this is craigslist it was rather opportunistic of me but a very good price for the amount of rock I got. A couple of hermit crabs came along for the ride as well. My issue is. I have yet to buy a test kit for any kind of water quality. (aside from my freshwater test that only does pH alk, and amm and I dont trust any of them aside from pH) I don't have plans to stock anything in until I get my hands on the proper test kits. I was just wondering if things would be alright until the end of next week when I can get the tests. Also, which kits would you guys reccomend?

55g Seaclone skimmer (temp free from school and working fine) Coralife Aqualight Pro 48' MH Koralia 750

seapug · 10/27/2011, 12:36 PM

If the tank has been running for a month you probably don't have much to worry about. Put the rock in the tank then get a new saltwater ammonia nitrite and nitrate kit and test for all of them. If you have measurable ammonia or nitrite, then the tank is still doing some cycling.

Collinrb · 10/27/2011, 12:55 PM

That's what i figured was going on. The corals are actually thriving being such hardy species and me getting lucky I guess. Do you guys have a brand of kit? or are all of them pretty much the same quality. Since I learned at a high school, the necessities were somehow missed (shock)

thegrun · 10/27/2011, 03:18 PM

API test kits are usually the lowest priced of the quality test kits. Many of their tests can't be read to the same degree of accuracy as the more expensive test kits (I use primarily Salifert for higher accuracy), but they certainly get you close enough to understand where your tanks chemistry is at. The new Red Sea Pro series of test kits are also reasonably priced with reported very good accuracy.

Zappo · 10/27/2011, 03:48 PM

Xenias are actually pretty good indicators of water quality. If they're pulsing normally then the tank is probably ready to go now.

10/27/2011, 12:30 PM	#1
Collinrb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Madison, CT Posts: 2,957	Coming back to saltwater, but with a reef this time Hello everyone, So in high school I got the chance to work with a group of people on a 250 gallon display at school.(went to an aquaculture vocational school) Well since then I've been limited to freshwater by money until now. Recently got a 55 gallon from a buddy about a month ago. It's had a couple pieces of LFS live rock and sand. I got the chance to get the rest of my needed LR off craigslist and jumped at the chance. There's actually a few corals on them.(xenia zoa mushroom) Since this is craigslist it was rather opportunistic of me but a very good price for the amount of rock I got. A couple of hermit crabs came along for the ride as well. My issue is. I have yet to buy a test kit for any kind of water quality. (aside from my freshwater test that only does pH alk, and amm and I dont trust any of them aside from pH) I don't have plans to stock anything in until I get my hands on the proper test kits. I was just wondering if things would be alright until the end of next week when I can get the tests. Also, which kits would you guys reccomend? 55g Seaclone skimmer (temp free from school and working fine) Coralife Aqualight Pro 48' MH Koralia 750

10/27/2011, 12:36 PM	#2
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	If the tank has been running for a month you probably don't have much to worry about. Put the rock in the tank then get a new saltwater ammonia nitrite and nitrate kit and test for all of them. If you have measurable ammonia or nitrite, then the tank is still doing some cycling. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

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10/27/2011, 12:55 PM	#3
Collinrb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Madison, CT Posts: 2,957	That's what i figured was going on. The corals are actually thriving being such hardy species and me getting lucky I guess. Do you guys have a brand of kit? or are all of them pretty much the same quality. Since I learned at a high school, the necessities were somehow missed (shock)

10/27/2011, 03:18 PM	#4
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	API test kits are usually the lowest priced of the quality test kits. Many of their tests can't be read to the same degree of accuracy as the more expensive test kits (I use primarily Salifert for higher accuracy), but they certainly get you close enough to understand where your tanks chemistry is at. The new Red Sea Pro series of test kits are also reasonably priced with reported very good accuracy.

10/27/2011, 03:48 PM	#5
Zappo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 582	Xenias are actually pretty good indicators of water quality. If they're pulsing normally then the tank is probably ready to go now.