first post, lots -o- ?"s

jerehmy · 04/26/2006, 07:42 PM

hey there fellow aquarists!

I have been into tanks for years and have 6 african cichlid tanks, a 55g, two 40g, two 30g and a 10g. I just started a 40g reef rank about a month ago. Here is a pic, the specs are, Aqua Clear 500 hang on back filter, a Remora hang on back skimmer, two PC retrofit 36" 10000k and actenic 96w each , and two Rio 800 power heads, lights are on a timer for 10hr a day. Also the water perams are
Amonia 0ppm
Nitrate 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Calicum 600ppm
Alk 10.9dKH
I am adding Coral vite once a week 1tsp, coral vital 2 a wk 2tsp, and marine buffer 1tsp a wk is that good?

1) I wanted to know if there was a schedule to adding all the additives?
2) Is catalina sea water better than oceanic salt mix with tap water?
3) What is the most important tests to perform and why?
4) how many hours of light per day?
5) what can I do to controll bright lime green alge and brown alge?
6) Why is this sooooooooo much $$$$$$$$$$$

Any help will be greatly appreciated

jerehmy · 04/26/2006, 08:04 PM

Help please!!!! I don't know ?

Bebo77 · 04/26/2006, 09:08 PM

1. you calcium lever ar WAY too high shoot for 400
2. i dont like catalina water i make my own i use seachem reef i think that when you have a reef tank you are better off making your own water.
3 test magnesium, calcium, PO4, and PH every week or every other week as those levels will change according to the "growth" of your tank
4. 8- 10 hours is pleanty of light
5. to control algea do more frequent water changes.. use RODI water and use a skimmer and a sump if possible with cheato
6. you think thats alot i have a 300 gallon tank.. now that expensive...

adam_not4u · 04/26/2006, 09:15 PM

I'm a newb myself so take what I say as such...

I can tell you this tap water is NOT the way to go... if you don't have a RO/DI unit get drinking water from grocery store.

This is going to sound so rude... A lot of the other questions are ?'s that you should of had answers to before getting to where your at now with your tank.

The money should not be a shock to you considering you made sure you had the funds to maintain a SW tank before starting.

Sorry but I've been reading for over 3 yrs before starting mine and it's late... I'm not going to do you like that check out this thread..
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=166836

jerehmy · 04/26/2006, 09:44 PM

to bebo77 thats a very nice tank, the stand must of cost a fortune!

well the ? about the money was ment as a joke, and before the tank was a reef it was salt with puffers in it for 1yr. I know the answers to all the ?'s but just wanted to see what others have to say because thats how people learn new things and better their knowledge in the hobby of fish and or reef keeping, in fresh or saltwater.

The main problem is the alge controll. ( the bright lime green stuff)
its all over the rocks and growing brown on the sand bed, which is 40lbs live sand and 20lbs crushed coral. The stuff is everywhere!

04/26/2006, 07:42 PM	#1
jerehmy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: san diego Posts: 511	first post, lots -o- ?"s hey there fellow aquarists! I have been into tanks for years and have 6 african cichlid tanks, a 55g, two 40g, two 30g and a 10g. I just started a 40g reef rank about a month ago. Here is a pic, the specs are, Aqua Clear 500 hang on back filter, a Remora hang on back skimmer, two PC retrofit 36" 10000k and actenic 96w each , and two Rio 800 power heads, lights are on a timer for 10hr a day. Also the water perams are Amonia 0ppm Nitrate 0ppm Nitrite 0ppm Calicum 600ppm Alk 10.9dKH I am adding Coral vite once a week 1tsp, coral vital 2 a wk 2tsp, and marine buffer 1tsp a wk is that good? 1) I wanted to know if there was a schedule to adding all the additives? 2) Is catalina sea water better than oceanic salt mix with tap water? 3) What is the most important tests to perform and why? 4) how many hours of light per day? 5) what can I do to controll bright lime green alge and brown alge? 6) Why is this sooooooooo much $$$$$$$$$$$ Any help will be greatly appreciated

04/26/2006, 08:04 PM	#2
jerehmy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: san diego Posts: 511	Help please!!!! I don't know ? __________________ Fish are the best medecine for body and mind Current Tank Info: 55g, 40g, 29gx2, 60g, 10g African Cichlids (Breeders) 40g SW Reef with a 20g sump/refugium 75lbs prime LR Mag 9.5 SCWD and Remora skimmer, 2x96w PC's

04/26/2006, 09:08 PM	#3
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	1. you calcium lever ar WAY too high shoot for 400 2. i dont like catalina water i make my own i use seachem reef i think that when you have a reef tank you are better off making your own water. 3 test magnesium, calcium, PO4, and PH every week or every other week as those levels will change according to the "growth" of your tank 4. 8- 10 hours is pleanty of light 5. to control algea do more frequent water changes.. use RODI water and use a skimmer and a sump if possible with cheato 6. you think thats alot i have a 300 gallon tank.. now that expensive... __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

04/26/2006, 09:44 PM	#5
jerehmy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: san diego Posts: 511	to bebo77 thats a very nice tank, the stand must of cost a fortune! well the ? about the money was ment as a joke, and before the tank was a reef it was salt with puffers in it for 1yr. I know the answers to all the ?'s but just wanted to see what others have to say because thats how people learn new things and better their knowledge in the hobby of fish and or reef keeping, in fresh or saltwater. The main problem is the alge controll. ( the bright lime green stuff) its all over the rocks and growing brown on the sand bed, which is 40lbs live sand and 20lbs crushed coral. The stuff is everywhere! __________________ Fish are the best medecine for body and mind Current Tank Info: 55g, 40g, 29gx2, 60g, 10g African Cichlids (Breeders) 40g SW Reef with a 20g sump/refugium 75lbs prime LR Mag 9.5 SCWD and Remora skimmer, 2x96w PC's

04/26/2006, 09:15 PM	#4
adam_not4u Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 332	I'm a newb myself so take what I say as such... I can tell you this tap water is NOT the way to go... if you don't have a RO/DI unit get drinking water from grocery store. This is going to sound so rude... A lot of the other questions are ?'s that you should of had answers to before getting to where your at now with your tank. The money should not be a shock to you considering you made sure you had the funds to maintain a SW tank before starting. Sorry but I've been reading for over 3 yrs before starting mine and it's late... I'm not going to do you like that check out this thread.. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=166836