Coral help and sand help

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Got a Turbo snail on the way home (pretty sure that's the common name drawing a blank right now lfs owner said he'd help with the algea) and ill pull the thing that's harmfull to the coral and do a water test. Pics on the Way.

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Any reef test will work for a basic understanding of Alk + cal to mag. Iodine is usually sold singularly. If all your planning are softies you may never have to dose anything Alk related but Iodine might be needed if they don't flourish. The use of carbon helps remove the toxins that softies can produce and will also help remove some of the dissolved solids that are fueling the algae. Unfortunately with smaller systems the ppm is not on your side.
 
PPM is part of a measurement formula used in testing water - Zero Nitrites = test reads 0 ppm - High Nitrates might be 80ppm, low Nitrates my be 10ppm.

When I said ppm is not on your side in small tanks heres why -
A clownfish all by it's self in a 20 gal fishtank w/ 20 lbs of cycled LR might create a weeks end bioload of 20 ppm of Nitrate. Take the same clown and 20lbs of LR, put it in a 200gal tank all by it's self and a weeksend bioload reading of Nitrate will be zero. The extra 180 gal of H20 dissipates the Nitrate by volume.
 
+1 on not dosing what you can't test for. Honestly, in that small of a tank, you should be able to get by with only doing weekly water changes. If you're just going to have softies you'll be fine just feeding phyto.

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Nice tank you've got there. You've got a great start and that tank could look awesome if you work to keep it maintained.

I would start by getting a solid reef test kit. I use the API Saltwater test kit and the Reef Master test kit. You can buy it online here (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4345+4452&pcatid=4452) (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4345+15473&pcatid=15473)- Between these two kits, you will be able to test for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, High range pH, KH, Calcium, and Phosphate.

I've found that most of the trace elements can be kept in check by using a quality salt mix. I use Instant ocean reef crystals. By doing weekly water changes you replenish trace elements like Calcium and Magnesium.

The hair algae will probably slowly phase out once your tank matures. But to help it along, I would definitely consider some dwarf blue leg hermit crabs and some more snails. I like nassarius and nerite snails.
 
Otherone said:
PPM is part of a measurement formula used in testing water - Zero Nitrites = test reads 0 ppm - High Nitrates might be 80ppm, low Nitrates my be 10ppm.

When I said ppm is not on your side in small tanks heres why -
A clownfish all by it's self in a 20 gal fishtank w/ 20 lbs of cycled LR might create a weeks end bioload of 20 ppm of Nitrate. Take the same clown and 20lbs of LR, put it in a 200gal tank all by it's self and a weeksend bioload reading of Nitrate will be zero. The extra 180 gal of H20 dissipates the Nitrate by volume.
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oh i understand, thanks for clearing that up.
pumpmykix said:
+1 on not dosing what you can't test for. Honestly, in that small of a tank, you should be able to get by with only doing weekly water changes. If you're just going to have softies you'll be fine just feeding phyto.

Sent from my LG-E739 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Click to expand...
alrighty sounds good then. but how long should i turn off the skimmer when feeding phyto? or the skimmer doesnt remove that? but since the skimmer is the biggest pump(rated for 50g like i said) can i still turn it off so the softies can get the most of their food?
xEchOx said:
Nice tank you've got there. You've got a great start and that tank could look awesome if you work to keep it maintained.

I would start by getting a solid reef test kit. I use the API Saltwater test kit and the Reef Master test kit. You can buy it online here (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4345+4452&pcatid=4452) (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4345+15473&pcatid=15473)- Between these two kits, you will be able to test for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates, High range pH, KH, Calcium, and Phosphate.

I've found that most of the trace elements can be kept in check by using a quality salt mix. I use Instant ocean reef crystals. By doing weekly water changes you replenish trace elements like Calcium and Magnesium.

The hair algae will probably slowly phase out once your tank matures. But to help it along, I would definitely consider some dwarf blue leg hermit crabs and some more snails. I like nassarius and nerite snails.
Click to expand...

thanks =] i have one of the kits you have posted i have to get the one you posted that test for cal and phos. i thought dwarf blue leg hermits where only scavengers? not sure if my lfs has exacly dwarf blue leg hermits would any hermit do the same job? they have tiny tiny hermits labled as hermit crabs. and for the snails and hermits how many should i get? i assume they dont have a big bio load? the one snail i got was GREAT he cleaned a good portion of the rock crystal white! So should i get maybe 3 more snails and 3 hermits? Also for wc i dont mix my own salt i just go down to the lfs and get 4-5gallons of their sea water. they say it comes from the ocean but like "healthy regions" such as reefs.
 
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