saltwater newbie attempting a 55 gallon reef

[BTB0923]

Your light came with the tubes? I had to buy the 400 dollar fixture plus 6 bulbs at 25 bucks a peice

Yeah, I was under the impression they always did. Are you sure you got the same light bcuz although I got this one in a trade I've seen the same one online for around $250 with the bulbs included. Where did you get yours from?

 

[BTB0923]

I did my first round of real water testing for my tank tonight. I still have to add more liverock and another pump for better circulation before I start adding corals, but I would like to start preparing for how I am going to have to treat the water. Here are the results:

ph: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm (?, this seems strange to me)
Calcium: 340 ppm
Carbonate Hardness: 9
Phosphate: 0.5 ppm

The reason I have measurable phosphates is because when I first filled the tank I didn't have my RO system yet and I used regular tap water treated with prime. I am doing water changes every few days with RO water treated with Instant Ocean to slowly bring that down.

I know my calcium isn't quite high enough for corals yet. I'm hoping someone will tell me the best way to get my calcium levels above 400.

Is it ok that I have no readable nitrates?? I'm almost positive the tank is cycled because I have had all that rock and a fish in there for a few weeks now. I'm hoping my skimmer is just doing a great job or maybe there is something on my liverock that eats up nitrates??

Right now the only additive I am using is Instant Ocean into my RO water. What other additives will I need? What kind of schedule should I keep with those additives? Is that dependant on my water change schedule??

 

[BTB0923]

Also, I'm probably going to buy a Koralia pump for cirulation tomorrow. What strength of pump (gph) would be the best for a 55 gallon reef? Am I going to eventually want to get another to create a wave effect or will one be ok??

 

[mr.reef24]

I did my first round of real water testing for my tank tonight. I still have to add more liverock and another pump for better circulation before I start adding corals, but I would like to start preparing for how I am going to have to treat the water. Here are the results:

ph: 8.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0 ppm (?, this seems strange to me)
Calcium: 340 ppm
Carbonate Hardness: 9
Phosphate: 0.5 ppm

The reason I have measurable phosphates is because when I first filled the tank I didn't have my RO system yet and I used regular tap water treated with prime. I am doing water changes every few days with RO water treated with Instant Ocean to slowly bring that down.

I know my calcium isn't quite high enough for corals yet. I'm hoping someone will tell me the best way to get my calcium levels above 400. You could get good result's with Brightwell Aquatic's 2 part calcium and alkalinity additive if you wanna spend some cash get a calcium reactor.

Is it ok that I have no readable nitrates?? That's fine. I'm almost positive the tank is cycled because I have had all that rock and a fish in there for a few weeks now. I'm hoping my skimmer is just doing a great job or maybe there is something on my liverock that eats up nitrates?? most likely a bit of both the more you wait to add anything to the tank the better in the long run.

Right now the only additive I am using is Instant Ocean into my RO water. What other additives will I need? A Ph buffer and 2-part calcium and alkalinity additive and your fine and switch to Instant Ocean Reef Crystal's better for reef tank's. What kind of schedule should I keep with those additives? use buffer when you do a water change and add top off water and the 2-part every other day. Is that dependant on my water change schedule?? no

Also for pump use the koralie 2 for your flow it's flow is a little more which your coral's will love.

mr.reef24

 

[BTB0923]

Are Brightwell supplements better than competing brands like Seachem or Kent for some reason? Are ph, calcium levels and alkalinity the only three things I need to maintain with scheduled supplements? What about all the other supplements I see for sale like strontium and magnesium?

 

[BTB0923]

The lightbulb for my sump showed up today. I've got it in and it looks pretty cool. I think I'm going to start leaving it and the display light on for about 12 hours a day in preparation for a cleaning crew I've ordered. I decided to go ahead and use reefcleaners.org. You give them your tank information and they send you a customized recommendation for what you should get. All the snails and crabs and stuff should be arriving on Saturday so I will be sure to post an update.

I've been continuing my water change schedule and because I've been working above the tank so much I noticed something that worried me. The airline tubing I'm using with the aqualifter that safeguards my HOB overflow from possibly losing siphon keeps on falling down to a position that makes the whole setup useless. Its a HUGE pain in the ass to reposition them all the time so I decided to go ahead and create a more permanent solution using airline valves and silicone. I attached pics if you want to see what I rigged up.

 

[mr.reef24]

Are Brightwell supplements better than competing brands like Seachem or Kent for some reason? Brightwell are far better due to the extensive studies they perform before releasing a product. Are ph, calcium levels and alkalinity the only three things I need to maintain with scheduled supplements? For now that is what you should worry about. What about all the other supplements I see for sale like strontium and magnesium? Most of these are contained in Instant Ocean Reef Crystal's and a weekly water change of like 5-10% should consistently replenish them so you won't have to worry about any other supplement's unless when you test them they are low or needed from a test.

mr.reef24

 

[BTB0923]

I just noticed a warning on the box my refugium bulb came in:

"Caution: When used on saltwater tanks, ensure that tank is covered."

Is this cause for concern? My sump is not covered at all and the bulb is sitting about 5" above the water line. I wonder what the reason is for this warning and why its specific to saltwater.

 

[RyanP]

might have somethig to do with the salt creep and shorting the light out or something, might be totally wrong though..tank and setup are comin along nicely.... oh yeah, dont 4get to pay ur time warner bill

 

[RyanP]

are goin to put anything else in the sand side of the sump like some sort algae?