A couple of random questions!

[Kfox93]

Alright, I've only been into the saltwater hobby for about three months now. So I still have alot of questions.

1. What does everyone feed their corals? How often? And how do you feed them?

2. What is the best water test kit to use? I have seen a lot of mixed reviews. Also, what is the best refractometer to use?

3. I have a 14 gallon biocube, how often does everyone do water changes? If I purchase saltwater from a lfs and keep the water in sealed jugs. How long can I keep the water in the jugs before its bad?

These are just some questions, I will probably start askimg more questions in the comment thread.

 

[Preme]

I feed oyster feast 2 times a week. Also I've used polyp labs reef roids, but it often depends on what type of coral you will be having.

As it goes for test kits I've used salifert and haven't had any issues with them being inaccurate.

I make my own RODI water at home, but when I did buy it from the LFS I usually bought as much as I thought I'd need for that weeks water change.

Hopefully that helps you out

 

[sbash]

I love answering numbered lists!!!

1. Largely fish poo, left over food (not that there is any in my 220 DT) and trace elements. For my tanks without fish (I have a 5.5 gallon, 65 gallon and a frag tank of an uncalculated volume) I just throw in some flakes or a food disc once a week. Actually, the frag tank I might do twice a week... Note, I do not directly feed the corals, I feed the tank... What type of corals are you keeping?

2. Find the test kit that works best for you and is readily available. This also depends on the individual tests... I have an assortment of Seachem, API, Salifert, Red Sea, and a couple other brands... For the refractometers, I am fine with the $30 ATC ones, but make sure you have calibration fluid on hand and use it regularly.

3. Some recommend weekly water changes in a tank that small. If you have a skimmer, you can get away with smaller changes, say, 10-20% a week. Otherwise, do as much as possible every week or couple of weeks. If the salt water from your LFS is in a sealed container, it should last a while. What type of plastic are the containers?

 

[jsker]

1.twice a day with a blend for the fish and corals. Frozen plus oyster feast, roti feast, and R.O.E.
2.Red Sea
3. 10% every two weeks sometimes longer.

 

[Kershaw]

1. I only feed coral once every two weeks a few hours before water changes with reef roids

2. You are looking for any test kit that gives you easily repeatable results. You should. E able to test your water several times in a row and get the same result.
For example. I have a Hanna, nyos, API and Elos in all test kits. I use the API more because it's so much faster. It dose say I am 1dkh higher then the other kits and 1.5 higher then the Hannah. But if my tank looks good and coral is growing. I don't care what the number is as long as it repeats. With that being said I try and keep it at 8-9 with API.

3. Water changes I try and do twice a month.

 

[ahiggins]

Alright, I've only been into the saltwater hobby for about three months now. So I still have alot of questions.

1. What does everyone feed their corals? How often? And how do you feed them?

2. What is the best water test kit to use? I have seen a lot of mixed reviews. Also, what is the best refractometer to use?

3. I have a 14 gallon biocube, how often does everyone do water changes? If I purchase saltwater from a lfs and keep the water in sealed jugs. How long can I keep the water in the jugs before its bad?

These are just some questions, I will probably start askimg more questions in the comment thread.

1) I feed a mixture of reef roids, reef frenzy nano, sometimes mysis. I feed 3-4 times per week. I always feed directly to their mouths. Unless Im doing the goni/acro, then its a spray right on top of them and let the current take it to them and thats only reef roids.
2) I use salifert test kits. I have used api and red sea but I find api isnt accurate and red sea has so many steps that theres so much room for human error. Refractometer I use http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/refra...n-fluid.html?gclid=CO6YqfbMg9ICFcdXDQodGEwFIA. Its cheap but extremely accurate.
3) I do water changes based on parameters. In my 10 gallon, I know I have to do 2.5 every other week or I start growing diatoms/algae. For the 25 (with the uber filtration) I can get away with 5 per month. My suggestion is to get a cheap rodi unit: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...d=PLA_G_6194&gclid=CKelgbDNg9ICFUZLDQodnZILVw. Make sure to get the DI chamber as well. Super easy to use and will save you a TON of money when it comes to water. I use 2.5 or 5 gal pails to keep RODI water in: http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=82208. Ive never kept saltwater more than 24 hours so I cant help you as far as how long it can stay "good".

 

[Radman73]

I love answering numbered lists!!!

1. Largely fish poo, left over food (not that there is any in my 220 DT) and trace elements. For my tanks without fish (I have a 5.5 gallon, 65 gallon and a frag tank of an uncalculated volume) I just throw in some flakes or a food disc once a week. Actually, the frag tank I might do twice a week... Note, I do not directly feed the corals, I feed the tank... What type of corals are you keeping?

2. Find the test kit that works best for you and is readily available. This also depends on the individual tests... I have an assortment of Seachem, API, Salifert, Red Sea, and a couple other brands... For the refractometers, I am fine with the $30 ATC ones, but make sure you have calibration fluid on hand and use it regularly.

3. Some recommend weekly water changes in a tank that small. If you have a skimmer, you can get away with smaller changes, say, 10-20% a week. Otherwise, do as much as possible every week or couple of weeks. If the salt water from your LFS is in a sealed container, it should last a while. What type of plastic are the containers?

Excellent advice.

1. Same, largely fish poo. I used to target feed my acans and that did help but it wasn't regularly.

2. I've used Red Sea, Hanna, Seachem, Salifert. The list can go on and on lol! Some manufacturers are easier to use than others, depending on the test kit and even personal preference.

3. On water changes. On a tank that small, refrain from massive water changes on a regular basis. When I had my 29gal biocube I figured water changes were cheap so why not do 10gal weekly instead of 3-5gal? Because it messes with stability. Especially if you aren't 100% sure that ph and alk are spot on or at least very close. Once I cooled it on the water changes my tank responded in a very positive way. Your store's water can prob sit for a while but test it weekly to make sure alk is where you want it. Also test the ph of the fresh water. And finally, don't rely on the LFS for water param's of what they give you. There have been horror stories of people getting RO instead of salt water. Trust, but verify. I'll second or third getting a good RODI unit and making your own.

 

[wilecyote007]

I am new to reefing but the first thing i bought was an rodi system. It was 200 dollars (probably cheaper but i was impatient ) and it will save you so much mixing your own salt. I have a 75 gal and lugging that from store was not appealing.