Alaskan Reefer!

[Fish Think Pink]

Hey all, I'm a newbie in this hobby starting out from Fairbanks Alaska. I am in the process of setting up my 120gal tank and so far everything is going well. I'm currently waiting on a shipment of live sand, then I'll be ready for a few fish I assume.

I have ran into one issue though, I am currently filling a 44gal brute trashcan up with ro/di water over many days. So far my tank is about 80% full, with the sump still dry. Today, more importantly within the last 6 hours, white precipitating flakes began to float atop my water, and some clinging to surfaces. I still need to get a test kit, which I plan to do tomorrow, but I used an old ph test strip from my freshwater aquarium that can read both fresh and salt water. The ph came out to around 7. I did a little research and it seems it could be caused by calcium precipitation due to an acidic ph. Salt I used was coralife and my salinity is 1.025, however I have not begun to heat my tank, and the temperature is around 60 degrees Fahrenheit so I suspect it'll drop to respectable levels as I heat it. Any ideas? Do I just need to boost my alk and ph? Also will this precipitate just dissolve back into solution once the ph rises, and will that cause a calcium spike?

Sorry for all the questions, first ever reef tank and I didn't expect to run into a chemistry problem without any living organisms yet

Welcome! Glad you joined.

Wondering how its turning out for you so far. Doesn't seem this welcome thread had any real suggestions for you (here you'll find people that take 'welcome' very seriously) BUT there are other areas of R2R Forums where people who take different topics very seriously. If you are still at the same place then I'd suggest going to the Chemistry section of the Forum and posting your question over there.

This is a great reference book type article I still refer:

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

This article was sponsored by @MarineDepot at www.marinedepot.com. Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is no...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Abomb2016]

Hi and Welcome AlaskaReef,

PH is a challenge in the winter months up here. A few thing below that I've implemented to help bump my levels up.

Fresh air- outside airline on skimmer intake (this is easy to implement)

CO2 Scrubber- co2 scrubbing media (research recirculating skimmer co2 scrubber) (this works great but the media is another thing to purchase, I order it from BRS and their Alaska shipping rates basically double the cost)

More Aeration- A secondary reactor or skimmer in addition to the main skimmer that just aerates the water, I recently added an ozone reactor to my setup, basically a big bubble tower of PVC pipe. Turns out I rarely turn on the ozone, but find the additional aeration really helps with the PH.

once you get some coral growth 2 part dosing will also bump it up.

In the summer I can just crack a window next to the tank and most of this isn't necessary.

 

[TnFishwater98]

Hey all, I'm a newbie in this hobby starting out from Fairbanks Alaska. I am in the process of setting up my 120gal tank and so far everything is going well. I'm currently waiting on a shipment of live sand, then I'll be ready for a few fish I assume.

I have ran into one issue though, I am currently filling a 44gal brute trashcan up with ro/di water over many days. So far my tank is about 80% full, with the sump still dry. Today, more importantly within the last 6 hours, white precipitating flakes began to float atop my water, and some clinging to surfaces. I still need to get a test kit, which I plan to do tomorrow, but I used an old ph test strip from my freshwater aquarium that can read both fresh and salt water. The ph came out to around 7. I did a little research and it seems it could be caused by calcium precipitation due to an acidic ph. Salt I used was coralife and my salinity is 1.025, however I have not begun to heat my tank, and the temperature is around 60 degrees Fahrenheit so I suspect it'll drop to respectable levels as I heat it. Any ideas? Do I just need to boost my alk and ph? Also will this precipitate just dissolve back into solution once the ph rises, and will that cause a calcium spike?

Sorry for all the questions, first ever reef tank and I didn't expect to run into a chemistry problem without any living organisms yet

Welcome to Da Reef!

 

[Reef Jockey]

Welcome AlaskaReef!!

As for your situation with your tank. I'd wait till you get your sand or any LR you plan to add and as well as your test kits and start your cycle. Without all your media in your tank, you will be chasing numbers all over the place and get frustrated.
It's easy to get frustrated but there is a lot of help in R2R to guide you on your way. As Fish Think Pink mentioned, your specific question are best suited for their respective forums.
Good luck and enjoy this great hobby

 

[Kiwi reefer]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Abomb2016]

Welcome AlaskaReef!!

As for your situation with your tank. I'd wait till you get your sand or any LR you plan to add and as well as your test kits and start your cycle. Without all your media in your tank, you will be chasing numbers all over the place and get frustrated.
It's easy to get frustrated but there is a lot of help in R2R to guide you on your way. As Fish Think Pink mentioned, your specific question are best suited for their respective forums.
Good luck and enjoy this great hobby

Agreed! It's got along way to go before things start to stabilize

 

[attiland]

Hey all, I'm a newbie in this hobby starting out from Fairbanks Alaska. I am in the process of setting up my 120gal tank and so far everything is going well. I'm currently waiting on a shipment of live sand, then I'll be ready for a few fish I assume.

I have ran into one issue though, I am currently filling a 44gal brute trashcan up with ro/di water over many days. So far my tank is about 80% full, with the sump still dry. Today, more importantly within the last 6 hours, white precipitating flakes began to float atop my water, and some clinging to surfaces. I still need to get a test kit, which I plan to do tomorrow, but I used an old ph test strip from my freshwater aquarium that can read both fresh and salt water. The ph came out to around 7. I did a little research and it seems it could be caused by calcium precipitation due to an acidic ph. Salt I used was coralife and my salinity is 1.025, however I have not begun to heat my tank, and the temperature is around 60 degrees Fahrenheit so I suspect it'll drop to respectable levels as I heat it. Any ideas? Do I just need to boost my alk and ph? Also will this precipitate just dissolve back into solution once the ph rises, and will that cause a calcium spike?

Sorry for all the questions, first ever reef tank and I didn't expect to run into a chemistry problem without any living organisms yet

Keep filling that thank and forget about PH and alk while cycling

welcome to R2R

 

[Jimbhoy13]

I agree with finishing setup get test kits and see where your starting point for going forward is. Lots of knowledgeable and helpful people here who will support and advise you when needed.

 

[tharbin]

Welcome to R2R! I only have a few small suggestions that others have already mentioned. Bring the water up to temperature and recheck your salinity, adjust as needed. Don't even worry about the pH until you're up to temp and salinity correct. Until you have finished cycling don't bother with any parameters except ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Until you nitrite goes down to zero don't trust your nitrate readings, they will actually be lower than they read. If you see anything floating on the surface for a prolonged period think about increasing flow. Everything depends on good gas exchange and that only works well with a moving and well agitated tank surface, or gigantic sump. Enjoy yourself and take your time. You should not need to dose anything in a young tank, water changes will keep everything okay. Good luck.