Duncan and hammer noy fully 9pening

[onlyreefsnobeef]

Do not dose anything right away. Get your levels first. Alkalinity can be dosed with simple baking soda from your fridge added to top off water.

Okay ill post test results tonight

 

[MaxTremors]

There was probably a less harsh way to say all that honestly. OP is just a kid and it’s not like he’s being belligerent. Maybe take it down a notch?

I don’t think what I said was harsh, whatsoever. I don’t think they were belligerent, but I think they’re willfully overlooking or ignoring some of the key aspects of reef tank husbandry. The ‘I don’t have money for X necessary equipment to keep Y animal healthy, so I’ll get the animal now and the thing to keep it healthy down the road’ excuse just doesn’t work for me, regardless of the age of the person making it. If you had enough money to buy the animal in question, you had enough money to buy a $15 test kit to ensure it stays alive, it’s a very clear and intentional misalignment of priorities. You don’t buy a dog and then say ‘I’m saving up to buy it some food’. There are a ton of things you can get by without in this hobby, an alkalinity test kit if you’re keeping stony corals (and really any corals) is not one of them. I don’t think pointing any of this out is harsh.

 

[Bfragale]

I don’t think what I said was harsh, whatsoever. I don’t think they were belligerent, but the ‘I don’t have money for X necessary equipment to keep Y animal healthy’ excuse just doesn’t work for me, regardless of the age of the person making it. If you had enough money to buy the animal in question, you had enough money to buy a $15 test kit to ensure it stays alive. You don’t buy a dog and then say ‘I’m saving up to buy it some food’. There are a ton of things you can get by without in this hobby, an alkalinity test kit if you’re keeping stony corals (and really any corals) is not one of them. I don’t think pointing any of this out is harsh, I think it’s harsh to t

wow dude. Come on man, lighten up. Or buy the kid some test kits if you have such a big problem with it. Or don’t.. but No one is perfect, and we all started somewhere. I can agree about keeping animals and we need to be good animal parents- but on the same note people in the hobby are all at different levels, and in the sprit of helping and contributing to this hobby: it’s way more productive to help inform and teach, and share knowledge and experiences rather then discourage. I’m a fan of the saying “if you dont have anything nice to say then don’t say anything” and I would personally never want to discourage or degrade anyone in anyway. Let’s help with positive reinforcement. Some reefers are in a position to do (and spend) what it takes and others maybe not so much- but the passion for this hobby is the same- no matter what level your at. Wouldn’t you love to see this kid excel and learn? I would! Sometimes comments can sound worse then Intended, but I just feel it was a little too harsh, maybe a Re-word could have helped soften the blow.. idk.

In any case. Happy reefing!

 

[MaxTremors]

wow dude. Come on man, lighten up. Or buy the kid some test kits if you have such a big problem with it. Or don’t.. but No one is perfect, and we all started somewhere. I can agree about keeping animals and we need to be good animal parents- but on the same note people in the hobby are all at different levels, and in the sprit of helping and contributing to this hobby: it’s way more productive to help inform and teach, and share knowledge and experiences rather then discourage. I’m a fan of the saying “if you dont have anything nice to say then don’t say anything” and I would personally never want to discourage or degrade anyone in anyway. Let’s help with positive reinforcement. Some reefers are in a position to do (and spend) what it takes and others maybe not so much- but the passion for this hobby is the same- no matter what level your at. Wouldn’t you love to see this kid excel and learn? I would! Sometimes comments can sound worse then Intended, but I just feel it was a little too harsh, maybe a Re-word could have helped soften the blow.. idk.

In any case. Happy reefing!

I all said was (to paraphrase) ‘to be frank, you have no business keeping corals if you’re not testing for basic parameters’. I would like nothing better than to see the kid succeed, but there is a MASSIVE issue in this hobby with people not putting the needs of the animals we’re keeping first and foremost. We see people so often on this forum that buy corals without knowing what they are or how to care for them, or buying tanks and animals without doing research first, or worst viewing the animals we keep as disposable or something to just experiment with. How many times have you read this exact phrase here, ‘it didn’t cost that much, so it’s not a big deal if it doesn’t make it’? I want to be clear I’m not saying this kid said anything like that, but what he did say falls in line with this general attitude that the basic needs of fish/aquatic animals are optional. I am all for kids getting into the hobby, but just because someone is a kid it doesn’t mean they get a pass on basic husbandry. My concern is with the animals, not the kid’s feelings (which again, I don’t think I was harsh).

 

[onlyreefsnobeef]

I all said was (to paraphrase) ‘to be frank, you have no business keeping corals if you’re not testing for basic parameters’. I would like nothing better than to see the kid succeed, but there is a MASSIVE issue in this hobby with people not putting the needs of the animals we’re keeping first and foremost. We see people so often on this forum that buy corals without knowing what they are or how to care for them, or buying tanks and animals without doing research first, or worst viewing the animals we keep as disposable or something to just experiment with. How many times have you read this exact phrase here, ‘it didn’t cost that much, so it’s not a big deal if it doesn’t make it’? I want to be clear I’m not saying this kid said anything like that, but what he did say falls in line with this general attitude that the basic needs of fish/aquatic animals are optional. I am all for kids getting into the hobby, but just because someone is a kid it doesn’t mean they get a pass on basic husbandry. My concern is with the animals, not the kid’s feelings (which again, I don’t think I was harsh).

Bud I drove 30 min and spent 80 bucks after being informed so calm down, you came off as suggesting that I don't care for my animals

 

[Bfragale]

I all said was (to paraphrase) ‘to be frank, you have no business keeping corals if you’re not testing for basic parameters’. I would like nothing better than to see the kid succeed, but there is a MASSIVE issue in this hobby with people not putting the needs of the animals we’re keeping first and foremost. We see people so often on this forum that buy corals without knowing what they are or how to care for them, or buying tanks and animals without doing research first, or worst viewing the animals we keep as disposable or something to just experiment with. How many times have you read this exact phrase here, ‘it didn’t cost that much, so it’s not a big deal if it doesn’t make it’? I want to be clear I’m not saying this kid said anything like that, but what he did say falls in line with this general attitude that the basic needs of fish/aquatic animals are optional. I am all for kids getting into the hobby, but just because someone is a kid it doesn’t mean they get a pass on basic husbandry. My concern is with the animals, not the kid’s feelings (which again, I don’t think I was harsh).

thanks for the paraphrase.

HAPPY REEFING!

Just took these: figured I would share. Lighten the atmosphere a bit.

 

[onlyreefsnobeef]

thanks for the paraphrase.

HAPPY REEFING!

Just took these: figured I would share. Lighten the atmosphere a bit.

HOLY HECKING HECK I AM JELALOUS

 

[PeterB113]

Damm I had to do the same now lol just took these as well 20g need a new tank ASAP!
Been in the hobby 6mos and I get how tough it is epically with Nanos and just starting out. Msg me if u even need help I help my friend every week and he has the same tank as you!

 

[MaxTremors]

thanks for the paraphrase.

HAPPY REEFING!

Just took these: figured I would share. Lighten the atmosphere a bit.

You’ve got some truly beautiful tanks! ! That red and yellow Goni and your bubble coral are both gorgeous.

 

[onlyreefsnobeef]

thanks for the paraphrase.

HAPPY REEFING!

Just took these: figured I would share. Lighten the atmosphere a bit.

Calc. 380ppm alk 10° dkh

 

[Bfragale]

ok so to recap:
your parameters:

alk 10 dkh
Cal 380
Salinity 1.025
Temp 76.5
No3 15ppm

these are not bad number. I think your next set of tests should be: magnesium, phosphate, and PH.

I like to keep my Alk between 8.5 and 9.5- but 10 is not bad.

For calcium I shoot for 420-450.
For salinity 1.025-1.026
I keep my temp at 78-79

my no3 is usually 15-20 (some will say that’s high but it works for me?)

my phosphate (po4) is usually .5- .6 (also a bit high but seems to work)

I keep magnesium around 1350-1400.

lastly PH I keep around 8-8.3.

for test kits- I like Salifert the best and the Hanna for ALK and Phosphates. But the Hanna is a bit priccompared to the regular test kits. API is usually not reliable.

you should also pick up a bottle of refractometer calibration fluid- and check your refractometer monthly. I found mine was off and I didn’t know.

More then Hitting specific numbers, consistency is most important. In the beginning I found my self “chasing numbers” and that just caused more problems lol. I find as long as your consistent things are happier even if numbers are off a bit.

magnesium is very important. It helps keep alk and cal balanced, and may help keep things stable.

Hope this helps my friend. Let me know if you have any questions I may be able to help with. Take care

 

[onlyreefsnobeef]

ok so to recap:
your parameters:

alk 10 dkh
Cal 380
Salinity 1.025
Temp 76.5
No3 15ppm

these are not bad number. I think your next set of tests should be: magnesium, phosphate, and PH.

I like to keep my Alk between 8.5 and 9.5- but 10 is not bad.

For calcium I shoot for 420-450.
For salinity 1.025-1.026
I keep my temp at 78-79

my no3 is usually 15-20 (some will say that’s high but it works for me?)

my phosphate (po4) is usually .5- .6 (also a bit high but seems to work)

I keep magnesium around 1350-1400.

lastly PH I keep around 8-8.3.

for test kits- I like Salifert the best and the Hanna for ALK and Phosphates. But the Hanna is a bit priccompared to the regular test kits. API is usually not reliable.

you should also pick up a bottle of refractometer calibration fluid- and check your refractometer monthly. I found mine was off and I didn’t know.

More then Hitting specific numbers, consistency is most important. In the beginning I found my self “chasing numbers” and that just caused more problems lol. I find as long as your consistent things are happier even if numbers are off a bit.

magnesium is very important. It helps keep alk and cal balanced, and may help keep things stable.

Hope this helps my friend. Let me know if you have any questions I may be able to help with. Take care

So here's what I think is happening, the corals were in a system with much higher lighting one in kessil 700s and another in hydra 32 hds, and I don't have that high of par and they are adjusting to it