Help Me Understand My Parameters.

[Weehawken64]

My 29g tank has been up and running for about 2 month now. I have 30lbs LR and 25lbs of live sand. I have a cuc and about 6 different corals. I started adding my first fish about 2 weeks ago. I got 2 clowns and a goby and a few days ago I got a six line. So basically I started feeding the tank about 2 wks ago. My ammonia has been and still is 0. Nitrites were .25 and are now 0. But my nitrates have gone from a steady 10 to a 20 (I tested today). Also my PH has gone from a steady 8.2 to 8.0. I use rodi water do a wc about every 2 wks. I'm due for my next one this Wednesday. So I need to know why my nitrates and ph numbers have changed. And are those numbers good or not.

thank you.


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[Tom Does Disney]

It's all relatively fine.

Ideally you want the pH at 8.3 and nitrates no higher then 20ppm

Although many coral and fish need nitrates around 5-10 maximum in order to live and grow

 

[Weehawken64]

Btw I feed twice a day very little amount each time.


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[mike007]

Be carefull with your feeding excess nutrients will cause your nitrate level to rise. To raise ph you can use a buffer, some use baking soda. You have to maintain your ca. level and your alk. they work together.

 

[Weehawken64]

Hey mike do you think the ph is to low? I have this product but never used it yet.

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[Reefing Madness]

To raise your PH make sure your powerheads are breaking the water suurface, and your skimmer is working properly, this will normally keep your PH normal. Baking Soda will raise your PH and your ALK, but Baking Soda is not used to maintain PH, its used to maintain ALK. Muriatic Acid will lower your ALK and PH.
Aquarium Chemistry; Calcium, KH, GH, pH, Electrolytes, Magnesium, Mineral Ions

 

[mike007]

Yes that is a good buffer follow instuctions and it should raise to 8.3. Also you want your calcium level somewhere between 400-450.

 

[Weehawken64]

I wonder if shutting my powerhead off for a few days had anything to do with it? I shut it off cus I had just gotten a frilly mushroom and the currents were beating the crap out of it. Which is another topic of where I place this thing cus to me it looks like the current moves it around way to much.


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[mike007]

Zrooms do not like alot of current or direct light. Try to place in a shaded area with low flow. As far as your powerhead you want it to be pointed where it makes the top of water ripple. But you will probaly still need to buffer.

 

[Weehawken64]

Thanks Mike for the help. I spent a good part of the day figuring out a good spot for it. Had it on the sand bed leaning on a rock towards the front of the tank. It looked good there in the front but like I said current was beating it up it even loosened a small peace of the shroom off the rock. So I finally settled on a spot towards the top and against the back wall of the Biocube. Current doesn't get it as much there but at the same time it's not very visible there. I actually have had tge powerhead pointing towards the top and u do see ripples. I also picked up a star polyp that same day. I think that one likes string current divi placed ur right under my return. Maybe you can tell in these pix. I will read those directions and buffer tomorrow

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