+1!
Help!!@!
- Thread starter Lizzz
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prsnlty
Jackie
What are the readings? What are you testing and with what test kit?
prsnlty
Jackie
No3, po4 ?
When you go into the aquarium store to fill up your water bottle you need to ask them what their current TDS reading is before you buy it. Them saying it's good doesn't mean anything their idea of good is not going to be the same as our idea of good in most cases. They're there to sell you something.
When you go into the aquarium store to fill up your water bottle you need to ask them what their current TDS reading is before you buy it. Them saying it's good doesn't mean anything their idea of good is not going to be the same as our idea of good in most cases. They're there to sell you something.
prsnlty
Jackie
So in a nutshell here's what I think. Your lfs (local fish store) maybe selling you Rodi water over 001 or 002 TDS, they are doing your testing with API test kits which are garbage unless fresh and not being open all day. Which more than likely they're open all day at the lfs. You won't get accurate readings from those tests. Your lights are not on too long they are fine actually they should be on longer if you're supporting Coral if not and it's just fish it's not a big deal. You don't have the proper clean up crew and definitely need snails. You need to invest in at least a Red Sea test kit and do the test yourself for better accuracy. And if at all possible see if you can find an Rodi unit that you can hook up to your sink. Whether it be used or brand new you need at least a three-stage system plus Di. I suggest that you get some ferric oxide or phosguard and a bag to put it in and put it in your sump or the back of your BioCube if that's what you have in the path of the water flow. That will help keep the phosphates down. In the meantime do as I suggested as far as dipping your rocks and getting rid of what's there now. But if you don't get a handle on it it's only going to get worse.
prsnlty
Jackie
Btw, welcome to R2R, we are here to help... do not be afraid to ask questions! This forum is packed full of any kind of information you might possibly need and then some. You might want to start in Reef chemistry forum and read the articles from Randy Holmes Farley. They're full of wonderful information from beginner to advanced. We ALL learn something new every day 
please also go to the members tanks area or Nano tanks area and create a build thread and tell us about your tank. Having one of those has a lot of benefits. You can treat it like a journal and be able to look back on it as well as get input from other members and when something like this happens we can help you more quickly 
please also go to the members tanks area or Nano tanks area and create a build thread and tell us about your tank. Having one of those has a lot of benefits. You can treat it like a journal and be able to look back on it as well as get input from other members and when something like this happens we can help you more quickly 
No, stay the course. Go slow and keep learning.
prsnlty
Jackie
Even if you buy new rock you're still going to go through the ugly stages maybe not this bad but you will still more than likely get some sort of algae. Personally I have been where you are but with a far bigger tank. I had over 250 lb of Rock and did this treatment. That was three tanks ago and that rock still to this day does not get algae on it. I would suggest cleaning up what you have. Your money can be better spent on other supplies that you need.
prsnlty
Jackie
Depending on what you can afford the salifert brand is actually a little better then the Red Sea but the Red Sea is still good. And you need something to test your phosphates I would suggest looking into a Hannah checker low range.
As far as what is in the back of your tank goes do you have carbon in it or a black pad? I can see that you have floss and the white stuff is probably a phosphate media however if it is it will reach out once it's used up. And that stuff is pretty hard to tell if it's used up. How long is it been in there? Cuz I would say to change that out every 2 to 3 weeks. And bio balls are not necessary, as a matter of fact they're nitrate factories. You would do better to get a nano size protein skimmer and put it in one of those chambers.
As far as what is in the back of your tank goes do you have carbon in it or a black pad? I can see that you have floss and the white stuff is probably a phosphate media however if it is it will reach out once it's used up. And that stuff is pretty hard to tell if it's used up. How long is it been in there? Cuz I would say to change that out every 2 to 3 weeks. And bio balls are not necessary, as a matter of fact they're nitrate factories. You would do better to get a nano size protein skimmer and put it in one of those chambers.
fwiw im on api, have been for years and red sea for cal alk an mag(not really needed in a new tank IMO.)
