How can i fix my aquarium

[Celbrise]

I read somewhere that salt doesn't even evaporate from the tank is this true nature how much salinity should I keep .you reserves at

 

[Watevadog5]

The water evaporates, causing the salinity to rise.

 

[BlacknBlue2]

You may want to vaccum about 25% of your sandbed next time, that will help remove some of the detris and help keep your parameters more under control.

 

[Celbrise]

I vacuum my sand bed today because I thought it w old help my parameters but I will see over time

 

[BlacknBlue2]

it will help, that I promise, it also keep cyano from starting up in your sandbed

 

[Celbrise]

Yea a lot of junk stuck in my sand bed lol

 

[BlacknBlue2]

Thats were most of your problems are,

 

[Celbrise]

Wish I thought of that sooner last week maybe it could have dropped more lol but it's okay

 

[Celbrise]

so my new test results are ph 7.8 looks like I dropped from 8.0, ammonia 0.25 still the same, nitrate nothing as in nothing change it's still looking 160ppm, nitrite 0ppm. I'm thinking of getting a new nitrate kit I mean it's been 2 weeks now I expected it to drop at least to 80. any thoughts? also would the same kit be advised I don't think they carry any good brands here usually api only

 

[BlacknBlue2]

I would spend the money on Red Sea test kits anyday of the week, their alot more accurate than API is by far. Otherwise you could go with Saliferst Nitrate test kits, and also upgrade your Ph tester as well. If your Ph is still that low I would get some Kent Marine Superbuffer Dkh, this will stabilise and raise your Ph. I have used it in the past with great success.

 

[Celbrise]

I read I want my ph at around 8 where should it be if this is low? they sadly don't sell red sea test kits or anything besides api here but I definetly would I am not trusting this nitrate kit. was actually thinking of upgrading my tank though I want to go 100gallons and then cycle it and keep the fish in the 55gallon tank while this one cycles. can't really find one anywhere here so I think I will look at building my own

 

[Sgt Jonny]

Stop using tap water, remove the phosphates by using a GFO reactor, or using Red Sea No3po4-x. This stuff will reduce the nitrates and phosphates quickly, and the algae will die off. Don't break down your tank, but keep I n mind, everything in this hobby takes time. There is no quick way to do anything. If you rush you could crash your tank. Check out this video on NoPox. It may help. I assume you are using a skimmer...Good luck!

 

[Sgt Jonny]

Also...get rid of the canister filter and get a sump/refugium. Canisters are nitrate factories if you don't maintain them correctly.

 

[BlacknBlue2]

You can order red sea test kits from Marine depot, bulk reef supply and they will ship it to Hawaii. Also ideally you want your Ph around 8-8.3

 

[Celbrise]

i have stopped using tap water for 2-3 weeks now but i am a little backed up on my maintenance this past weekend due to work so i will likely do a 50% water change tomorrow. yea i want to move onto a sump/refugium but idk how the hell i would do that in a tank with water already inside of it because don't you have to drill a hole in the tank on the bottom?

thanks i will look into buying some better test kits last time i tried they wouldn't send the liquid ones over for some reason via plane on dr fosters and smith.

i also think my nitrates are a little high due to me not changing about 4 sponges in my cannister. will likely look into changing those and see if it drops more. i could ALSO be the substrate. i bought my substrate from a LFS here but it wasn't labeled anything and this is a fresh water store so i might look into changing it out and adding better substrate. and yes i do have a skimmer but it is iffy right now. bubbles reach the very top but don't gush out like in other peoples set ups and then it just stops got skum built up in the tube but thats about it.