tbrown
Nominated Cronie Intern - Might be failing?
I usually only add about 1 teaspoon a day to bring mine up but I use Baking Soda, not Soda Ash.
Kipp's Coral's
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OP
OP
Kipp's Corals
Active Member
Okay everyone, good news.
Retested before doing a water change.
dKh: 8.7
Ph: 8.1
Left lights on accidentally and a nice diatom bloom occurred. This is a sign of a good thing right?
Retested before doing a water change.
dKh: 8.7
Ph: 8.1
Left lights on accidentally and a nice diatom bloom occurred. This is a sign of a good thing right?
SudzFD
Well-Known Member
Just a thought to share.
Sometimes less is more. Especially at this early stage. Stability is always more important than numbers and any changes should be gradual.
Based on what’s in your tank, I honestly wouldn’t even be checking alkalinity. I never ever checked it when I had fish only tanks. It is desperately important along with calcium for coral growth but I wouldn’t be concerned about a low reading now. Water changes over time will balance it out.
Once you are ready to put corals in, then figure out how to keep alkalinity stable.
I personally use 2 part b ionic and have had great results.
Hope everything is fine in your tank (I anticipate it should be) and just wanted to throw this out there.
Sometimes less is more. Especially at this early stage. Stability is always more important than numbers and any changes should be gradual.
Based on what’s in your tank, I honestly wouldn’t even be checking alkalinity. I never ever checked it when I had fish only tanks. It is desperately important along with calcium for coral growth but I wouldn’t be concerned about a low reading now. Water changes over time will balance it out.
Once you are ready to put corals in, then figure out how to keep alkalinity stable.
I personally use 2 part b ionic and have had great results.
Hope everything is fine in your tank (I anticipate it should be) and just wanted to throw this out there.
OP
OP
Kipp's Corals
Active Member
Thank you for advice
its tough cause you get mixed opinions from people. (not saying your answer is wrong, probably the safest answer) lol but very easy to get caught down the wrong rabbit hole. Doesn't seem like it affected the livestock at all, figured id see some kind of distress. Inverts are defiantly tougher to judge lol. My "show" piece currently is my brittle star, love when that thing comes out to eat!
OP
OP
Kipp's Corals
Active Member
Performed first water change on 4/28/24
No issues from ALK dosing. Taking @SudzFD advice and won't focus to heavily on the trace elements until I add corals.
Experiencing a heavy diatom bloom on live rock and sand, probably going to add some more CUC soon
Currently have a brittle star, cleaner shrimp and one turbo.
No issues from ALK dosing. Taking @SudzFD advice and won't focus to heavily on the trace elements until I add corals.
Experiencing a heavy diatom bloom on live rock and sand, probably going to add some more CUC soon
Currently have a brittle star, cleaner shrimp and one turbo.
tbrown
Nominated Cronie Intern - Might be failing?
Ceriths, Trochus, and Nerites. Nassarius or a small Conch for the sand.
Actually, yours is a 125, right? Maybe 2 small conches and some Nassarius.
Also Stomatellas if you can find some.
Actually, yours is a 125, right? Maybe 2 small conches and some Nassarius.
Also Stomatellas if you can find some.
OP
OP
Kipp's Corals
Active Member
55! I wish I had a 125 lol baby steps I’ll get there.
tbrown
Nominated Cronie Intern - Might be failing?
Then yes, 55 should be good for a Conch and some Nassarius snails for the sand, some Ceriths, Nerites, Trochus, and Stomatellas for the rocks and glass.
OP
OP
Kipp's Corals
Active Member
Added 5 turbo snails, for a total of 6. I used the recommended 1 snail per gallon.
They are putting in work on the diatoms! I also added a feather duster. Since tank is still fairly new should I feed a small amount of brine towards it? My LFS was limited on inverts. I didn't see them on your list but had one already in the tank and LFS was running a sale on them.
Current stocklist
(2) oscellaris clownfish
(1) cleaner shrimp
(6) turbo snails
(1) serpent star
(1) feather duster
Also, I assume all my inverts will increase bio-load and risk rising ammonia?
This will probably be my last stock for a bit but may pick up some sand cleaners if that becomes an issue.
They are putting in work on the diatoms! I also added a feather duster. Since tank is still fairly new should I feed a small amount of brine towards it? My LFS was limited on inverts. I didn't see them on your list but had one already in the tank and LFS was running a sale on them.
Current stocklist
(2) oscellaris clownfish
(1) cleaner shrimp
(6) turbo snails
(1) serpent star
(1) feather duster
Also, I assume all my inverts will increase bio-load and risk rising ammonia?
This will probably be my last stock for a bit but may pick up some sand cleaners if that becomes an issue.
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tbrown
Nominated Cronie Intern - Might be failing?
Feather dusters require powdery food particles and likely won't eat brine shrimp. They don't usually enjoy spot feeding in my experience but rather require a somewhat dirty water column for their food. Broadcast feeding Benepets, Reef Roids, or similar powdered food as well as phytoplankton and zooplankton is more likely to benefit feather dusters.
tbrown
Nominated Cronie Intern - Might be failing?
If you want sand sifting snails, they're good to add. In your tank you can do a conch once the sand starts getting dirty. You can also add probably 5-10 Nassarius anytime now since they eat detritus and leftover food.
OP
OP
Kipp's Corals
Active Member
Ugh recalibrated my refractometer and it after my salt reading was all the way down to 1.020.
What’s the best way to add salt into the system? Water change or slowly add into the sump?
What’s the best way to add salt into the system? Water change or slowly add into the sump?
fishguy242
Cronies..... INSERT BUILD THREAD BADGE HERE !!
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double check first, add higher concentrate of sw mix to slowly raise back up
OP
OP
Kipp's Corals
Active Member
ATI TEST RESULTS. THOUGHTS??
i can see why my diatoms are starting, seems things are okay but a little off. i wont go chasing numbers but didnt know if these seem normal during the first stages. seems RODI is clean then DT has some abnormalities. as mentioned earlier, i found my salinity to be low.
Last edited:
fishguy242
Cronies..... INSERT BUILD THREAD BADGE HERE !!
Partner Member 2024
Reef Tank 365
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i'd be worried where the silicon is coming from ? KH is also lil low .
zinc is high, metazorb would be the go to to lower that.
zinc is high, metazorb would be the go to to lower that.
OP
OP
Kipp's Corals
Active Member
that is correct, right now my sediment is starting to brown with TDS of 3 but then it hits the DI and comes out zero per my in line reader.
kevgib67
10K Club member
Often the sand comes with silicates and once consumed by the diatoms they are gone and so are the diatoms. Hmmmm.
OP
OP
Kipp's Corals
Active Member
kevgib67
10K Club member
Sorry I haven’t, it looks like it is mooning us. Beautiful little feather duster!
