My new 150 gal for corals and fish

[Brendon.kukulski17]

hi everyone I'm a bit new here ☺ and new to the hobby... I have 2 tanks one is a 55 gal and the other is a 150 gal with a 40 gal sump.
As of right now I only have 1 Fish in the 55 gal its a Toby puffer
In my 150 I have 2 clowns 2 cardinals 2 engineer gobies 2 peppermint shrimp tang 1 Mando 1 yellow watchman 1 cleaner shrimp 1 red star 1 sand sifter 1 tux 1 white urchin
I will list my corals and equipment later as I'm going to be getting more soon

Salinity = 1.025
Temp = 77.5-80
Ph = 8.4
Ammonia = .50
Nitrates = 1.00
Nitrites = 0.00
Calcium = 15 drops api test kit
Phosphate = 2.00
Kh = 16 drops api test kit
I don't dose anything yet
Do have a small reactor and protein skimmer

If you have any ideas that could help my tank grow! Plz do tell me.
Thank you and have a beautiful day/ night!!!

 

[MnFish1]

Nice fish and tank. I would suggest that your testing is 'off' - as your ammonia shouldn't be that high (.5) - my guess - given the fact that your fish and inverts look good is that is an error. Also 15 drops on the API calcium test to me means your Ca is 300. Which is quite low - and I wonder if your test is being done correctly. Welcome!

 

[Gogol_frag]

Very nice tank Brendon! Looking forward to getting to know your journey better.

You could consider automating your testing via probes and testers. Neptune is an option but there are others, and frankly Neptune does have its issues (like the Salinity Probe is maddening with its microbubble problem), also no test for Nitrates on the Neptune.

Auto-testers/probes offloads some resposnibilities to mechanical devices and allows you to act on much higher quality data (frequent testing).

 

[Brendon.kukulski17]

My equipment i have now 4 eflux wave pumps 2 current usa light bars 1 t5 1 temperature probe 1 current usa loop Bluetooth attachment 1 hanging overflow
In sump
1 seaclone100 protein skimmer 1 aquatop multimedia reactor 1 aquatop titanium aquarium heater 1 fluval nano all red settings

 

[Brendon.kukulski17]

 

[Brendon.kukulski17]

Nice fish and tank. I would suggest that your testing is 'off' - as your ammonia shouldn't be that high (.5) - my guess - given the fact that your fish and inverts look good is that is an error. Also 15 drops on the API calcium test to me means your Ca is 300. Which is quite low - and I wonder if your test is being done correctly. Welcome!

I didn't think .5 was that hight? Where should they all be?

 

[Brendon.kukulski17]

Very nice tank Brendon! Looking forward to getting to know your journey better.

You could consider automating your testing via probes and testers. Neptune is an option but there are others, and frankly Neptune does have its issues (like the Salinity Probe is maddening with its microbubble problem), also no test for Nitrates on the Neptune.

Auto-testers/probes offloads some resposnibilities to mechanical devices and allows you to act on much higher quality data (frequent testing).

I was looking into this but need to wait for more money the wwc sale got me this weekend

 

[Gogol_frag]

I was looking into this but need to wait for more money the wwc sale got me this weekend

Yeah no fixed way to reefing. You are danged if you do, and danged if you don't. Crazy hobby - but really, really educational.

 

[Brendon.kukulski17]

Yeah no fixed way to reefing. You are danged if you do, and danged if you don't. Crazy hobby - but really, really educational.

Right im loving it. My two children just love to sit in the living room and watch them invested of tv i got lucky lol

 

[MnFish1]

I didn't think .5 was that hight? Where should they all be?

The API ammonia test is notoriously high (falsely) - did you perhaps use prime? or another ammonia detoxifier? Calcium should be 400 +- not 300. But - The most common error people make is not verifying their tests. I would go to your LFS if you have one and ask them to retest?

 

[MnFish1]

OH - your ammonia should be 0.0

 

[Brendon.kukulski17]

The API ammonia test is notoriously high (falsely) - did you perhaps use prime? or another ammonia detoxifier? Calcium should be 400 +- not 300. But - The most common error people make is not verifying their tests. I would go to your LFS if you have one and ask them to retest?

Its been a week and a half since my last water change. i used prime in the beginning I now have lots of activated carbon in mt sump and a but in the reactor I have phos-guard in there as well.
I'm trying to grow micro alge to help
I also am trying to keep my nitrates up a tad bit cuz someone told me it would help with some coral growth.

I will be doing a 50% water change tomorrow as I just re did my aqua scape so I have lots of stuff flowing around the tank time to remove it and restore it

 

[Brendon.kukulski17]

hey do any of you dose amino acid?
If so what do you use like dosing machine , name of acid exe..

 

[Brendon.kukulski17]

The corals i orderd this weekend from @WWC
Can't wait to get them to add them. The wife got 4 other.

 

[Gogol_frag]

hey do any of you dose amino acid?
If so what do you use like dosing machine , name of acid exe..

Brighwell Aquatics Coral Amino ... just started. Using it based on BRS' recommendations. The amount is too less for a doser. Hence hand-dosing.

 

[Brendon.kukulski17]

Brighwell Aquatics Coral Amino ... just started. Using it based on BRS' recommendations. The amount is too less for a doser. Hence hand-dosing.

Ok thank you

 

[Brendon.kukulski17]

I rearranged my tank
What's your thoughts

 

[MnFish1]

@brandon429

 

[Brendon.kukulski17]

My beautiful new coral thanks