Need advice

[Reefkeepers Archive]

As the title states, I need help.


My 120 gallon has just reached zero ammonia and nitrates after about 4 months of cycling. My calcium and alk are a bit low but I can always fix that with dosing, the problem comes with coral. I have a duncan and a leptastrea on hold and am getting mixed signals on what to get, I've heard that the leptastrea might not fare well in a new tank, and the duncan might not either. They are full colonies so I don't want to risk them, but on the other hand I don't want to loose them. Also I have a tempature issue so I will not add anything until that's fixed, because I know that they will die in 81° water, I've turned off my heater but the tempature won't go down either. The tempature in our house is 74°. I need your guys help, I have a week to get these coral in my tank, and I can't do that until the temp is down. Tank you for your time.

 

[dstockwell]

So what else is causing temp increase. Lights, pumps, granted I don't have a 120 but my house temp is 74 tank temp 77. Trying to get this stable in a week could be a disaster for corals. Can you use ice in zip bags or something like that to bring it down.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

As the title states, I need help.


My 120 gallon has just reached zero ammonia and nitrates after about 4 months of cycling. My calcium and alk are a bit low but I can always fix that with dosing, the problem comes with coral. I have a duncan and a leptastrea on hold and am getting mixed signals on what to get, I've heard that the leptastrea might not fare well in a new tank, and the duncan might not either. They are full colonies so I don't want to risk them, but on the other hand I don't want to loose them. Also I have a tempature issue so I will not add anything until that's fixed, because I know that they will die in 81° water, I've turned off my heater but the tempature won't go down either. The tempature in our house is 74°. I need your guys help, I have a week to get these coral in my tank, and I can't do that until the temp is down. Tank you for your time.

My first focus would be to get the parameters in range and stable. Although 81 is a little warm imo I've heard others say they haven't noticed any issues with similar corals. If you do still want to lower the temp you can buy a chiller (best but very expensive option) or find the heat source (probably the lights) and reduce it.

 

[blaxsun]

First and foremost, you need to get your temperature and water parameters to where you want them. Adding corals when those aren't 100% is just going to give you headaches.

Second, as per above - look into the things that could be generating heat that you might be able to remedy. An external fan to remove heat is also something you can look into.

 

[vetteguy53081]

As the title states, I need help.


My 120 gallon has just reached zero ammonia and nitrates after about 4 months of cycling. My calcium and alk are a bit low but I can always fix that with dosing, the problem comes with coral. I have a duncan and a leptastrea on hold and am getting mixed signals on what to get, I've heard that the leptastrea might not fare well in a new tank, and the duncan might not either. They are full colonies so I don't want to risk them, but on the other hand I don't want to loose them. Also I have a tempature issue so I will not add anything until that's fixed, because I know that they will die in 81° water, I've turned off my heater but the tempature won't go down either. The tempature in our house is 74°. I need your guys help, I have a week to get these coral in my tank, and I can't do that until the temp is down. Tank you for your time.

Lepastrea may or may not be good and duncan yes. Additional good first corals are Mushroom- toadstool leather, candy cane-zoa- green star polyp-trumpet and xenia coral
Regarding temperature- something is generating heat and suspect are either lights or pumps. To compensate you can obtain zip lock bags. You can buy a 30 pack for under $5. Place them in the sump, and use a size that will fit fine and the idea is to rotate them. fill about 5 of them with water and place in freezer. Place one frozen one in sump, allow to melt and lower temp. When it melts, pull a new frozen one from freezer and place melted one back in freezer. Water bottles will also work
Im Ok with 81 but make 79-80 your summer temp goal

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

First and foremost, you need to get your temperature and water parameters to where you want them. Adding corals when those aren't 100% is just going to give you headaches.

Second, as per above - look into the things that could be generating heat that you might be able to remedy. An external fan to remove heat is also something you can look into.

Was looking into a fan, the lfs has the frag tanks at 80° so it wouldn't be a shock but wouldn't be ideal, was going to get on a dosing schedule, though tanks for reminding me about the fan, have been putting off getting one for awhile

 

[Pntbll687]

Dose what you need to get parameters straight.

I'm going to be the odd person out here and say 81 is fine for them to be in. I'm guessing there is heat coming from lights and/or pumps that is adding to the water. But 80-81 degree water will be ok. My temp goes over 81 on super hot and humid days, no ill effects, tons of duncan frags, leptastrea, acros, monti, zoa, acan, ect.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Dose what you need to get parameters straight.

I'm going to be the odd person out here and say 81 is fine for them to be in. I'm guessing there is heat coming from lights and/or pumps that is adding to the water. But 80-81 degree water will be ok. My temp goes over 81 on super hot and humid days, no ill effects, tons of duncan frags, leptastrea, acros, monti, zoa, acan, ect.

Lepastrea may or may not be good and duncan yes. Additional good first corals are Mushroom- toadstool leather, candy cane-zoa- green star polyp-trumpet and xenia coral
Regarding temperature- something is generating heat and suspect are either lights or pumps. To compensate you can obtain zip lock bags. You can buy a 30 pack for under $5. Place them in the sump, and use a size that will fit fine and the idea is to rotate them. fill about 5 of them with water and place in freezer. Place one frozen one in sump, allow to melt and lower temp. When it melts, pull a new frozen one from freezer and place melted one back in freezer. Water bottles will also work
Im Ok with 81 but make 79-80 your summer temp goal

First and foremost, you need to get your temperature and water parameters to where you want them. Adding corals when those aren't 100% is just going to give you headaches.

Second, as per above - look into the things that could be generating heat that you might be able to remedy. An external fan to remove heat is also something you can look into.

So what else is causing temp increase. Lights, pumps, granted I don't have a 120 but my house temp is 74 tank temp 77. Trying to get this stable in a week could be a disaster for corals. Can you use ice in zip bags or something like that to bring it down.

My first focus would be to get the parameters in range and stable. Although 81 is a little warm imo I've heard others say they haven't noticed any issues with similar corals. If you do still want to lower the temp you can buy a chiller (best but very expensive option) or find the heat source (probably the lights) and reduce it.

Thanks for your help, not trying to jinx it but I think it was the protien skimmer pump, anyway I'm going to pick up a fan and work on the water parameters but the main issue is (somewhat) resolved, I'll pick up the corals hopefully in between today and monday.