New Saltwater Mom needs help!! ()

[Candiifir]

@GaryE okay, I’ll do that now!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I bought the tank brand new about a month ago. Didn’t put any fish in it until about 2-3 weeks of perfect readings. I have a hydrometer for measuring Salinity, the heater in the water with thermostat and a thermometer strip on the outside too, as far as testing goes, I have the strips made by API, it is the 5 in 1- pH, NO2, NO3, KH, GH (strips for salt and fresh)

I think that answered everything so f

Thank you for answering some questions.
Those strips rarely work but best for reference. I recommend good kits and you may buy them one by one. Hanna is user friendly and pretty accurate. API also makes a reef master kit. Not the best but better than the strips. While resin décor looks real and cool, they offer no support for buffering and bacteria. I recommend from a local reef club member in your area or pet store, a few pieces of live rock (seeded coral rock) which will aid and assist in maintain ph and lowering ammonia and nitrate. I also recommend even a small bottle of bacteria such as Bacter 7. Add to your filter, a small ChemiPure blue which will control nitrate and phosphate levels.

Are you by chance using tap water or the preferred RO water ?

 

[Rmckoy]

I find it surprisingly odd no one mentioned anything about adding any livestock to a brand new tank
Surprised they sold you a hydrometer , strip test kits ......

I would look into a more reputable or honest lfs .
this one seams to be out for the old mighty dollar with no care to livestock .

 

[Candiifir]

@vetteguy53081 I bought a boatload of 5 gallon jugs of the Pacific Ocean water by Imaginatarium. I will order some of that bacter 7 now. Also going to order a test kit. Which do you guys think works best?

 

[Candiifir]

@Rmckoy yeah....I’m learning that pretty quickly tonight.

 

[Fred2482]

I find it surprisingly odd no one mentioned anything about adding any livestock to a brand new tank
Surprised they sold you a hydrometer , strip test kits ......

I would look into a more reputable or honest lfs .
this one seams to be out for the old mighty dollar with no care to livestock .

This is why Petco gets such a bad rep, IMO

 

[Sosuke]

I wouldn't add more than 1 or 2 fish to that tank at once it can cause problems with the tank. I would look into getting liverock rather than the decorations because it will make it more realistic while also creating a huge place for beneficial bacteria to grow and colonize.

 

[Candiifir]

@Sosuke I’m going to get a couple pieces tomorrow. There’s a reed shop about 2 hours from me, I’ll go by there tomorrow

 

[Peace River]

Welcome to R2R!!!

 

[Sosuke]

Sounds good. I would recommend API test kits or nyos test kits. When you buy your fish buy from trusted sources and make sure they are suitable size for your tank

 

[Candiifir]

@Peace River Thanks!!

 

[vetteguy53081]

@vetteguy53081 I bought a boatload of 5 gallon jugs of the Pacific Ocean water by Imaginatarium. I will order some of that bacter 7 now. Also going to order a test kit. Which do you guys think works best?

Not out to get you to dump money but I Always say " Buy the best you cant afford". It pays off.
Hanna is on of the best. Red sea is great but I have no patience for red sea. Refractometer best for sality or hanna salinity tester which is electronic and gives instant value digitally.
Test salinity of the seawater to assure it is within typical tank parameters.. Don't worry about table 2 right now

 

[Sosuke]

Nitrate and nitrite are important though right?

 

[Rmckoy]

@Sosuke I’m going to get a couple pieces tomorrow. There’s a reed shop about 2 hours from me, I’ll go by there tomorrow

I’d recommend more than just a few pieces ....
You want close to 1lb per gallon
I believe it helps a lot with stabilizing ph and dkh .

 

[Fred2482]

Nitrate and nitrite are important though right?

I would say at this stage Nitrite and Ammonia is the most important!! Doesn't sound like there is coral?

 

[Candiifir]

@Rmckoy okay, thanks!!

 

[Candiifir]

@Fred2482 correct-I was “assured” that I didn’t need it

 

[Rmckoy]

Nitrate and nitrite are important though right?

For monitoring the nitrogen cycle .
you need to know ammonia has spiked and processed to nitrite .
which will eventually process to nitrate .
a large water change 50% or more and you should be set to add livestock

 

[Candiifir]

@vetteguy53081 thank you!! I’m so annoyed with the fact that I was “assured” that they were steering me correctly. You guys are lifesavers!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Candiifir - Amazing what you learned in an hour , huh ???
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