New tank setup and something is not right!

[SInMontreal]

Hey guys! I posted recently about my plan for starting my first saltwater tank. Now I bought everything on the liste exceptionnel I changed from IM Lagoon 25 to IM fusion 30L.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/preparation-for-first-saltwater-tank.525847/

I put everything together. I just added water to my tank yesterday. Everything is on except my skimmer.

So I tested the water this morning. 0 ammonia 0 nitrite 2~ nitrate and salinity 1.025. But PH.7.8 from my tank and PH 8.2 from the water that I prepared yesterday.

I'm using dry rock Marco, Caribsea Arag alive sand. I use aquaforest reef salt. So I wonder what could make my pH drop in my tank.

Anyone have any idea ? Thank you guys


I also added DrTim ammonium to create ammonia and I add InstantOcean Bio-Spira to cycling my tank. After I added DrTim Ammonium the ammonia climbed to 2ppm.

 

[Ocelaris]

That's a fine pH. Generally speaking all organic processes lower the pH, and anywhere between 7.4 and 8.4 is acceptable. Looks like a good start. Just keep the lights off as long as possible, ideally 2-3 months, but at least a month for long term success.

 

[SPR1968]

Hi Sin

I wouldn’t worry to much about that yet, it could easily be test error, measured at a different time of day, although less likely with no live stock etc.

I would just keep an eye on it but 7.8 is not that bad

My system runs from around 7.7-8 to 8 most of the time without any issues

The main thing is don’t chase numbers, you might find the following useful as well

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

 

[SInMontreal]

That's a fine pH. Generally speaking all organic processes lower the pH, and anywhere between 7.4 and 8.4 is acceptable. Looks like a good start. Just keep the lights off as long as possible, ideally 2-3 months, but at least a month for long term success.

So does it mean I can’t not add any fish in one month at least ? Even I used InstantOcean spiral ?

 

[SInMontreal]

Hi Sin

I wouldn’t worry to much about that yet, it could easily be test error, measured at a different time of day, although less likely with no live stock etc.

I would just keep an eye on it but 7.8 is not that bad

My system runs from around 7.7-8 to 8 most of the time without any issues

The main thing is don’t chase numbers, you might find the following useful as well

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

Thank you i won’t chase after the number

 

[SPR1968]

So does it mean I can’t not add any fish in one month at least ? Even I used InstantOcean spiral ?

I haven’t used this myself but from the instructions it looks like you add fish immediately with it, I used a similar product when setting up my tank. It provides all the bacteria needed to deal with the nitrogen cycle. No need for a dead shrimp and 6 month wait or whatever it is........

 

[laverda]

As others have said there are many variables that affect PH. This time of your your house is probably closed up and CO2 levels inside are higher. That alone can easily lower PH significantly. Oxygen levels in the tank are another factor. Hooking up your skimmer may raise your PH, especially if you draw air from outside to feed it. The PH of freshly mixed saltwater often changes over time. If you airate it while mixing it will be higher. Having surface agitation will also help the PH.

 

[SInMontreal]

I haven’t used this myself but from the instructions it looks like you add fish immediately with it, I used a similar product when setting up my tank. It provides all the bacteria needed to deal with the nitrogen cycle. No need for a dead shrimp and 6 month wait or whatever it is........

I'm thinking about adding 2 ocelaris clownfish tomorrow xD so excited

 

[SInMontreal]

As others have said there are many variables that affect PH. This time of your your house is probably closed up and CO2 levels inside are higher. That alone can easily lower PH significantly. Oxygen levels in the tank are another factor. Hooking up your skimmer may raise your PH, especially if you draw air from outside to feed it. The PH of freshly mixed saltwater often changes over time. If you airate it while mixing it will be higher. Having surface agitation will also help the PH.

Thank you for your information I will start my skimmer right away

 

[laverda]

I'm thinking about adding 2 ocelaris clownfish tomorrow xD so excited

Take is slowly. There are way to many threads here where people add animals to there tank then post asking why they died or what is wrong with them. You tank may be cycled already, although I doubt it truly is. I know it is far from mature and stable! Your much better off giving it more time.

 

[SInMontreal]

Take is slowly. There are way to many threads here where people add animals to there tank then post asking why they died or what is wrong with them. You tank may be cycled already, although I doubt it truly is. I know it is far from mature and stable! Your much better off giving it more time.

I will wait a bit longer then haha

 

[lapin]

So those clowns you are wanted to add. Are they disease free? Been thru Qt?

 

[SInMontreal]

So those clowns you are wanted to add. Are they disease free? Been thru Qt?

I haven't buy it yet. I was just thinking haha I was thinking about setting my quarantine tank tomorrow using water from my main tank.

 

[rkpetersen]

Since you're using Tim's ammonium chloride, here's a way to tell if your tank is truly cycled. Administer 2 drops per gallon. Check the ammonia level 24 hours later. If it's zero, no trace of ammonia, your biofilter should be adequate for introducing fish. If not, wait until it drops to zero and do the procedure again.

You don't need to measure nitrite, it's not harmful to saltwater fish at the levels you will ever encounter.

Most bottled bacteria don't work nearly as fast or as consistently as their advertising would suggest. In fact the only one so far shown to be capable of literal overnight results is Fritz Turbo 900, which is a refrigerated product.

 

[SInMontreal]

Since you're using Tim's ammonium chloride, here's a way to tell if your tank is truly cycled. Administer 2 drops per gallon. Check the ammonia level 24 hours later. If it's zero, no trace of ammonia, your biofilter should be adequate for introducing fish. If not, wait until it drops to zero and do the procedure again.

You don't need to measure nitrite, it's not harmful to saltwater fish at the levels you will ever encounter.

Most bottled bacteria don't work nearly as fast or as consistently as their advertising would suggest. In fact the only one so far shown to be capable of literal overnight results is Fritz Turbo 900, which is a refrigerated product.

So is this mean that I don't need to do water change to get rid of nitrate ? I use Seachem Purigen, Matrix, Carbon and GFO as biomedia.

 

[rkpetersen]

So is this mean that I don't need to do water change to get rid of nitrate ? I use Seachem Purigen, Matrix, Carbon and GFO as biomedia.

No, I was talking about nitrite. Nitrate will accumulate, depending on bioload. GAC and purigen will adsorb organics and somewhat limit nitrate buildup. Matrix might have denitrification properties under some circumstances, but I wouldn't count on it. Macroalgae refugium, algae scrubber, carbon dosing can all be used to reduce nitrates. I'd still do water changes.

 

[SInMontreal]

No, I was talking about nitrite. Nitrate will accumulate, depending on bioload. GAC and purigen will adsorb organics and somewhat limit nitrate buildup. Matrix might have denitrification properties under some circumstances, but I wouldn't count on it. Macroalgae refugium, algae scrubber, carbon dosing can all be used to reduce nitrates. I'd still do water changes.

Oh sorry I missreaded it for nitrate xD I already prepare water for water change to reduce the nitrate. Right now I'm looking for macroalgae in my city i have been in 3 store but they don't have it. I'm gonna try to looking in reefcommunity in my town to see if someone have it for sale.