New to Salt, long time with aquariums

MCloudy21 · Mar 16, 2019

after 20+ years with freshwater I have move to salt. Tank is up and running and so far going ok. lost 1 fish and 1 bubble tip but I think it was the BT that got the fish LOL. and then it moved under a rock and I could not get it out with out removing the rock. Anyways, new to the hobby been reading the Nitrate posts and am still not sure what way I will go. had no luck with macro and am currently using bio pellets. got materials to make a DIY scrubber but not sure with the space in my stand. any help??

Billldg · Mar 16, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!!

Mudder · Mar 16, 2019

Welcome to R2R

Not sure what exactly you are asking but with a little more info on tank and set up and goal..I am sure you will get lots of help

This community is great for it..

Lukas75 · Mar 16, 2019

Welcome to R2R! This is just a personal observation from my battles to keep anemones to the current state where (knock on wood) I can't get the darn thing to stop splitting. I strongly suggest to try to find someone who has some that have been splitting to sell or give away. A nem that has been in captivity for a while has a much better chance at survival than one from the ocean. I killed a couple that I presume were wild collected before I stumbled upon my current captive propagated nem. It has been through hell and back while I learned and just keeps on going. It seemed to do better in my systems where algae was my primary source of nutrient export. When I tried biopellets it died back and I nearly lost it. Once I yanked the biopellet reactor and went back to Chaeto it bounced back and is now at it's current state. If you're ready to go with the algae scrubber then by all means do it, they work excellently.

BUT how old is your tank and what are your nitrates currently at? Most people as a rule of thumb would not suggest trying a nem before the 6 month mark and I would agree. Unlike freshwater a reef tank does not stabilize once the nitrogen cycle is done. It takes a while for the microfauna to stop battling for supremacy and sort itself out. I personally do not consider a tank mature until the 1 year mark, maybe a little longer. Good luck in all of your saltwater adventures, you have found the right place for information!

Ruben's Reef · Mar 16, 2019

!!! Welcome to R2R @MCloudy21 !!! How old is your tank? Don't forget to post some pictures of your tank. We love pictures...

hdsoftail1065 · Mar 16, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!!

Questions just ask away. If you look at the links under my signature you will see a two links that you will find very helpful.
1. Is how to start your build thread so we can watch and enjoy the progress of your tank with you and lend ideas or a helping hand and you have a place to record and reflect on your tanks progress. You can also earn you build thread badge, now how cool is that!

2. Mentioning badges, if you look under everyone's user name you might spot a Reefsquad badge. This is a group of volunteers that specialize in different areas of reefing, they are always willing to help out. Remember, no questions are dumb questions! Happy Reefing!!

#welcometor2r

KJ · Mar 16, 2019

Welcome to R2R!!!

Retro Reefer · Mar 16, 2019

lapin · Mar 16, 2019

Howdy.

You say no luck with macro as a nitrate export.
With a little info we might be able to help
Age of tank =
What sort of macro have you tried and where was it placed =
N=
P=

dbl · Mar 16, 2019

Welcome to R2R and your new reefing family.

MCloudy21 · Mar 16, 2019

Thanks for all the replies! the tank is at about the 8 month mark with a 30 day or so cycle. the rock was dry and then cured before set up. I used a booster on start up and have added 1-2 things (fish and coral) every 2-4 weeks (payday pending). Its a 90 tall with built in drilled overflow, dual returns and a DIY 40 Gal. sump (3 chamber with 2 bubble traps) skimmer, 1 pellet reactor and I'm running Current USA equipment (2 wave, 1 orbit pro led 48inch, and 1950 g/h return pump) I use red sea coral pro salt (and still can't keep my alk up) and dose reef code a with testing. As for the water 1.025, ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Phosphate 0, dkh 7-8 (API test don't seem too accurate) calcium 400-420, pH 8.1. As for Nitrates the LFS said 40 but when I tested it looked more like 0-5 maybe as much as 20 (it looked yellow to me and my wife) and that was with 3 different test kits. the cheto (forgive any spelling please) died slowly so I just removed it this week. As for pictures I will post as soon a I can figure out how to load from my cell phone. For the nem I may be done at least for now because I have placed coral frags everywhere (soft and LPS)

Lukas75 · Mar 16, 2019

MCloudy21 said:
Thanks for all the replies! the tank is at about the 8 month mark with a 30 day or so cycle. the rock was dry and then cured before set up. I used a booster on start up and have added 1-2 things (fish and coral) every 2-4 weeks (payday pending). Its a 90 tall with built in drilled overflow, dual returns and a DIY 40 Gal. sump (3 chamber with 2 bubble traps) skimmer, 1 pellet reactor and I'm running Current USA equipment (2 wave, 1 orbit pro led 48inch, and 1950 g/h return pump) I use red sea coral pro salt (and still can't keep my alk up) and dose reef code a with testing. As for the water 1.025, ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Phosphate 0, dkh 7-8 (API test don't seem too accurate) calcium 400-420, pH 8.1. As for Nitrates the LFS said 40 but when I tested it looked more like 0-5 maybe as much as 20 (it looked yellow to me and my wife) and that was with 3 different test kits. the cheto (forgive any spelling please) died slowly so I just removed it this week. As for pictures I will post as soon a I can figure out how to load from my cell phone. For the nem I may be done at least for now because I have placed coral frags everywhere (soft and LPS)

Yeah API test kits aren't so good for reefs. It sounds like you are on the right track! One of the best things I was ever told in reefing is "don't chase numbers", 7-8 for dKH is fine and actually the range I shoot for. As for the coral pro salt, check out the video below and make your own decisions on it, salt is a matter of preference and I use the "blue bucket" because the alk it mixes to is in range for what I'm trying to do and it doesn't precipitate badly in storage.

MCloudy21 · Mar 16, 2019

Here is a picture of the stand I made and of my main rock. I know the nem is a pink tip I was keeping for a friend. This is after the bt died. Anyways more thi come

reef lover · Mar 16, 2019

Welcome to r2r and the salt life !!

CudaScott · Mar 16, 2019

Welcome to R2R

SPR1968 · Mar 16, 2019

MCloudy21 said:
Here is a picture of the stand I made and of my main rock. I know the nem is a pink tip I was keeping for a friend. This is after the bt died. Anyways more thi come

The tank looks great and welcome to R2R!