Starting 30 Gal salt tank

Lynn52 · May 17, 2016

ajmascola said:
Hint I'm getting all water from aquarium store already premixed saltwater

You might test the nitrate in the water you get from the store just to make sure it is from your tank processing the ammonia rather than something already in the water.

ajmascola · May 17, 2016

Lynn52 said:
You might test the nitrate in the water you get from the store just to make sure it is from your tank processing the ammonia rather than something already in the water.

If the water tests nitrates in it should I take water back ?

Mini-30 · May 17, 2016

Just curious but is there a reason that you have the intake for your canister filter down in the sand? I would probably cut an inch or two off of the intatke tube if it were me just to get it up off of the substrate but again, that is just me.

Lynn52 · May 17, 2016

If you have high nitrates in the water from the fish store I would certainly not buy water there again. It should have nitrates at 0 when it is fresh.

tj w · May 17, 2016

You may also check the water test against a different test kit. Never hurts to make sure. Seems really quick to have converted to nitrates already.

Russ265 · May 17, 2016

Lynn52 said:
I didn't say it has dawn soap. Just soap, technically detergent not soap but the ingredients are also found in soaps shampoos, etc. There are many types of Windex which contain a multitude of detergents as well as dyes and scents. Detergents can kill the bacteria we are trying to grow during the cycle.

Original Windex has a total of 3 detergents
http://www.whatsinsidescjohnson.com/us/en/brands/windex/windex-original-glass-cleaner

There are at least 5 additional products called Windex of which at least one doesn't even have ammonium hydroxide as an ingredient.

sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate: safe for fish within 2.3 ppm. half life 1-3 weeks in aerobic conditions.

2-Hexoxyethanol,: an ethyl glycol. half life 2 days in water, 8 hours in the air.

Lauramine Oxide is a derivative of ammonia and is derived from plants...

given that we are talking about 1/10th of 1% (based on previous ingredient amounts), im going to call a spade a spade.

also... this is done frequently in the freshwater hobby. sure. we can say we house coral, but i doubt you will start before your cycle has concluded within the 3-6 weeks.

ajmascola · May 20, 2016

Update on setup. 120 watt led with light off eBay and a light rack I made for $10
Suggestions on how to use this light if anyone knows..and what's everyone's input on using vodka .01 ML per 25 gallons ?

Russ265 · May 20, 2016

ajmascola said:
Update on setup. 120 watt led with light off eBay and a light rack I made for $10
Suggestions on how to use this light if anyone knows..and what's everyone's input on using vodka .01 ML per 25 gallons ?

given your depth. dont go above 50% for any channels.

what blackbox did you get? they arent all created equal

ajmascola · May 21, 2016

Russ265 said:
given your depth. dont go above 50% for any channels.

what blackbox did you get? they arent all created equal

When do I just have the black light on by itself and when do I have both Channels on together at 50% each to create a daylight feeling ?

Russ265 · May 21, 2016

ajmascola said:
When do I just have the black light on by itself and when do I have both Channels on together at 50% each to create a daylight feeling ?

just saying. acclimate the tank to those lights or stuff can cook when you get it