Stephanie's First Marine Escapade!

[john.m.cole3]

what is a high reading for nitrate in your opinion? just curious...

 

[StephanieRodriguez]

I only have a beginner kit to measure from API, and it is in between the 0 and 5.0 ppm

 

[john.m.cole3]

I think most corals prefer a little nitrate. It os a food source for them IMO. also, do you know what test kits you plan on upgrading to?

 

[Diesel]

I think most corals prefer a little nitrate. It os a food source for them IMO. also, do you know what test kits you plan on upgrading to?

It's just not a opinion it's a fact that corals are in need of nitrate.
Everything below 5.0 is considered safe.
Just keep feeding your fish and skip the coral feedings.
You can make a brew of frozen larry's/Rod's and Mysis with a drop or three Selcon, mix some AA in there and a little Doc's eco egg brew and you got the ultimate fish food, sssssssT don't tell any one as it's what I feed my reef piranha's

 

[don_chuwish]

You mentioned a Mandarin - unless you have a way to cultivate tisbe pods outside the tank (like a big refugium) a single Mandarin will obliterate the population in that tank. Wait for the 100G!

 

[StephanieRodriguez]

I think most corals prefer a little nitrate. It os a food source for them IMO. also, do you know what test kits you plan on upgrading to?

I am not sure yet. I talk a lot with one particular LFS and they have been great!

 

[StephanieRodriguez]

So I did some upgrades today, got a new coral from Aqua SD and I got a protein skimmer today. But there are a lot of bubbles in the tank now. The bubbles in the cup are coming up about half way in the column. Not sure if it's something I am doing wrong or if it needs sometime to acclimate.

 

[john.m.cole3]

You seem to be on the right track so far... This forum has waaaaayyyyy better advice than my LFS. But, my LFS also hires high school kids who don't even have their own reefs...

 

[StephanieRodriguez]

You mentioned a Mandarin - unless you have a way to cultivate tisbe pods outside the tank (like a big refugium) a single Mandarin will obliterate the population in that tank. Wait for the 100G!

Good point, but can't say that I won't go for it. My LFS showed me their stock and they are eating frozen food. Hopefully it will work out!

 

[Diesel]

I am not sure yet. I talk a lot with one particular LFS and they have been great!

With no or low No3 in your water you'll starve your corals.
They will start losing the color slowly and that ain't nice.
Where is that LFS?
I'm going to have a talk with them

 

[Diesel]

So I did some upgrades today, got a new coral from Aqua SD and I got a protein skimmer today. But there are a lot of bubbles in the tank now. The bubbles in the cup are coming up about half way in the column. Not sure if it's something I am doing wrong or if it needs sometime to acclimate.

Skimmer needs to breakin first.
So far so good, after a few days messing with your skimmer it will work like a charm, what kind of skimmer is it?

 

[StephanieRodriguez]

Oh they didn't tell me not to have nitrates at all, I just asked them today lol. This was something that happened yesterday. He told me the same, but I just thought nitrates should be low.

 

[Diesel]

Oh they didn't tell me not to have nitrates at all, I just asked them today lol. This was something that happened yesterday. He told me the same, but I just thought nitrates should be low.

0.0 is a no, no.
1.0 is low.
2.0 is the norm.
Everything between 2 and 4 is considered good.
I'll test every day for No3 and ALK too, these two will tell you a lot about your system.
It might be that your LFS is confused with No2 (nitrite).

 

[gcrawford]

Looking great!

 

[StephanieRodriguez]

0.0 is a no, no.
1.0 is low.
2.0 is the norm.
Everything between 2 and 4 is considered good.
I'll test every day for No3 and ALK too, these two will tell you a lot about your system.
It might be that your LFS is confused with No2 (nitrite).

Thanks! The LFS never told me 0, that was something I thought myself. But I am glad I know now! [emoji4]

 

[Diesel]

Glad I could help.
What kind of SPS you got on the upper level?

 

[StephanieRodriguez]

Rainbow Acropora, Yellowstone Tenius, and the others were freebies, so not sure

 

[Diesel]

Ah, from Will (ASD)
Make sure now you got SPS you have to test for ALK, CAL and MAG and keep it in balance a close as possible.

 

[armyguy]

Kalk is cheaper

 

[StephanieRodriguez]

I have been testing it every day. Trying to get it balanced my CAL 450, ALK 10 DKH, and mag 1200. I am trying to add Reef code a and b every other day.