Water change: Saltwater Aquarium

[46gReef]

What type of salt are you using and what test kit for your mg? Most salt mixes have a higher mg level than that & with the amount of H2O changes your doing that seems a little low. I would tell you just keep doing water changes until your NO3 comes down. As far as the sand bed goes, I agree with an earlier poster who said if it's normal practice for your husband to do it then go ahead and do it....my $.02

 

[glb]

I agree. Keep doing water changes. From your readings it sounds like that's working. As far as Mg, I can't figure out those dose calculators online. They told me to add a ridiculous amount to my nano. It might be better to add a little big daily and test to see how much the mg goes up. Then you'll know how much more you need to add. Good luck!


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

 

[glb]

A little bit daily I meant.


Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

 

[Vet246]

I started using Kents salt and the test kit is by Seachem...I was uncertain about my ability to read the colors accurately for testing so I took water to my LFS and they confirmed my numbers.

 

[Vet246]

Any thoughts on the reactor I bought?

 

[zemuss]

Vet keep doing the water changes and feed once a day. Adding a reactor for the long term and goal of reducing nitrates needs some research. Adding micro algae can do the same as a reactor and the benefit is that you could re-coupe cost by selling it if you wanted too. I would not try to chase a fix with a reactor without research.

So you are changing 10% of the water? Thats about 10% which is fine and keep that up weekly. What are the ALK and Calcium levels at? Is SG maintaining at a point and not fluctuating? If not then your fine now.

Slow down and relax now.

ALso, the last time i read your posts, and this might have been in a pm, but you said you feed seaweed to your fox face. Well do you remove the seaweed after the feeding? Because that might cause your nitrates to rise.

 

[Vet246]

I am doing 10 gallons on a 75 gallon tank. I originally was not removing the seaweed clip which always has a little bit left in it...the part where the fish can't reach and I was feeding it twice a day. Since I started all these water changes I have been removing the clip at night. I did not know that could increase nitrates. I'll start removing it sooner. Calcium is 440 & total alk is 3.5 borate at 1 & carbonate at 2.5

 

[Vet246]

What is SG?

 

[zemuss]

Calcium and Alk are fine. Don't worry as much with MG. 10 gallon change on a 75 is ok so keep doing what your doing..

Research the Reactor some before you add it.

 

[zemuss]

OH!! If MG worries you then dose until it is about 1400 then don't worry much. I test my MG once a week but do nothing because it is always 1600.

 

[zemuss]

Vet how is the tank doing?

 

[islander84]

Your feeding schedule is way too much for a 75 gallon. 20 Percent water change is the Maximum you should change. And make sure the temperature of the new water is the same as the tank water to avoid thermal shock. If you checked your Nitrates after you stirred the sand bed then it could be reading high because of the gases released that were trapped in the sandbed. Go slow and do SMALL water changes and cut back on the feeding a little.

 

[Murfman]

What is SG?

Specific Gravity of your water/salt combination.

 

[Vet246]

Tank is slowly getting better....nitrates are staying around 15-20. I wish I could get them lower.

 

[zemuss]

I Vet, I know its been awhile but I faced a similar challenge with nitrates. My husbandry of the tank has been, for lack of better words, lazy. My nitrates were hovering around 10 to 20 ppm and with SPS corals you need a lower nitrate level. So I bought a vacuum and did two 30 gallon water changes. My nitrates are 2 to 5 ppm now.

I also introduced a algae scrubber which is helping too.

How is it coming along on your end?

 

[beaslbob]

I did another water change on Thursday for an additional 10 gallons. I tested all my levels today and the only thing that seems off is my magnesium 1112.5 and my nitrates 10-20. I got red sea to dose for the magnesium but it sounds like I need to add 280+ ml...does that sound right? Also I got a CAD Lights Aquarium BIO-reactor with Thrive C 250 ml Bio-Stimulant Crush. Will that solve my Nitrate issues?

edit: Posted this before I saw you have an algae scrubber. IMHO it is what is reducing your nitrates.

now back to the original post. (sorry)


Look I know I'm a broken record.

IMHO the way to control nitrates is by simply building up the nitrate consumers. Hence my emphasis in macro algae. Additionally, should something go bump in the night the algae will actually prefer to consume ammonia preventing dangerous parameter spikes and tank cycles. Plus the macro also consume phosphates and carbon dioxide while returning oxygen and fish food. So it's a win win all around.

On my old 55g years ago I had unmeasureable nitrates and phosphates with no water changes using untreated tap water. Soft corals and fish were very healthy and lived in the tank for over 5 years.

As far as magnesium goes I just used epsom salts and magnesium chloride. Actually, the magnesium chloride was had to find but I did find an industrial chemical supplier here that sold 50 pound bags for $25 a few years back. That was so much I used to give it away at local club meetings.

I would recommend you check out the diy 2 part and/or read this thread I started some time ago:
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/reef-chemistry-forum/39332-do-yourself-two-part-links.html

my .02