Water Parameter Help!!

mrsalnj · Nov 27, 2017

Whats up guys it been about 3 months since my tank been running and it is my first sw tank, I test my water faithfully every other day and constant research on information. I am running a 40 gallon breeder tank with a 29 gallon sump. I currently have 2 ocellaris clownfish , 1 turbo snail and 1 nassarius snail, I currently feed my clowns everyother day, due to keeping water parameters in check. I also just put in cheato 3 days ago in my refugium. Fish look fine for the most part.Help me if anything is off or so on, or any tips are appreciated

Water Parameters

Ammonia-0
Ph- 8.3-8.4
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-5ppm-10ppm
Alkalinity-300kh
Salinity-1.026

glb · Nov 27, 2017

Everything looks good except your alk. 300 is way too high, even if it’s in ppm. What test kit did you use and what’s the measuring unit?

mrsalnj · Nov 27, 2017

glb said:
Everything looks good except your alk. 300 is way too high, even if it’s in ppm. What test kit did you use and what’s the measuring unit?

I used my tetra 5 in 1 easy strips that i had for my freshwater tank to just to mess around , it did say for saltwater as well but i currently use api saltwater master test kit to test everything else, it does not test alkalinity and calcium

jsker · Nov 27, 2017

Your doing good with a new system. Your alk is a little high a 10 dkh and that might be the salt that you are using. I would suggest getting some better test kits for testing
what to test for
Ca
Mg
Alk
Phosphates
Nitrates.

Chasing number only will get frustrating

go by the looks of your system then the tests, and having quality test make it easy.

mrsalnj · Nov 27, 2017

jsker said:
Your doing good with a new system. Your alk is a little high a 10 dkh and that might be the salt that you are using. I would suggest getting some better test kits for testing
what to test for
Ca
Mg
Alk
Phosphates
Nitrates.

Chasing number only will get frustrating go by the looks of your system then the tests, and having quality test make it easy.

I been so ocd with it that i have a log sheet and i keep track for the most part everything been normal, I want a test kit that is point on, to be honest i feel the api test kit is off but then again i have nothing to compare too. I was looking into the Hanna Checker or do you recommend something else and for salt wise im using instant ocean reef crystals.Please guide me for the best information possible lol

jsker · Nov 27, 2017

LOL, We all do the same when we start out. I created a real cool spread sheet you what it

. I still check my numbers once a week, just before my water change. I missed this week, tank still look good

.
I like the Hanna checkers and the Aquaforest test for the big three (alk, Ca, Mg) the AquaForest tests are right on and the price is right

Hanna UTL phosphorus checker for phosphates, Red Sea for Nitrates.
I would suggest using the IO reef salt. Once you have a higher coral demand the you could switch back to the IO reef crystals. I use a reef salt and dose.

mrsalnj · Nov 27, 2017

jsker said:
LOL, We all do the same when we start out. I created a real cool spread sheet you what it . I still check my numbers once a week, just before my water change. I missed this week, tank still look good.
I like the Hanna checkers and the Aquaforest test for the big three (alk, Ca, Mg) the AquaForest tests are right on and the price is right Hanna UTL phosphorus checker for phosphates, Red Sea for Nitrates.
I would suggest using the IO reef salt. Once you have a higher coral demand the you could switch back to the IO reef crystals. I use a reef salt and dose.

ok thanks for the advice just an update i notice my bigger clown attacks the lil one from behind and the little one is doing something near one of the rocks, is this normal? No sign of ich or Brooklyn either

jsker · Nov 27, 2017

mrsalnj said:
ok thanks for the advice just an update i notice my bigger clown attacks the lil one from behind and the little one is doing something near one of the rocks, is this normal? No sign of ich or Brooklyn either

Not sure. How long have the been in the tank together?

madweazl · Nov 27, 2017

jsker said:
Your doing good with a new system. Your alk is a little high a 10 dkh and that might be the salt that you are using. I would suggest getting some better test kits for testing
what to test for
Ca
Mg
Alk
Phosphates
Nitrates.

Chasing number only will get frustrating go by the looks of your system then the tests, and having quality test make it easy.

If the alkalinity is 10 dKH, there is nothing wrong with that and heck, there aren't many salts that mix up to less than that. Instant Ocean is in the 10.5-11.0 range. Some better test kits down the road is certainly a good idea if corals are desired down the road. When it comes to painless testing, the Hanna alkalinity kit is great along with the Salifert for magnesium and Red Sea Pro for calcium (recently replaced my Salifert kit for this and am so much happier since I have shaky hands).

mrsalnj · Nov 27, 2017

jsker said:
Not sure. How long have the been in the tank together?

I bought them together and i had them since November 18th and they been constantly swimming next to each other as a couple lol its strange now i notice today the bigger one is being aggressive

jsker · Nov 27, 2017

mrsalnj said:
I bought them together and i had them since November 18th and they been constantly swimming next to each other as a couple lol its strange now i notice today the bigger one is being aggressive

It's only been two weeks, watch them though.

mrsalnj · Nov 27, 2017

I panic cause i hate to see marine life die.

jsker · Nov 27, 2017

mrsalnj said:
I panic cause i hate to see marine life die.

completely understand
lets get the #reefsquad in on this

Scott.h · Nov 27, 2017

mrsalnj said:
I bought them together and i had them since November 18th and they been constantly swimming next to each other as a couple lol its strange now i notice today the bigger one is being aggressive

Are they juvenile? They will go through a dominate/submissive stage. You may notice the smaller one flutter around the bigger one too. Sometimes they just won't pair up, but give them some time.

As far as feeding, feed them every day. Eating fish are healthy fish. The amount of food it takes to feed two clowns isn't going to have a bearing on the tank parameters of that size as long as you aren't over feeding.

mrsalnj · Nov 27, 2017

Scott.h said:
Are they juvenile? They will go through a dominate/submissive stage. You may notice the smaller one flutter around the bigger one too. Sometimes they just won't pair up, but give them some time.

As far as feeding, feed them every day. The amount of food it takes to feed two clowns isn't going to have a bearing on the tank parameters as long as you aren't over feeding.

They are juveniles from the look of it and it feed them flakes and brine shrimp but its every other day which i will start to feed them everyday a mixture of food, The little one started hosting on a live rock but from a distance it looks like its scratching and there is no sign of ich or brooklyn from what i researched, They are honestly weird lol

reeferfoxx · Nov 27, 2017

Nothing seems wrong here. Might feed your fish a little more often but other than that nothing. Any concerns?

mrsalnj · Nov 27, 2017

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reeferfoxx said:
Nothing seems wrong here. Might feed your fish a little more often but other than that nothing. Any concerns?

ok i guess im just being paranoid

glb · Nov 28, 2017

mrsalnj said:
I used my tetra 5 in 1 easy strips that i had for my freshwater tank to just to mess around , it did say for saltwater as well but i currently use api saltwater master test kit to test everything else, it does not test alkalinity and calcium

Oh ok. I’d definitely get a separate alk test. Hanna Checker alk test is great. It’s about $50 initially, but the reagent refills are inexpensive. Salifert is good for Ca.