Begginer marine tank set up

[cruzincaril]

oh well...try try try again..rite??

[Bergy]

absoultely not...

the definition of futility seems to come to mind...  that is...

doing the same thing over an dover again and expecting different results...

make some assumptions and conclusions and try something different and see if that makes a difference...


and in your case, you might think about vacuuming less, and trying that...


Im not saying that is the problem/answer, but at least you are trying... and by process of elimination you will find out what/why

gl

[cruzincaril]

ok ill do that..its just the fish and all are fine..so i think its pretty stable in there sooooo

[music4everman]

hi guys,
i know i haven't been posting anything lately but there isn't really anything new to report. here are today's levels
ammonia- 0
pH-8.0
nitrite-0
nitrate-5.0
salinity -1.021

Greg i was able to find the Super Bac at another lfs and also the ammonia alert tag. I couldn't find the zoo2 there,
 so i ordered it on- line. Is there a limit on how much to add? l ordered the zoo2 pseudocyclops 8oz & zoo2 tisbe biminiensis 8oz. i wasn't sure which one to get so i ordered both. which 1 do you suggest, can both be added ? hope everyone is having a good day.

[Just_Greg]

add both species of pods.  the Tisbe are the copes you normally see on the glass/rockwork, ahile the Pseudocyclops are a swarming pod...you'll see little clouds of them (like gnats) hovering near the LR and tank panes, and if you disturb them, they disperse, but go right back to swarming in a few mins.

[Bergy]

yea, good day... the daughter is here and it almost seems like old times, 'cept i know the only reason she is here is because her mother took her keys to her mom's house...  (mom is away and doesnt trust daughter to not go to the house and party/sex/whatever)

so, she is stuck here...

and it is pouring rain...

and i am friggin colder then snot... feet feel like they are blocks o ice...

im kinda crampin more then i have been lately, prolly cause i ate last nite... the first real meal in about 3 weeks...

I thought i could stomache it, but definately payin for it today...



as for your results, you are good to go.. i would start thinking about which 1-2 fish you are going to add this week????

greg can answer the phyto2 q''s as he and renee know the owners to that biz....

[music4everman]

The reason for her being there isn't as important as the fact that she's there.
l wouldn't trust my kids alone in the house either. Happy to hear that I can add a fish or 2. My 2 yr. old granddaughter wants a clown fish, i think it's the only thing she recognizes (nemo) when we go to the lfs. One thing l do want too mention about the tank is that there is brown algae starting to form on the rocks and on the sand, should l be concerned about this. No sunlight reaches the tank so it must be my lights. l have all the lights on(2white & 2blue)  from 9am to about 5pm  then just blue until 9pm. After that its just the LED's until 5am. I don't know why l even have the lights on aside from liking the way it looks. hope you feel better Bill.
 

[pinkorchid]

Sounds like everything is going smoothly  8) Can't wait to hear/see what fish you add!!

I'm still learning...but as far as the brown stuff goes I'm pretty sure it's a normal process that every new tank goes through. I've been battling a diatom bloom (which is the first I've seen). Just riding it out...added some snails which are helping with it :)

I'll be watching for updates  ;D

ETA - Thought I would add there is some discussion about my "red/orange stuff" here...
http://thelittleocean.com/smf118/index.php/topic,293.0.html

[Learner]

Yaay....time for fish 8)
Pic's please, when you have them of course. ;D

[Bergy]

yea, you are encountering some diatom growth... it is 'normal' but you need to watch a couple things... what water are you useing for top off and for saltwater changes?  hopefully it is filtered ro/di water...  tap water will promote algae growth with higher phosphates and silicas...

You should try switching your lights...

maybe start off with blue lights at 9am, then 10:30, all your lights, then maybe turn off the white lights and brighter lights around 6pm then turn off the blue lights around 7:30


that is a ton of light, which is also contributing to the diatom growth...  you should get to about a 11-12 hour light schedule...

if you are not home during hte daytime, then have your lights come on later... maybe around noonish, then you can turn them off around 10pm or so...

[music4everman]

hi Amy, Tania
If i could just figure out what to put in it lol, but I'm having fun trying to decide. I think if i don't get a clown fish for my granddaughter (my munchkin) there's gonna be trouble. Tania I want to get a Mandarin like yours but I'll wait for a good while as advised (Bill) until i think my tank can sustain him. Greg suggested some copepods to add to my tank in order to start the process. I'll adjust the timer on the lights to reduce the amount of light in my tank. I'm actually using tap water, l wasn't aware of the consequences of doing so. I thought if i used the water conditioner that it made the water safe to use. I'm always learning something new.
They sell 2 gal containers at the lfs for about $7.00. Should i use that instead? txs

[cruzincaril]

dont feel bad about buying water..i buy my ro/di at the grocery store in gal jugs 12 at a time. ive already been the well..laffing stock cuz i dont make my own..thas ok..i get to recycle the jugs! you can also get it at those machines outside the store even cheaper in the three or five gal jugs...but too heavy for me..

[pinkorchid]

I'm currently using tap water....didn't know better until afterwards and it's done okay for me so far....

Clowns are fun to watch...I do love mine. I was in a similar situation here...my 3yr old wanted one....there was no changing his mind  ;)

[cruzincaril]

now im no expert, correct me pls, but darn it cant rememer your name...pink orchid...sorry...u say u use tap water..would that have anything to do with any kinds of algae blooms tho i know the diatoms show up in the beginning..guys??

[Bergy]

the 'conditioner' is basically a decholinator... you can declorinate water by letting it sit over night...

but, tap water is unfiltered, most water i have seen tested tested out at around 300-400 ppm   in total dissolved solids...  junk...

ro/di water tests out at 0-10

you will get more algae with tap water..

i suggest getting 5 gallon jugs from the lfs, and refilling them at the machines outside supermarkets.. or if you have a water store... that sells filtered water...

you can also find ro/di filters for around $100-150    and they just hook up  to your sink or hose, or if you are handy, under your sink...