Kaiden's 20 long build

So I need some opinions. I want to get another fish in a couple weeks. But I am trying to decide what kind. It is between a bangaii cardinal, a pajama cardinal, or some kind of goby. But I am open to other suggestions. I want something that isnt just goinf to hide all the time but it doesnt need to have tons of energy. Preferably no really picky eaters.

Honestly my tank runs between 7.9-8.0 almost constantly. Rarely does it get up to 8.2-8.3. Although if you want to raise the ph a little you could use a buffer that does KH as well. 7 seems slightly low to me. I'm sure it's fine, but I like my tank to run at about 8.5 - 9.5 dKH. You'll find that every tank is different and at some point you shoukd have an idea of whatever works best for your tank.

Yes, pH should be higher than that. It starts rising as soon as light hits the tank and reaches maximum within an hour after full lights.
Is the top of the water open to the atmosphere?
Is there a lid or glass cover on this tank? If so, remove the glass or open the lid
Raising dKH is very simple but I would suggest verifying that level by testing with a second test kit first. This tank is not that old to have had a drop in Alkalinity.
Is the .2 PO4 level in ppm or what?

<Edit>
Just went to the OP and see that this tank is only a month old but has stuff from an older tank. I have more confidence that the Alk number is correct.
Let's get that Alk up now.
Step 1- Into 1 cup of purified water dissolve a tablespoon of Baking soda.
2- Slowly pour 1/4 cup of the liquid into a fast moving area of the water.
3- Tomorrow, test the Alk to see how how much it has increased. If it came up to 8 or 9 dKH, that's good.
4- Save the rest of the solution for next time, otherwise add another 1/4 cup of the solution and test again the next day.

Testing and adding Alkalinity is a very important part of keeping a reef aquarium. pH follows Alk so when the alk is raised, the pH will also be acceptable.

Oh, I almost forgot. Is that 100 watt heater being used in this tank? I would unplug it and remove it ASAP. If it stuck on, which is how they often fail, it could cook the tank in an hour, and you wouldn't notice it until it was too late.
I only use heaters in the winter, set at 75 and would use a 50 W or less rather than a 100 Watt


Edited by Mark Peterson - June 15 2012 at 8:46pm

No, Alkalinity cannot follow pH. It only works in the one direction, that when Alk is raised, pH follows.

Trying to adjust pH value using a pH adjusting chemical is a very dangerous thing. I've seen it completely mess up the water chemistry of a reef aquarium. It's best to ignore pH and just focus on Alk and Ca. pH will be good if these two are within range and there is plenty of good water movement, preferably bottom to top movement (not top to bottom) with agitation/rolling water at the surface which has complete access to the atmosphere for "gas exchange".

This is rolling water, when the powerhead it pointed vertically, or at least at a sharp diagonal angle at the water surface.



Edited by Mark Peterson - June 16 2012 at 9:58pm

Oh also, I unpluged the heater and thetemp has stayed fine so far but I am going to keep an eye on it.

Yeah I didnt remember if it was on here or somewhere else.
I did the baking soda thing a couple hours ago, will it take a while for the Alk to raise or what? Should I test in a few hours?

Kaiden32 wrote: Ok. pH and KH as of today at 6:00 PM. pH: 8.2 KH: 9 Thanks Mark. So to keep my Alk up should I just continue to dose the Baking Soda as needed?

Thats all I use for alk. Just be careful alk is easy to overshoot your target number!


Edited by dionysus - June 18 2012 at 8:23pm

Ok. Updated FTS

Ok. My new ATI coral plus bulbs got here today! I ordered them from Aquacave.com, and first of all, I am very impressed with the packaging. It took me like 5 minutes to get the bulbs out lol...that package could have probably survived a nuclear explosion...well maybe not, but you get the point. I am really impressed with the color of the bulbs and they make the corals pop a lot more than the old lights. I will post a few pics with my good camera in a few minutes, not just crappy cell phone pics. 

Blasto (one of my favorites!! Its sprouting new heads.)



And this frag is for sale! :)