WMAS Discussion Forum : First!

WMAS Discussion Forum : First! http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:42:45 +0000 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 05:23:47 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=45820 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[First! : looks like the heater was fine,...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=396374&title=first#396374 Author: Apocalypso
Subject: 45820
Posted: January 24 2011 at 5:23am

looks like the heater was fine, it was my thermometer.
new thermometer says 79.3
]]> Mon, 24 Jan 2011 05:23:47 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=396374&title=first#396374 <![CDATA[First! : A vacuuming during the next water...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=396337&title=first#396337 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 45820
Posted: January 23 2011 at 10:34pm

A vacuuming during the next water changes is a good idea. Now that you have described the set up, I'd say there is a chance that PO4 needs to be reduced. That's where algae comes in. Algae is misunderstood. It should be used a lot more than it is. When algae is used properly, there is less need for water changes. It would be better to place Chaetomorpha in that chamber than LR rubble.

And just for the record, Many of us do not use heaters, especially in small tanks because when a heater goes bad, it can cook a small tank in an instant. Reefs do very well at room temperature. I'll be happy to show you mine.
]]> Sun, 23 Jan 2011 22:34:16 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=396337&title=first#396337 <![CDATA[First! : And for the record it is a new...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=396243&title=first#396243 Author: Apocalypso
Subject: 45820
Posted: January 23 2011 at 4:55pm

And for the record it is a new tank, but not really. It had been setup as a saltwater FOWLR before. But for the past year or so, had been sitting in a cold dark basement with just enough water to cover the sand and half of the rock.

One last about the whole thing in general: It seems to have alot of.. silt? Very very fine dust settling on the rocks and sand. Thats the main reason I started running the OEM filterpads again, was to clear that up. Should this be "vaccumed" off or filtered out? The water is crystal clear when Im not in there mucking around, or when the fish isnt digging hisself a deeper den.
]]> Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:55:42 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=396243&title=first#396243 <![CDATA[First! : So, phos not an issue. Ill retest...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=396241&title=first#396241 Author: Apocalypso
Subject: 45820
Posted: January 23 2011 at 4:49pm

So, phos not an issue. Ill retest again in a few days and see what it looks like.

I removed biowheel and mechanical filter. Filled the channel where the filterpad was with about 1.5 pounds LR rubble. Put a small filterpad, just to temporarily catch particulates, in the well where the wheel was. Will pull it when the tank clears up / settles a bit. Now that I look at it, I can see where there were microtunicates and worms growing in the channel under the filterpads. When I think about it more, I may somehow plug the bottom of the biowheel well, and drill holes to make it more of an overflow-type, that could probably hold another half-pound of rubble.

Hopefully, I'll be able to stop by one night this week and have a look and a chat. I could always use a little LS, Rubble, or macro, just to load up on diversity of the little stuff that makes a great tank. Ive got some macro in it, but of course could use some more. Perhaps some grape caluerpa or actual cheato, the stuff I have is the ribbon-type.

Made sure the heater was operating properly. All the way up, all the way down, adjusted to where it should be 3 degrees lower than this morning, and unplugged it. will try again when the temp comes down a bit.

Tank is partially covered. Its an old eclipse12 system. Ive modified the hood that used to contain the lights and be completly covered, and removed the oem (completly insufficient) lights and custom cut it to hold a marineland LED set. So there is open ventilation of any heat that could build up, from the lights, but it is LED, and the set isnt warm to the touch.

Thanks for the help Mark!
]]> Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:49:49 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=396241&title=first#396241 <![CDATA[First! : The heater needs to be unplugged...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=396210&title=first#396210 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 45820
Posted: January 23 2011 at 2:54pm

The heater needs to be unplugged right now.

Is there a glass cover or hood over this tank Question

Most likely the PO4 is not as high as the test kit shows.Take my word for it. It's probably nothing to worry about.
PO4 cannot come in the RO water in a high enough concentration to cause that kind of reading.
What kind of sand and rock did you use Question

In your new tank PO4 can only come from that, but still it is nothing to worry about and rarely does it become an issue in the hobby.

The best thing you could do for that tank right now would be to add some macroalgae. That would be a better thing than a water change. It will reduce the pollution to almost zero in a day. A water change can only reduce the pollution by the percentage of the water change and doing anything more than a 10% water change is a waste.

Feel free to call and come visit to see my tanks, to discuss all of this and to take home some free LS, LR and macroalgae. Smile

Edited by Mark Peterson - January 23 2011 at 3:02pm]]> Sun, 23 Jan 2011 14:54:05 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=396210&title=first#396210 <![CDATA[First! : I will move my log to the tank...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=396188&title=first#396188 Author: Apocalypso
Subject: 45820
Posted: January 23 2011 at 1:22pm

I will move my log to the tank builds thread after this. Just wanted to follow up with Mark on the CA and ALK tests =)
First of all, a LFS only had alk and ca tests that were individually $40-50 each. Holy crap, I'm glad I didnt pay that. I remember browsing petco with my kids last weekend and saw a API "reefmaster" kit for $30, which is different than the saltwater master kit I allready had. Now that I have both of those, I'm testing SG, temp, PH, Ammonia, trites, trates, Phosphorus, Alkalinity, and calcium.
and without stalling further...

23 Jan 2011
SG: 1.022
temp: 83 (??!!??)
ph: 8.2
Amonia: trace -.25 (??!!??)
Trites: 0
Trates: 0-10
Phos: 2 - color was real light, but matched between 1 and 2
Alk: 11 drops = 11 degrees, or 196.9ppm (tested twice)
Ca: 440 ppm (tested twice)

I understand that optimally, phos should be zero, and sources of them are water source, and waste buildup. How dangerous are they, to who?
Going to check my water sources for phos. I get some from "the aquarium" on 90th south, and i get some from my own inhouse RO system.
Turning down heater again, monitoring closely.

Considering a small water change to drop the phos if it is an issue, but with an ammonia spike, dont want to interrupt a small mini-cycle.

Edited by Apocalypso - January 23 2011 at 1:24pm]]> Sun, 23 Jan 2011 13:22:22 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=396188&title=first#396188 <![CDATA[First! : Nice to have you here!Adamps-...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=395788&title=first#395788 Author: Adam Blundell
Subject: 45820
Posted: January 21 2011 at 10:16am

Nice to have you here!

Adam

ps- my vote, 3 inches of crushed coral

]]> Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:16:00 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=395788&title=first#395788 <![CDATA[First! : Going to pick up a alkalinity...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=395775&title=first#395775 Author: Apocalypso
Subject: 45820
Posted: January 21 2011 at 5:35am

Going to pick up a alkalinity and calcium test kit today, just havnt had the time to stop and shop for one.]]> Fri, 21 Jan 2011 05:35:05 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=395775&title=first#395775 <![CDATA[First! : The tank was set up this...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=395763&title=first#395763 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 45820
Posted: January 20 2011 at 10:33pm

Shocked

The tank was set up this month and you are already doing this

Apocalypso wrote:

Added PH buffer on recipe to bring up to about 8.2, turned heater down

If the LFS sold you that stuff they ought to be shot for not finding out that the tank is only a few weeks old.

After Temperature and Salinity, the next most important things to test are Alkalinity and Calcium. The stuff you used to increase pH has probably increased the Alkalinity too far. It is completely unnecessary and actually dangerous to add chemicals to increase pH. It should never be done.

The Alkalinity and Calcium of the water needs to be determined ASAP.

Edited by Mark Peterson - January 20 2011 at 10:40pm]]> Thu, 20 Jan 2011 22:33:43 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=395763&title=first#395763 <![CDATA[First! : Thanks all. I have read everything...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=395748&title=first#395748 Author: Apocalypso
Subject: 45820
Posted: January 20 2011 at 8:43pm

Thanks all. I have read everything on the site and am constantly amazed at the knowledge. I find it hard to believe the state lets us just go fill buckets and tubs of sand for our personal use, without a... sand hunting license or something...

Starting a log, been logging it on my phone anyways.
Tank Established 05 Jan 2011

12 Jan 2011
SG 1.022
Temp 81
PH 7.8
Ammon. .25
Trite 0
Trate ~10
Added PH buffer on recipe to bring up to about 8.2, turned heater down

20 Jan 2011
SG 1.022
Temp 79
PH 8.3
Ammon 0
Trite 0
Trate 15
Added Macro/chaeto, will leave lights on 24/7 for a few days.
]]> Thu, 20 Jan 2011 20:43:20 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45820&PID=395748&title=first#395748