I Think I Did Something Wrong?

[omega59]

everythings seems okay, salt is correct and i added LR. tomorrow i will see a nice clear tank and teh cycle begins hehe.

 

[rabbut]

OK, are you using Live Rock for the main filtration? If so, I notice a distinct lack of it. For a LR based filter, you want at least 1KG per 10l, which looks about 3-4X the ammount you have in. Obviously, if you are going bio-mechanical or equivelant where powerfilters are doing the filtering, the ammount of LR you add is up to your own personal taste You give mention of powerheads in your replyes, so I assume you have at least 10X an hour through the powerheads (300Gallons per hour of flow) excluding your HOB filter The HOB won't create much flow in the tank, so cannot contribute realistically to turn-over (sorry, I should know your set-up plans as I think I've been reading a set-up thread of yours earlier, but my brains failed at this time of night...)

Watch the salinity. If some was sat on the sand, you could find now that it goes up from here. Not an issue to LR even upto 1.035 IME, probibly safe higher still, but you need to have it lower than that for most marine fish, inverts e.t.c...

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Straydum]

i'm new to the salty side too, but why the high salinity? when i was doing the same thing i only went to 1.025 and thats how it has been ever since. wouldn't 1.030 be too high for your livestock later on?

 

[andywg]

You give mention of powerheads in your replyes, so I assume you have at least 10X an hour through the powerheads (300Gallons per hour of flow) excluding your HOB filter The HOB won't create much flow in the tank, so cannot contribute realistically to turn-over (sorry, I should know your set-up plans as I think I've been reading a set-up thread of yours earlier, but my brains failed at this time of night...)

Umm, why wouldn't you count the turnover produced by the HOB filter? Whatever it adds it adds. It might not be as much as the two Hydors the OP has installed but it still counts, just like I count the turnover from my sump return pumps.

 

[rabbut]

Mainly because of the way the flow is added back. Your sump returns would push the water arround the tank, where as the HOB just trickles it back onto the surface. Your returns would push flow in the entire tank, where as my expreience with HOB equipment is that it only creates noticable surface current, so little to no flow where the rock is...

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Yuri]

if i am not mistaking 1.020 to 1.028 is where it should be

 

[omega59]

this morning the tank is much better but still a slight hue. salt is fine. i do not know if i need more LR i have no idea. I thought what i got is enough.

i have the LR + a filter going and two powerheads that are 400GPH. it is enough i believe.

 

[Truck]

you need loads more live rock, about 1kg every 7 litres

 

[omega59]

when do i start testing my aquarium stats?
no i think it will be fine, it will just take some time for the bacteria to build, i will leave it as is.

 

[Truck]

every day from now, until ammonia and nitrite drop to 0 then do a 50% WC and test after 12 hours, if ammonia and nitrite are at 0 your safe to add fish

 

[omega59]

my salt went up in the water to 1.026 will it lower on it's own or i'm i going to have to remove 25% water??

 

[omega59]

i removed a few litres of water and re-added salt seems okay now. I also did a test on the water here are my stats so far.


PH 7.8
Ammonia 0.50
NRite 0
NRate 0

i used liquid test kit. is it safe to add fish with these results? or is it too soon?

 

[Truck]

no, im sure i explained earlier when you know it is safe

 

[andywg]

you need loads more live rock, about 1kg every 7 litres

Only if the OP plans to rely solely on LR for filtration. Remember that he has another filter as well. Also, 1kg per 7 litres works out at over 1.4lb per gallon. The recommended amount for LR is usually given as 1lb per gallon. Some go higher, but that will restrict the choice of fish since you will lose swimming room.

Omega, you will almost certainly be fine with it as it is (so long as you have the HOB filter turned on) for the first couple of fish and consider adding small amounts of LR as you go on.

my salt went up in the water to 1.026 will it lower on it's own or i'm i going to have to remove 25% water??

It won't lower on its own but you don't have to have it lower than 1.026. What you can do is just put slightly less saline water in when you change water to let it come down.

It is a bit early to add fish yet. You want to see the ammonia go up and back down and then the nitrite go up and down. Basically, once it reads 0 for both ammonia and nitrite you will be good to add fish.

 

[omega59]

yes i understand the water needs to be right. but i don't see any problems with these results, maybe i am sure tho it will spike right when i add the fish. i will keep an eye on it every day. i also turned the filter on to help remove the heavy debre from surface that the sand made.