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Post by lindsey1984 on Jan 19, 2013 20:10:48 GMT -5
Im so happy I had to post it for you all to see! My nitrates are now between 5 and 10 ppm!!! It's been a few week struggle and 20% water changes, less feeding, a new sump, some algea that I got from Rob and a turkey baster but it all seems to have paid off now. For a little while they were up to 50-60ish so im SO excited they're finally in control!!! *happy dance* Coral is next after Nestle goes to his new home. LOVE this hobby! (now if I could only master the light timers HAHAHAHA)
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Post by ryansweatt2004 on Jan 19, 2013 20:48:59 GMT -5
That's awesome, Keep up the good work!
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Post by gotareef on Jan 19, 2013 21:25:27 GMT -5
thats great to hear!
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Post by lindsey1984 on Jan 19, 2013 23:37:53 GMT -5
thanks guys!!! I know its one of the little things but its kinda my first hurdle so im really happy about it!!
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Post by lindsey1984 on Jan 25, 2013 9:31:03 GMT -5
Anddddd they're on their way back up  I waited too long in between water changes because ive been having issues getting the right temp in my RODI holding tank. I'd add warm water, then forget about it and then it would be off the charts too warm, so i unplug the heater i do have (for a 10 gal to make it cool down....then forget and it gets too damn cold! Now im in the process of adding warm water AGAIN but i've got an alarm set on my phone so i dont forget. I should be doing a water change within the next hour or so. I plan to turkey baste the shit out of the rocks (literally) and then syphin the water out in hopes that i just as much crap out as possible. The good news is i havent added any corals yet because i still am waiting for my cc star to go to his new home so i dont have to worry about them dieing off but my poor little fishies. lol. Im gonna test the water again after the water change and HOPEFULLY ill be a in a little better range. Right now they're around 40 ppm. Sigh! |
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Post by gotareef on Jan 25, 2013 9:47:39 GMT -5
amquel+ I swear by the stuff!!
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Post by lindsey1984 on Jan 25, 2013 10:02:51 GMT -5
i need to get some, prob next week. I'm broke LOL
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Post by gotareef on Jan 25, 2013 11:21:54 GMT -5
it will help you get nitrates stable, but you still need to find out what is causing the nitrates to rise
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Post by lindsey1984 on Jan 25, 2013 17:42:51 GMT -5
How about you just come teach me LOL, I can't get this shit right haha! I think its because I waited too long to do a water change because they looked good a few days ago. I know and things diet spikes your nitrates but does it do that when crabs or shrimp molt? As far as feeding I've been giving them about 2 to 3 good pinches every 2 days, I've been using a turkey baster to blast off the rocks every few days and before water changes. I know I need to get rid of some sand and I don't vacuum my sand right now. I heard if you vaccume the sand it takes away the good bacteria. Do you have any other ideas?
Sent from my Desire HD using proboards
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Post by lesserof2weevils on Jan 26, 2013 8:39:55 GMT -5
Seriously, I personally wouldn't do any water changes for the first few months on a new set-up. Keep this in mind about wastes vs. beneficial bacteria. As long as you are not adding food and livestock, the bacteria WILL catch up and take care of your dissolved wastes and reach an equilibrium. As you slowly add livestock and feed it / them they'll be creating more waste and the beneficial bacteria will catch up again. A balance / equilibrium will be achieved, somewhat. Performing water changes, IME will upset that balance, esp. large water changes.
I think that especially for new comers to the hobby (myself included) I tended to think that the more I do, the better it will be. Now my 6 or 7 years experience has taught me just the opposite. Granted, in my current set-up(40b w/ 20g sump), I filled with mostly aged water, sand and rock from an existing system, this was way back in April 2012. I checked nitrates only, around November and got no reading. I did my first 5g water change a few weeks ago.
I am a proponent of vacuuming sand in a display but only say, 20% of it at a time and then only several months apart. So I may vacuum a corner area and replace with new water, and not do that again for 4 or 5 mos. Then I would choose a different corner.
We each have our own ways and most are perfectly acceptable. For me, it seems that the less I mess with it, the better things look. Regarding feeding fish, my staple is New Life Spectrum small pellet. For my 3 fish I probably avg. 2 small pinches 2 or 3 times a week and have never starved a fish, and a small jar of this food lasts me a couple years at least.
I hope we can meet up some day! If you're still looking for a heater or anything else let me know. I still have boxes of stuff that I need to be rid of.
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Post by lindsey1984 on Jan 26, 2013 11:02:14 GMT -5
The tank is now probably about 10 weeks here at my house but was established for about 2 years previously as a fish only tank. I took 1/2 the established water with me and the crushed coral it had as well as a few rocks but she said they weren't live. I then have added some live sand from a guy who had his tank i think a year or two as well as maybe 20 or so pounds from him. I then added more sand that I was told wasn't seeded however my buddy put some of it in his tank too and it helped his cope pod population. After that, i saw ryan on here and grabbed around 60 pounds of live rock. I know i need to take out some sand in my bed because the sand isnt fine enough to cycle the nitrates but i dont know if that could be the cause? I have a rapids pro wet/dry sump thats rated for 750 gal an hour with the auto fill that i got from someone who had it for a year in his system, I use a pretty powerful fan but my buddy gave it to me so i couldnt tell you what it is. I figured by this point my tank would be cycled and I'd be all set. I also thought because i used most of my equip and livestock from cycled tanks that It would have been cycled by now We should meet up someday, epecially when i can trade frags  Thanks for your help |
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I waited too long in between water changes because ive been having issues getting the right temp in my RODI holding tank. I'd add warm water, then forget about it and then it would be off the charts too warm, so i unplug the heater i do have (for a 10 gal 
Thanks for your help