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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/29/2008 10:16:05 PM
Posts: 13,
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Hello, please help me out here I'm new to this forum and well "new". I have a 55gal with built in wet/dry system. I've got an 1" of live sand also added cured live rock and bacteria in a bottle. 4 weeks after I've added 5 cromies and some hermit crabs and 3 turbo snails. Last week two snail died and follow by one fish. My ammonia level is .050, Ph 8.2, Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0 and salinity is 1.025 ish. I did a water change first 5gal and another 5gal the next day this was last weekend. I keep a close eye on my Ph and ammonia but they are still at the same level they are 5 days ago. Last night one more cromies died.
Please help me out here I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong....Almost forgot I have a Metal halide 250w and atinic.
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 11:00:52 PM
Posts: 300,
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Based on the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels that you've given, it sounds like the tank HAS cycled. I don't think that's the problem but I can't offer any guess as to what is. Sorry!
So many species, so little money!
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/2/2008 1:14:10 PM
Posts: 57,
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Might want to try to adjust your salinity if you are using a spefic gravity meter it could be off I know there are alot of books out there that say 1.025 is correct but it is also the high end of the spectrum if you slowly change your sg to 1.023 you might see you have better results. Don't trust your little plastic meter if that is what you are using. good luck
love thy wife then thy pets
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/29/2008 10:16:05 PM
Posts: 13,
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Thanks for the input.... According to my local fish store based on my ammonia and ph level I'm not ready to put any fish yet and I should wait until the ammonia drops..... The salinity level on the other hand is what I don't understand. I'm using a sea water not a mixed, when I do a hydrometer test it's not always at the same level. For example if I was to take a reading from one end of the tank I would get 1.025-26 and If I take another reading on the opposite side the needle would be pointing all the way up. I was told that I could add bottle water to lower the salinity level, is this true? Or should I just use tap and conditioner?
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/2/2008 1:14:10 PM
Posts: 57,
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when using your salinity tester I find it best to wet the tester first ( do this by filling it and dumping it out) fill tester again and then tap gently on hard surfice to get bubbles out. Bubbles on armiture will give a false reading. Then rest on level surface. This is the best way to get accurate reading. Your salinity will also change due to evraporation. so putting more and more salt water in your tank will cause salinity to rise. The best thing is to use RO water or Reverse Osmosis water for your tank. It should say it on the bottle or ask your LFS if they have RO water for you to buy most likely they will and all you have to do is supply a container to carry water in ( I use 5 gal. fosting buckets that I get from my local grocery store bakery they are free and ready to use after a light cleaning). Best thing to do is pick up a book and read it then read another. Don't trust any one persons advice, get the advice of many then make your best judgement of that. Plus most LFS is in the business to make money and don't have a phd in fish keeping. good luck
love thy wife then thy pets
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 11/29/2008 10:16:05 PM
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| Thanks I will give that a try.
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/12/2008 4:42:24 AM
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| i used tap water for a while and found it had more harmful chemicals than good. one thing is that you might have copper in the water. i dont know what you mean by sea water, but i had a problem with my local fish store having copper in thier water and it gave me fits untill my neighbor told me about copper so i did alot of water changes, i use culligan water and mix it myself. i hope this is some help to you.
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New Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/2/2009 10:37:17 AM
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I used regular tap water and conditioned it/mixed with salt myself - problem was, I did not test for phosphates - ended up with a rather large brown algea bloom. I would recommend buying RO saltwater from your local fish store - my two cents
55g Reef and Fish - New
43g Reef - New
6g Nano Reef - New
10 Gallon Fresh Water
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Average Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 9:53:03 PM
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The initial cost will be more but buying a R/O system will save you in the long run.
I got mine for 189 dollars.
I would have spent that in 1 month buying R/O water.
Its a great investment and in the long run will save both money and time.
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29 gallon f/w various plants and fish.
40 gallon s/w
29 gallon s/w
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