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07-24-2007, 03:50 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Feather Duster
Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sacramento, California
Posts: 231
 
|  Brain Pickin Time
It is time for me once again to seek the advice, guidance and wisdom of all you guru reefers. So, if you're willing, here we go:
1. HEATER: I have a 100w Rena fully submersible heater, but I'm a little scared of it. I tested it in a bucket and seemed kinda flaky. Looking for recs. Thankfully, I don't need it yet because I've been able to keep tank temp. at 77d without one. But the time will come....
2. LIVE SAND: I was considering adding a bit more live sand for a total of 3-4 inches. My tank is not quite done cycling. Can't get those "effin" nitrates lower than 20. (More about that later). OK to do?
3. SALT: What is the best salt to use for mixing for use in water changes? With the stuff I've been using, when I pour the water mixture into a bucket, I can see all this stuff (undissolved salt, I assume) floating around. Also, I've been trying to raise the SG from 1.023 to 1.025. What is the best way to accomplish that?
That's all for now. I'm going to post my filtration question in Filter Forums. Thanks!!!!!!
Linda _________ Linda 29g Nano 2 FSL 8000k 36w & 2 AquaLux 36w Blue Pump: 1200 LPH; Maxi-Jet 600 Powerhead 100w Visi Stealth submersible heater 15 lbs. live rock 20 lbs. live sand LIVESTOCK: 1 cleaner shrimp; Asst. snails, 1 emerald crab, Pierre the Cleaner Shrimp and acrobat extraordinnaire, 1 button polyp, 1 green star polyp, 1 red mushroom, 1 Xenia, 1 octopus coral, 1 torch, 1 frogspawn, 1 tree coral, 1 stag coral. Established: 6/20/07  | 
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07-24-2007, 04:03 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | PICTURE POLICE
Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Miami, FL Age: 39
Posts: 5,049
  
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Hi Linda, I dont use a heater, my MH's do all the " heating " that I need.  sorry.
You have to finish with the cycling process for the nitrates to subside to a normal level. As for the sand, thats a personal preference.
As for the salt level, I dont use a salt mix b/c I get the salt water from the LFS. however, you can achieve the 0.0025 level by two ways; one, take out some water and when mixing the salt, add a little more salt. two, wait until the h2o evaporates for 2-4 days( depending on your lighting system) and check again the saly level. _________ 9YR OLD 90G/55g custom sump/refug Mag18 Aquac 180skimmer 692w MH AC jr,yel&kole tang,midas&convict blenny,B&G chromies,Blk/yel fin chromie blackcap,nemo,neon goby,6line; Blastomussa Merleti,Acan ,BUBBLE,Torch,LTA, Acropora(2) Moon, assort zoas, yel& G star polyps, P&B ricordia, montiporas, cup&candy corals, xenias,B/G mush,flower ane(2), cherry red mussa, dusters,cleaning crew..  | |
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07-24-2007, 04:15 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Bikers are a dying breed!
Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Elizabethtown, IN Age: 40
Posts: 3,967
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Make your heater a titanium one with an external thermostat. Glass heaters can break and short out and create soup, just ask Geekdafied he had this happen just a week ago. Titanium Heating Tube Electronic Heater Controller Carib-Sea ARAG-ALIVE FIJI PINK will have all you need to kick start your coralline algae and help bacteria in your tank
As for salt, I use Instant Ocean and each person will use something different. _________ Scott 265g (Peninsula)
3x400w MH's, 4x95w Actinics, AAT Lunar Lights, OM 4-way CL, PM Bullet 3 Skimmer, DelZone Eclipse 1 O3 Generator, WavySea Plus for return, AAT Kalk Reactor, KNOP Ca Reactor w/PM Second Chamber, TradeWinds Chiller, ACIII Controller, Oceanus ATO, PM PO4 Reactor, 75g Sump, 30g Fuge Born March 5, 2007 Parameters My 265 Gal. Tank Thread  
Last edited by Otty; 07-24-2007 at 04:22 PM.
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07-24-2007, 04:49 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 44
Posts: 4,024
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Linda, your adding live sand during any time while the tank is up and running and you will have a change in pH and Alkalinity/ _________ 125gal.w/Mag9.5 return(dual megaflow)>Mag7 pump Aqua Cev180skimmer.Wave2k Hamilton Reefstar(2)250watthqi(mh)pend.a Yellow, Naso Tang Red Lip Blenny Percula Clown Demoiselles Niger Trigger F. Wrasses Cerianthid Stars Hermits snails Zoos shrooms Montipora Brains Gorgonians Favia Turbinaria Kenyon Tree Acropora Xenia Tridacna (CroceaMaximaSquamosa)
"IF THE PHONE DOESN'T RING...IT'S ME"  jb
associated content.com
aka parrothead | |
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07-24-2007, 05:38 PM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: TN Age: 31
Posts: 3,913
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yes, glass heater=bad, total loss after it boiled the water and then shattered and fried what was left. _________ [center]Renaming Our Corals "Believe those who are seeking the truth; doubt those who find it." Andre Gide | |
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07-24-2007, 07:04 PM
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#6 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Los Angeles, California Age: 21
Posts: 3,448
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Quote:
Originally Posted by geekdafied  yes, glass heater=bad, total loss after it boiled the water and then shattered and fried what was left. | Ugh, everyone remind me to get a metal heater...ugh _________ Tank Specs:
55 Gallon Mixed Reef
48" Tek Light: 4-54W T5 HO Fluorescents
Bulbs:
1 x 54w Fiji Purple T5 HO Fluorescent
1 x 54w Super Actinic Blue T5 HO Flourescent
1 x 54w 14000K AquaBlue 75/25 T5 HO Fluorescent
1 x 54w 10000k AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent
Hard Stuff:
100+ lb. Fiji Live Rock
65+ lb. Live sand
http://www.teslamotors.com/images/ba...la_banner6.jpg | |
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07-24-2007, 10:05 PM
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#7 (permalink)
| | Gnarly Old Codfish
Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 59
Posts: 4,777
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Yes, titanium heater = goodness.
I don't have much sand in my tank at all. No more then 1/2 most places. Just to cover glass and give rock something to sit on.
For salt mix, have tried many, but plain old IO (instant ocean) works great and is probably the least expensive, which is important to me because I do frequent water changes.
Just be patient...those nitrates will come down.
& best way to increase SG is just use salt water mix for topoff water until it gets to where you want. --- nothing wrong with 1.023. Better to be at lower end of range during summer when tank can be expected to heat up, which has a drastic effect on SG.
Scott _________ AG "125," AquaC EV 180, 30 gal sump, "SCWD", 80 lbs LR, CoralSeaLife "Moonlite" Hood, PFO 250W HQI Mini-Pendant (SPS HQI 14000k bulb)
12 Gallon NanoCube - 24w stock PC 50/50 light "...nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank, only bad things happen fast..."
- MIKE PALLETTA - (2008 Reef log) ("OmarD"/"Scott") | |
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07-25-2007, 05:43 AM
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#8 (permalink)
| | 3reef Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Wethersfield, CT Age: 39
Posts: 6,371
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce Ugh, everyone remind me to get a metal heater...ugh | Get a metal heater | |
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