help, new to site

kwc · 02-27-2007, 09:05 PM

Just found this site, looks great!

OK, have had my saltwater tank since 93'. Moved 11 times so only kept fish and live rock. Now I am retired and am trying my hand at making it a reef tank. Last September increased lighting from 50 watts to 200 watts (40 gallon tank). I am growing Algae great!

Anyway, can't seem to get anything but the fish to live. I have a Dori, 3 years old, yellow tang 2 years, tomato clown 9 months, shrimp long time, 7 snails, 6 small crabs, and a blemmy that is approximately 1 year old.

Problem: corals, polyps, anenomes, can't get them to live

Readings in my tank today:

calcium: 520
KH: 10 dkh
PH: 0
NO3: 20

Any?

Thanks
kwc

monkey · 02-27-2007, 10:56 PM

nitrates IMO are a little high...

calcium IMO should be around 420-460...

and it would help if we knew what type of lighting you have... PC, t-8, t-5, m/h?

hope this helps!

jon

monkey · 02-27-2007, 10:59 PM

also what is your ph at?

kwc · 02-28-2007, 12:06 AM

Jon
Thanks, lites are 3 each 65 watt T-5
How do I get my nitrates down, did 10% water change on 2/24?

kwc

kwc · 02-28-2007, 12:09 AM

PH = 0

2 of the lights are 50/50, the 3rd set is white

monkey · 02-28-2007, 01:17 AM

ph? shouldnt be 0... should be between 8.0-8.2

more water changes

Area 51 Exotics · 02-28-2007, 01:50 AM

Welcome kwc!

We will need a little bit more info about you setup to help you out. We know your lights, but what type of filtration do you have? Are you using a skimmer/sump?

Also we will need some more test results.
Ammonia
pH
Salinity
Nitrite
Nitrate: 20 (high, should be 0. More water changes, try a 50% followed a few day later by 25%))
Alk: 10 dkh (ok)
Ca: 520 (high, 420-460 as mentioned)
Phosphates PO4:

I think one of the main factors is your bioload (# of fish) 2 tangs in a 40gal is too much. I'm sure the fish have adapted to the water conditions over time, but the corals you are trying to introduce can't.

try and get us this info and we'll see if we can get some coral going in that tank for you.

Mike

kwc · 02-28-2007, 02:18 AM

Wow! I appreciate the help and look forward to putting corals in my tank after all these years. In all honesty, for the past 16 years the fish told me when to change the water so....this reef thing is going to take a lot more effort. I am excited about it.

Yes, I use a skimmer/sump, and use the same orange and blue filter balls I have had since 93'. Off the skimmer I use a regular foam filter that I change out every water change.

Salinity is .021
PO4: 0 (jon thougth that was PH

Not sure about PH or Nitrite, will test tomorrow and let you know.
Only recently started testing the water when I couldn't get the anenome's or polyps to flourish. Bought a REEF Master Test Kit but it only has tests for Calcium, KH, PO4, and Nitrate.

Thanks for the time!
kwc

kwc · 02-28-2007, 02:27 AM

Jon, sorry I thought PH was PO4,

I have no clue what my PH is, my PO4 is 0

Will get the tests for other stuff today.

Tks!
kc

Area 51 Exotics · 02-28-2007, 02:32 AM

Couple quick things to help, I would raise your salinity a little between 1.023-1.026. Also I would replace the bioballs in your sump with cured live rock as this is probably where some if not all your nitrates are coming from.

Post the rest of the results tomorrow and we'll go from there!