salt water mix problem

[missionsix66]

Originally Posted by wildreef

well then its coming from your "Salt".. ive never used coralife .
You might try another brand name . i use "IO"=instant ocean but there are a few other name brands out there that do very well.

Hi there wildreef!

[bottoms01]

here are the numbers for what I test for you who want to know . ammonia 0.25 or 0ppm hard for me to tell from card I think it is 0 ,nitrite 1.0 high range ph 7.8 nitrate 160 or more the test tube goes red .calcium 500

[bottoms01]

Thanks . I am going to see my local reef guy in am .I will not use that salt anymore !

[bottoms01]

OH FISH TO START then when I get my lighting I will go mainly coral

[tazzy695]

ok I would go with io till you start getting corals then switch to one with more ca and mg to help the corals out like the ones I mentioned

[wildreef]

Originally Posted by bottoms01

my ammonia is is .50 allmost zero . ph is good like not perfect but not way high I cant remember the exact numbers .my water is from a place I buy it . the guy who runs it has a coral tank using the same water

Ok bottom, your "tank is cycling" still ok.. it's the live rock im sure' ( uncurred dead things all over )

1, leave your lighting off ( if any , you dont want an algae bloom )
2, stop adding live stock i.e fish/inverts , STOP !, your just going to kill them and make a mess .
3, change that salt mix your using ( ive never heard of coral life being so high in nitrates before ) But change it none the less if you are using it.
4, get you PH up and your alkalinity correct , ( fisrt ) before adding or doing any thing else )
5, keep in mind if you buy more live rock and stick it in there after the tank has cycled , guess what ? you'll start the whole process over again. ( using uncurred rock )

6, if you intend buying more rock do it now ' if your pocket book allows ok.
( smell it ) if it smells like somthing died in it .. you are correct,
( see if you can buy some nice purpled color looking rock , look around other pet shops for it )
it's less time to cycle the tank if the "live rock" is near or fully curred at the LFS , not in your tank.

[missionsix66]

Originally Posted by bottoms01

here are the numbers for what I test for you who want to know . ammonia 0.25 or 0ppm hard for me to tell from card I think it is 0 ,nitrite 1.0 high range ph 7.8 nitrate 160 or more the test tube goes red .calcium 500

Poke around this link. It's very informative.Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

[bottoms01]

I have been letting my reef guy test the water . he tells me to do water changes . I cant wait to show him this crap . he will be cool .I did not get the salt from him . I had already purchased it at petsmart

[wildreef]

Originally Posted by bottoms01

I have been letting my reef guy test the water . he tells me to do water changes . I cant wait to show him this crap . he will be cool .I did not get the salt from him . I had already purchased it at petsmart

Often "cheaper" is not always "better"
Look around and buy "smart" when you are buying salt/needed items for salt water.

be paitent and you'll get there' let that tank "cycle some more" and and change that salt mix you bought.

[GeejEx]

Bad test kit?