Updating My Situation

[nemo79]

Hey Everyone, Ok Did My Tests Saturday Night And Then Sunday, I List My Results Below And See Weirdness.


Saturday:

Ph - 8.2 - 8.3
Alk - Low - Normal
Ammonia - 0.25
Nitrite - 0.2ppm
Nitrates - 2.5ppm

Sunday:

Ph - 8.4
Alk - Low
Ammonia - 0 (looked More Yellow Than Green)
Nitrites - 0.05
Nitrates - 0

I Have No Idea If This Is Correct Or If My Tests Are Faulty.

[amcarrig]

I'm not sure what the question is here Don't worry so much about water quality right now. Once your ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels are at "0", we'll talk you into getting your alk and calcium levels up

[nemo79]

i got new ammonia and nitrite tests. did them monday and voila 0 for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. yippy.

[amcarrig]

Nothing beats a good test kit. Now, just leave the tank be for a little while before you add anything else to it

[nemo79]

will definitly be waiting a few weeks before getting a new clown, but it should be safe to do a water change this weekend? i cleaned my sponge out last night and there was barely anything in it, my main concern is why my skimmer is removing so little?

[rickzter]

What tests are you using? Some tests are not very accurate with the color, so you must take the tube to the window for some light. That'll enable you to see the color better. Something tells me you're not reading the results right.

[rayjay]

Your skimmer may not be taking out much because you may not have too much of what a skimmer removes.
A skimmer primarily removes dissolved organic material before it decomposes further and ends up being an excess nutrient problem.
The other scenario is that the skimmer may not be dialed in correctly for your tank set up.
If you are producing reasonable foam but it is white to light in colour, then there probably isn't a lot of excess dissolved organics in the tank at this time.
If you are not getting much foam, the skimmer needs adjusting.

[nemo79]

oh i agree. the red sea tests are very difficult to read, the ammonia was yellow to green and the nitrites were more difficult, blue for 0 and blue for 0.05. the American pharmaceuticals are so easy, shorter waiting time and the colours are totally different. I am really pleased with there tests and heard alot of good things. Things are going good with the tank. My shrimp is always trying to get to the clown to clean him but he just can't catch him as the shrimp only stays to certain "areas" and my jawfish is finally starting to come out more of his new home. Lord he changed house 5 times in one week...i couldn't keep up with where he was. He's adorable. I look forward to replace my other clown but will have to wait a few weeks. How long do you think is good and safe. About the skimmer, it does build a light coloured foam but moslty a small amount of a green coloured liquid. I suspect it's because i don't have alot of waste as stated.

[amcarrig]

Originally Posted by nemo79

my jawfish is finally starting to come out more of his new home. Lord he changed house 5 times in one week...i couldn't keep up with where he was. He's adorable.

The reason for this is because jawfish prefer to make their homes in large sandy areas, not near or under reef rocks.