Hello from NJ

Discussion in 'Say Hello!' started by JCerillo70, Jan 7, 2017.

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  1. JCerillo70

    JCerillo70 Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2013
    Messages:
    92
    Location:
    Freehold, NJ
    Hi guys!

    Trying out something alittle smaller this time with a 29 gallon.

    30 lbs of dry rock - 40 lbs of "live sand" - bottle of bio-spira. This would be week three - whisper 30 filter and a reef octopus classic 1000 skimmer (hob) 19" refugium (hob) inbound.

    PH=8
    AMMONIA= 0.50
    NITRITE= 0
    NITRATE= A LITTLE OVER 0.5
    SALINITY = 1.029
    TEMP RANGES AROUND 81 DEGREES

    Still no algea bloom... since Tuesday i have a chromis in there and a couple hermit crabs creeping around eating pellets ive been dropping in.

    With all this live bacteria i put in and the sand i would think by now i should be good to go but the ammonia part confuses me. Any advice on my levels?

    thanks guys
     
    JCerillo70, Jan 7, 2017
    JCerillo70, Jan 7, 2017
    #1
    Zissou likes this.

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  2. JCerillo70

    JCerillo70 Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2013
    Messages:
    92
    Location:
    Freehold, NJ
    pics
     

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    JCerillo70, Jan 7, 2017
    JCerillo70, Jan 7, 2017
    #2
  3. Swisswiss

    Swisswiss Caribbean Reef Squid

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2011
    Messages:
    2,879
    Location:
    Geneva Switzerland
    I would bring that salinity down. the ammonia could be due to the "rotting" uneaten pellets
     
    Swisswiss, Jan 8, 2017
    Swisswiss, Jan 8, 2017
    #3
    scajeo likes this.
  4. JCerillo70

    JCerillo70 Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2013
    Messages:
    92
    Location:
    Freehold, NJ
    Did a water change and brought it down to 1.026 - going to buy more hermit crabs today and see if that helps
     
    JCerillo70, Jan 8, 2017
    JCerillo70, Jan 8, 2017
    #4
  5. Swisswiss

    Swisswiss Caribbean Reef Squid

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2011
    Messages:
    2,879
    Location:
    Geneva Switzerland
    assuming feeding is the problem then cut slightly back on that..... at 3 weeks I personally wouldn't feel safe to assume my cycle is completely over... the added bio load of the chromis most likely has a part in responsibility in the mini ammonia spike as well smaller volumes of water foul faster than large ones. monitor your values for the next week and see how it goes from there.....I have a single hermit in a 120. several in a 29g might not work out for the best.....
     
    Swisswiss, Jan 8, 2017
    Swisswiss, Jan 8, 2017
    #5
  6. Zissou

    Zissou Fire Shrimp

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2005
    Messages:
    349
    Location:
    Central Coast, CA
    I agree with Swiss, hermits are not the answer and too many will just cause problems. I run my 40 with zero crabs, safer for corals in my opinion
     
    Zissou, Jan 9, 2017
    Zissou, Jan 9, 2017
    #6

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  7. JCerillo70

    JCerillo70 Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2013
    Messages:
    92
    Location:
    Freehold, NJ
    Update:

    went to lfs yesterday they didn't have any nitrite test kits but they do test water. im going to bring a sample sunday to them to get it pro tested.

    via my API test tonight

    PH: 8.4 (ADDED A LITTLE BOOSTER)
    AMMONIA: 0.05
    NITIRITE: 0.0
    NITRATE: 20 (BIG JUMP FROM 10 YESTERDAY)
    SALINITY: 1.026
    TEMP : 78.7

    ANY INSIGHT?
     
    JCerillo70, Jan 9, 2017
    JCerillo70, Jan 9, 2017
    #7
  8. Swisswiss

    Swisswiss Caribbean Reef Squid

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2011
    Messages:
    2,879
    Location:
    Geneva Switzerland
    its good your Nh4 is dropping, 20ppm no3 isnt dangerous for your fish or inverts, lets see what your LFS gets
     
    Swisswiss, Jan 9, 2017
    Swisswiss, Jan 9, 2017
    #8
  9. SantaMonicaHelp

    SantaMonicaHelp Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2011
    Messages:
    66
    Location:
    Santa Monica, CA, USA
    Hi JCerillo70,

    Welcome to the forum :)
    How is the tank now?
    Zhenya
     
    SantaMonicaHelp, Mar 7, 2017
    SantaMonicaHelp, Mar 7, 2017
    #9