A few questions from a SW rookie

hydrometers are not accurate, when things started dying in my tank but all other parms ok, I got a refractormeter. hydrometer said salt ok 1.023, refractometer showed it was 1.031!!!!

 

Reading Telgar's links is a great starting place. Best quote that I ever read was that this isn't so much about keeping fish or keeping corals, it is about keeping water. Water chemistry is absolutely key to a successful aquarium. Key parameters for you to measure.... SG = Use a refractometer. Hydrometers are notoriously error prone. Test Kits for Alk, Ca, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, Phosphate, Mg. I use probes for Temp and pH.

Targets
SG 1.025 +/-
Alk 9-12
Ca 400-440
Mg 1350-1450
Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, Phosphate all should be 0.0

When you have a brand new tank, as you do, the tank is going to go the a "cycle". Read about the nitrogen cycle. As a starting point.

Like I said, this is a great place to learn.

M

 

Appreciate the pointers. I've had freshwater aquariums before so I'm familiar with the nitrogen cycle. I wasn't sure how different it is with saltwater though. Going to go back and read up on it as a refresher though.

Are there different tests that should be performed for the various tank set-ups, i.e. fish only, fish w/ live rock, reef, etc.?

 

i would ditch the filters and just go with a skimmer. i used a canister filter and its a nitrate factory causing massive outbreaks of algae. its been two years and its finnally starting to clear up now that ive gotten rid of the filter and replaced it with a skimmer

 

I've never used a skimmer and not familiar with their use. I'll have to do some research and see how they work. Thanks for the tip.

 

no problem there extremley simple they basically take out all the nasty stuff in your water by bubbling the water. i have a 55g and i think it cost me 250 took me 10 minutes to set up.

 

A sump/refugium is key to a successful reef hands down.

 

I'll second that!

 

Agree with the above referencing ditching the filters and going refugium/sump and skimmer. Need to understand his situation and goals though to be specific.

With respect to the question on fish only, vs FOWLR vs reef for test kits, Ca, Alk and Mg are certainly more reef focused. Others are generic to all.

Boiling it down to the simplest form, with your tank only a few weeks old, you've got a relatively large bioload and haven't built up the necessary bateria in the tank for the nitrogen cycle. Excess nutrients (all the nitrates that will build up in your tank) will literally feed algae. Prediction... you are about to go through an algae bloom. Getting rid of all that algae is a pain. Fundamentally, controlling water chemistry is the best defense. Second, water chemistry out of whack is hard on your live stock... fish and coral and inverts. You'll kill them. Both cruel and expensive....

There is lots to discuss but I don't think in terms of filtration any more. I think in terms of nutrient export. How am I getting the bad stuff out of the water column? After a year of reading I concluded on a skimmer, a deep sandbed and a refugium. There is debate on remote DSB versus DSB in the display. I don't run ANY filters. Some people do with success, it isn't that you CAN'T. It is that after reading and listening to more experienced folks I concluded not to. My success in my tank has sky rocketed.

This is an "opinion rich" hobby. Ask any question and you'll get a ton of opinions. The trick is to read and conclude what works best for you. I am by no means an expert. I just started where you are, spend a lot of cash and killed a bunch of innocents. I figured I'd share my failures and speed your process.

First issue is getting your chemistry under control and stable. Likely solutions are SLOW DOWN. Let the bacteria in the tank do its job. So.... how much live rock do you have and what kind and how much substrate??? Live rock IS your 'filter' because it is where the bacteria live.

Hope this is helping.

M

 

Might want to add this to your reading