My Tank And Setup And Where I Want To Go

[Adam Robinson]

Ok folks I will really appreciate the help with this one.

My current tank set up is as follows;

75 Gallon tank
120 SWC protein skimmer
pump and return
I am currently running ne power head in the opposite area to the return
Lighting - One 2 bulb T5

Tank mates;

1 yellow tang
1 hippo tang
2 clown fish
12 turbo snails
1 peppermint shrimp

corals

1 small group of zoas (6 polops)
3 leather corals
1 tree coral

Where I would like to go on with the tank is to fix the mistakes of the past I did have some hard corals and they died my inexperience and mistakes were the cause.

- What I should I be monitoring and looking for ?
- Currently I am testing for Calcium, Akalinity, phosphates, Amonia, Nitrates
- I would love to add a few more fish and more corals down the road

 

[Adam Robinson]

I would love to add some hard corals again, more zoa's and increase the fish stock as well. What I am looking for is some guidance on how to do this correctly and slowly. My tank has been running for 2 years

 

[heath]

sounds very nice..I was in the same boat as you, mistakes and losses, everyone on this site is sooo very helpful and knowledgeable, doing it right second time around..slow and steady wins..

 

[EricTMah]

First off. I'd say you definitely need more light to start with.

Some more background on the tank would be nice. Like where are your water parameters sitting now? Also giving a bit more description of what went wrong before will give us a better place to start giving advice.



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[reeferkeeper420]

Def more light. Youll need 4-6bulbs to grow sps. Your also going to want to monitor ph, aswell asmagnesium,and potassium if your going to be doing sps. But as eric said a complete list of params and if there consistent will def help.

 

[heath]

don't be afraid to ask questions here. I was a fence sitter when I first started, afraid that I would sound stupid. no question is dumb, just some of the answers..

 

[TORX]

Also, what test kids are you using to test those parameters?

 

[EricTMah]

don't be afraid to ask questions here. I was a fence sitter when I first started, afraid that I would sound stupid. no question is dumb, just some of the answers..

The only questions that are dumb, are the ones that aren't asked

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[Adam Robinson]

I have three Hanna test kits and a complete marine test kit (ill get the name when I get home) I also use a refractometer.

 

[Adam Robinson]

I'll go through tonight and test everything I have and post the parameters on the forum

 

[TORX]

And post what is tested with what. I have a feeling that you have Hannah checkers and API complete kit. Those levels are as key as lighting is.

 

[EricTMah]

Quality test kits are key along with observation

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[Adam Robinson]

That rings a bell are those testers/checkers good enough ?

 

[TORX]

Hanna...yes. API...not so much. But depends what you have for Hanna.

 

[scubasteve]

i love my hanna phos checker api you have large variances between the colour stages so isnt the most accurate but can get you by but if you plan on being successful with sps get tests for magnesium and potassium levels other than water lots of flow and light is needed for most species

 

[Adam Robinson]

here are the first two test (not good)

Phosphate 1.0
Nitrate 80-160 (so clearly need help here)

Some background on the tank well frankly things were going well and then life happened and we lost our schedules things started to die off and water changes slowed down. It's time to bring them back up. I have added PHOSOSORB to the tank to bring the phosphates down two days go they were 2.25 so that seems to be working what else would you recommend besides immediate water changes?

 

[TORX]

Well phosphates are 100% too high as well. Is that the API tester? Most of us are aiming for around 0.08 or lower. Water changes actually do little to control nitrates and phosphates. Nothing is immediate in this hobby. As example, if your phosphates are 1ppm and you have 100 gallons, if you did a 50 gallon water change and that new water had 0 phosphates, your tank would still have 0.5ppm. Another 50 gallon water change and your tank would still be at 0.25, then 0.17, then 0.8ish and so on. That is a lot of HUGE water changes. Just keep doing what you are doing...and add a lot of patience.

 

[Adam Robinson]

So would you recommend using the phossorb to bring them down slowly. The fish seem to be much more active recently. This past weekend we did a 30% water change and I vaccumed the sand bed some and the gunk that came out was just gross. I did have a tang with the very early stages of hole in the head and I know that was my fault neglect mostly because we let the diet slack the other two in the tank show no signs of it and the great guys at aquariums by design gave us a supplement for our food.

 

[Adam Robinson]

I just want to thank you all for the help my 3 1/2 year old loves the tank and spends hours watching the fish and corals that we do have in the tank and loves helping me with feeding and stuff its really appreciated.

 

[reeferkeeper420]

Are you using Rodi water? Whats the tds?