My Tank And Setup And Where I Want To Go

[derrick orosz]

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..

or 3rd, 4th and 5th time around haha

 

[barebottomcouple]

first off use power head or turkey baster and blow every corner and under rocks clean. clean filters or socks 2-3 times a week water changes wont help nothing if the detritus is not removed from system. water will re-pollute in hours. watch for over feeding . ro/di a must.

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.

he is so right

watch for over feeding . ro/di a must.for nitrates. consider vodka dosing,3 years ago I had nitrates over 100 and in 3 weeks of vodka dosing they where undetectable.

 

[J_T]

Imo. Just start your routine again.

Clean up the obvious (clean the rocks as suggested) and go back to doing what worked.

Adding too much to "fix" problems often result in new problems. And you will then add more to fix that.... All that happens is a store makes money (not to discourage supporting the local lfs) but there are better ways they can get your money!


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[Adam Robinson]

I am using RO water I have a system downstairs and have been agin the water for 48 hours before I top up or do a water change. I think replacing the filter socks is a good idea. TDS?????

 

[scubasteve]

total dissolved solids meter to make sure your ro is good if tds reads anything you need new filters..... i only use treated tap water not ro so someone else can chime in there

 

[EricTMah]

To me it sounds like your tank needs a overhaul to start with.

Blowing off the rocks really well, cleaning all power heads, cleaning the filter/sump gravel vacuum the crushed coral really well, checking the quality of water coming out of the ro unit.

Then test 24hrs after this service and see where you're at.

By the sounds of it. The tank has been pushed to the back burner for a bit. What I'd do is the above mentioned maintenance and getting back to a routine for maintaining the tank on a regular basis. Test 24 hrs after the overhaul then again 3-4 weeks after your regular maintenance routine has been started. Then you'll have a real idea how the tanks doing and where it's suffering.


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[Adam Robinson]

Sounds good to me. I will continue to maintain the tank but I will not be adding any tank mates until things are set up

 

[Adam Robinson]

What would your suggestion be for a lighting set up. I have a chance to by a fixture that features 4 T5 bulbs 48 inch long will this be enough???

 

[EricTMah]

For lps and softies, probably. But you'd want 6 or 8 bulbs for sps if you're sticking with t5's

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[TORX]

Depending on the dimensions, a 6 or 8 would be too large for the tank. A 4 bulb will probably work in a 75

 

[reeferkeeper420]

8 will def be overkill on a 75g unless its some odd dimensioned tall tank lol. Im running 4 over my 75g and its great, i would be running 6 tho if the one ballast didnt go.

 

[Adam Robinson]

I could run the light bar I have with 2 and then add the 4 more to the set up for a total of 6. The one thing that I have noticed is my soft corals and leathers have not been looking as good since I started this clean up process could they be stressed because of the changes in the water conditions?