CA2OR Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Here is my 12g and I did a recent test on my water and treated for the PH issue but still need to retest it. As for the rest here it is please advise on issues you see PH-7.6 before adding buffer Nitrite-0 Nitrate-80 Amonia-.25 Phosphate-.5 ALK-143-8 Calc-420 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 The ammonia is not good. Where is it coming from? Are you missing anything that should be moving around in there? Have you counted all of your snails lately? Also the phosphate is not good. That can lead to some serious algae growth in the near future if you are not careful. With phosphate readings like that I would not use some of that sand in your new tank. I would say that you need to start doing frequent water changes. No more than 25-50% as often as 3 times a week until those numbers go down. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 Thank you for the rapid responce. I have recently lost that sea hare could that be what is spiking amonia? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 How big was it? I have seen some that were as small as 1 inch, and I have seen some that were as big as my fist!!! It really could be the source of the ammonia. I don't think that it would be the source of the nitrate and phosphate. Those tend to be longer term problems than just one dead animal. Get on those water changes. Also, if you still have not gotten that seahare out of your tank, try to find it and get it out. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I would start doing water changes. Maybe 4g's everyday until ammonia and nitrate are zero. If your really ambitious you could do 4g's twice a day. Buffer the new salt water to the appropriate pH before it hits the tank, then start keeping up on your alk more often. JMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowman Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I agree, I would do a 50% water change and then smaller ones until that ammonia and nitrate are gone. Do you use ro/di water? If so, test the total dissolved solids (TDS). you may need to replace the membrane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Your nitrates are pretty high. How deep is your sand bed? Needs to be 3 inches minimum. Mine is as much as 8 inches in places but my tank is much bigger. Is there a refugium in your system? If not get one. This will go a long way to keeping your water parameters in line. Haveing more sand will help keep your PH higher also. Is your skimmer performing well? Enough cant be said about water changes in a small tank like yours. Also dont overfeed the tank. Keep the fish on the hungary side for a few weeks till your parameters look better. I would avoid any flake or pellet type foods and stay with frozen mysis shrimp and some shredded/chopped jumbo shrimp. Also it is absolutly imparitive that you defrost any cubed mysis or other frozen foods on a folded up paper towel before feeding the tank. You will be surprised how much phosphate juice is stored in a cube of food. Always run 1-2 cups of carbon ad change it once a week. Dripping kalkwasser (limewater) in your tank at night will help keep the PH from swinging and raise it up where it needs to be. In a small tank like your be careful when useing kalkwasser so that you dont overshoot the 8.3 - 8.4 ph you want to keep. Dripping kalk will improve your skimmers performance and its been said will help lower your phosphates. Keep in mind this what I have read over the years a few times. I guess I have never actuallt tested to see if phosphates were lowered from useing kalkwasser. Whew....that was some typeing...hunt & peck style...(laugh) I cant spell either so dont make fun of my 5th grade spelling (scratch) Jay Nice looking nano tank you have there. Are those giant zoo polyps or those rediculasly expensive duncan corals I have seen people talking about? hope this helps you some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadReefer Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Well said Jay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCR Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Looks like it never finished cycling. Stocking too quick. Change salt brand. What does your mix test at after 24 hrs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 Well I need to retest my water, I did a 5g change last night and plan on doing another one tonight. I use water I get from Fred Myers water machines inside, I do not have a refugium nor a skimmer, I know bad reefer, it's a bad reefer. Replaced my carbon yesterday before the meet. Yes those are the "rediculasly expensive duncan corals".DOH! Got them on a trade. Was only like 1 and a half head now it is between 7 and 9. But you really only see 5 in the pictures. I will keep on water changes, and I will try and retest my water tomorrow. The tank cylcled for almost 18 months before I put anything at all in there. As for overstocking, I am guilty. :DI have been trying to reduce the feeding, but it is hard with 2 women that like to watch them eat.DOH! From what I was told they were fed flake today, I have mysis, krill, artic pods for frozen or cooled. I will start feeding that only. Is any of this something that might be fixed when I move to new tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowpunk Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 A lot of it will be helped when getting into a bigger system, but none of it will go away completely. More volume helps things stay more stable, but you have to keep on your testing and adjusting(threaten) so you keep them perfect. I think a big one is the stocking/feeding levels. The 36g will help provided you don't throw a bunch more fish in right away. I'm sure the 36g will have its own set of issues soon enough(laugh) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 Well I am not so interested in housing more fish. I mean, sure I will probably pick up a fish or 2 but my interest is in corals. Ah....who am I kidding I am sure I will pick up a couple fish. I would like to get maybe a watchman goby pistol shrimp couple, or a small tang, and would love to get a wrasse if possible. But I would settle for even one of those. To be honest I will probably want to get rid of the 2 chromes and pick up 2 more clowns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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