Hopefully, with your help, I can make my tank flourish.

[reefcoral]

OK. I've sought out your forum to learn how to be a better marine keeper. I've been going about 10 months or so now and had no problems on the fish front until something recently went disastrously wrong. It was a very distressing time watching the tank suffer. I have not had much luck keeping any form of coral and I refuse to put anything more in there until I'm sure that everything is going to be OK. I hope to learn from you all and one day have a beautiful tank like everyone else seems to, especially the amazing TOTM winners!

Here are the specs:

Fluval Osaka 320 open topped tank.
V2 800 skimmer. (Not overly impressed with it)
Giesemann Moonlight 260 with 2x30w actinics, 2x14000K 150w halides and a moonlight simulator.
Hagen 2x54w T8's.
Vortech MP40w impeller. 2x2500lph pumps.
Fluval 405 external cannister filter with carbon and elimiphos.
18w UV sterilizer.
2x300w heaters.
Digital thermometer.
Plastic swing arm hydrometer.
30kg sand
30kg Live Rock.

Inhabitants:

4 Green Chromis
1 Yellow Tang
1 Marroon Clownfish
1 Zebra Dart Gobie
1 Scooter Blennie
1 Six Lined Wrasse

Parameters:

SG 1.025
Temp avg 26.5
10% water change every 2 weeks and 25% change at end of the month.
Red Sea Coral Pro Salt.

http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv65/reefcoral/_3004648.jpg



Thanks for looking. I hope we can make it better.

[cl0wn]

you've come to the right place, we like friendly fishkeeping here. don't be afraid to ask.

[reefcoral]

Cheers cl0wn, thanks for the advice so far.

[Tangman]

Hi Reefcoral just my observation i notice you have a swing meter for testing your salt. These are old hat and are not always right, the one i had many years ago was over 10 points out whaich made my corals all die. Get your self a Refractometer especially for marines, as there are others that dont work right in some marine tanks as they dont have temp compensation. If your salinty is out that will have an effect on the corals, and as like all marine stock it needs correct and stable readings. What are your Alk/Mag/Calcium and PH readings like as they all have an effect on corals. Also i think you are doing to many large water changes as the norm is 5% a week being around 15 per cent every 3 weeks, and as yours is a newish setup it needs to stableise which it cant do with all the fresh water your putting in.HTH Twiggy:D:D

[Timo]

Hello welcome to reefcorals.

A few more water readings needed PO4, NO3 and Ph.

:w:

[reefcoral]

Thanks for the info. I'll take your advice - would you recommend any particular brand of refractomoter?

My water readings are:

Ammonia = 0 (API)
Phosphate = 0 (Salifert)
Nitrite = 0 (API)
Alk = 12 (Salifert and API)
Mag = 1400 (Salifert)
Calcium = 520 (API)

pH = problem - I'm struggling to understand my pH from the API test kit I have, so I've got a PinPoint pH meter (came with a bad probe, another is on the way). In the meantime I have borrowed a pen style pH meter which reads 8.03 during the evening with lights on and 7.95 with lights off at night.

Nitrate = problem - seems to be anywhere from 20 to 100. I get different readings with different kits. I am using API drops, Red Sea and also Salifert.

I'm not sure what to do about the Alk, other than let it come down naturally with the water changes. I'll do some more tests tonight for the most up-to-date figures.

[Chris Ehlert]

Are you using your own RO for the water change? Have you tested it for nitrate? You don't seam to have enough stock to justify the nitrate unless you are seriously overfeeding :)

[reefcoral]

Hi Chris, I do use my own RO water from an RO-MAN 50GPD filter which has new filters and media in it. Water out of this reads 0 nitrate.

I have really cut back on the feeding and also removed everything from my external cannister filter except for carbon and elimiphos bags. My next step was to remove and clean the pipes to and from the filter in case anything nasty had built up inside them.

Also, I have thought that I should try some bacterial additive - can you recommend any? I've also been recommended to use a refractomoter rather than my plastic fantastic. I see that BluZoo has one - and I know it's probably not the best question to you - but how do you rate it or do you have any other recommendation for a refractometer?

Cheers,
Dave.:)

[Tangman]

Hi Dave as long as the Refractometer is temp sensitive it will do. Deltec or Aqua Medic or other makes are all good. Twiggy:D

[Chris Ehlert]

Hi Chris, I do use my own RO water from an RO-MAN 50GPD filter which has new filters and media in it. Water out of this reads 0 nitrate.

I have really cut back on the feeding and also removed everything from my external cannister filter except for carbon and elimiphos bags. My next step was to remove and clean the pipes to and from the filter in case anything nasty had built up inside them.

Also, I have thought that I should try some bacterial additive - can you recommend any? I've also been recommended to use a refractomoter rather than my plastic fantastic. I see that BluZoo has one - and I know it's probably not the best question to you - but how do you rate it or do you have any other recommendation for a refractometer?

Cheers,
Dave.:)

We use Prodibio bi-digest and bi-optim, works a treat, it takes a few weeks to see the results but it does work. It is easy to use too as they come in handy vials that you just break and pour in.
As for the refractometers, as Eric said most are good as long as they are temp sensitive.