New to Forum!! with some questions??

[varder]

Hello!!
Im new to the forum I just turned 18 years old. My dad was the one that told me about this great Forum, I have already learn new things that I didnt know by just reading from here. I love it!!! I wish I had known this forum a long time ago it would have helped me alot!!

I have a 125 gallon that I just finished setting up. I decided to go big since I read that it is alot easier to maintain water parameters than it would be with a smaller tank. I just added live rock from my previous tank and it seems that it helped it cycle so fast!! besides the tank had live rock already too but it was just in the middle of its cycle. I will post some pictures of it. Currently it has some fish which only two came with the tank. It has a refugium too.
I only have one problem I cant seem to lower the nitrates!!! they are at 40!! I have done a water change but it didnt do anything really. I think it would help if I had a protein skimmer but I have spent some money on the tank so It is going to have to wait a little.
Then I came with the question do you really need it? Since I have never used one I would not know if it really helps or not. I know it does help you reduce water changes and it helps with the proteins in the water before they become nitrogen. So any help on how to lower the nitrates will be greatly appreciated!!!!

I will also would like to keep corals in the future, I think I dont have to really worry about the lighting since I already have metal halides. But the question that I have is what do you really need to keep corals? Like water parameters, I know you need to have supplements like Calcium,Iodine, ect. I already have a test kit for that. Just dont really know what else you need. Im afraid that if I add something it is just going to die.
I would like to keep some in the future, like some beginer at first like mushrooms. And later on an anemone!!! but thats later!

Also some future plans that I have is adding more live rock and more fish but for now I need to wait some time to let the tank become more stable. and save more money

In the past I have had to learn things the hard way, like I didnt know you shouldnt cycle the tank with fish so I lost many fish that way. I wish I had found this great forum in the past!! like I can share some my experiences I laugh about when I think about them.
Like I went to Petco looking for fish and that they told me "you could put male bettas together, if they look like they are fighting its like they are just kissing not fighting so dont worry if they fight." or like "a new tank doesnt need to cycle, I have never heard of that before." About how many fish can you put on a 10 gallon tank?? " well you can put as many as you like, my myself, I have 10-15 gupies,9 mollies,2 bettas,5 zebras, 3 goldfish"

I wanted to punch him after all of the things he had told me. I couldnt believe that like not even me without knowing anything about fish, I wouldnt put so many fish like I would feel sorry to put that many fish withouth giving them enough space for swimm and growth. that was just cruel!!

Well I am glad that I have finally joined this forum!!!!

ps: I love this one!!

[Devon]

Welcome to FishLore!

I know nothing about SW setups (hope to change that some day!), hopefully someone that does will be along soon to help you with your questions.

[Shawnie]

WOW!!!!!!!!!! welcome to fishlore..we have some great sw experts who im sure will come along to help...im not one of them but I wanted to compliment you on an amazing tank!!

[Lucy]

Beautiful tank! Welcome to Fish Lore varder

[blossom112]

What is your substrate? it looks to me like sand .
if it is CC this could be the reason your rates are up.
it looks good you have enough LR to filter .
Do you have a filter in it ?
Yes you can keep SW and no skimmer lots of people do it !
I had some reading for the first time last week and was in a pannick and used bio stuff and the readings were 0 the next day (they are pretty cheap)
You may want to either try chemical or clean very well and do water changes everyday untill the rates drop , but your tank looks good and water clear and not too many fish .
If you are using crushed coral , that is probaby the reason the rates are up , over time CC can become a rate factory and even crust to the bottom and get hard .
i just baught a used tank and they said was sand but i instantly knew it was cc , when i put my hand in to get it out it was in the crusting stages ,good thing it wasnt too bad !
I took it out an d put argonite in .
Good luck

[varder]

Hello and thank you to all!!!

The substrate that I have is sand, I am planning to add some more live rock but thats going to be a little bit later. Yes it does have a filter I think is called a refugium.
What is that Bio stuff you are talking about??

thanks to everyone again for a great welcome!

[varder]

I have another question there is this brown stuff in the sand it looks like algea but brown I dont know how to get rid of it really it keeps coming back every single time. This happened because I took out a power head, well I dont know for sure but it started happening after I did that but then I put it back and it hasnt gone away. how can I make it go away.

[Peterpiper]

Hi varder and welcome to fishlore,
Protein skimmer IMO is a must have item for a SW tank, removing proteins from the water will help maintain the quality of the water and help reduce problems with algae.
What is the total water flow in the tank?
And what type of filter are you running?

[blossom112]

brn stuff = diatoms , cleaning crew and water flow (no dead space )
Should clear that up .
Bio-clean and bio-support , must use together (cheap at big al's)
it cleaned the grunge from the bottom,and without a skimmer you might want to look into using it .(should bring your levels down )
I put 4 tbl of each in my 90 gl and it cleaned it up in a day .
You must use both , unless you can find a product with both in it .maybe 14 bux's for both bottles.i use 1x a week while they are all in RM as im cycling new tank now .

For me with the diatom outbreak ,i just couldnt stand it and went and got 2 orange spotted sleeper goby's (a mating pair)
and i have never seen any diatom outbreak since.
but normal in a new tank so dont fret on it :-)

Good luck !

[varder]

Originally Posted by Peterpiper

Hi varder and welcome to fishlore,
Protein skimmer IMO is a must have item for a SW tank, removing proteins from the water will help maintain the quality of the water and help reduce problems with algae.
What is the total water flow in the tank?
And what type of filter are you running?

Hello,
I have a refugium, I will try to look for protein skimmers in the mean time, any recomendations

How do I know the flow in the tank? thanks

[varder]

Originally Posted by blossom112

brn stuff = diatoms , cleaning crew and water flow (no dead space )
Should clear that up .
Bio-clean and bio-support , must use together (cheap at big al's)
it cleaned the grunge from the bottom,and without a skimmer you might want to look into using it .(should bring your levels down )
I put 4 tbl of each in my 90 gl and it cleaned it up in a day .
You must use both , unless you can find a product with both in it .maybe 14 bux's for both bottles.i use 1x a week while they are all in RM as im cycling new tank now .

For me with the diatom outbreak ,i just couldnt stand it and went and got 2 orange spotted sleeper goby's (a mating pair)
and i have never seen any diatom outbreak since.
but normal in a new tank so dont fret on it :-)

Good luck !

thanks I should look for that at Big Al's I think I have seen it. And I will get more cleaners thats for sure since I dont really have many, I think the lawnmower blenny helps on that too since I see the DIATOMS get on the glass like it becomes brown then I see the Blenny fly to eat and then next moment I look at it the has cleaned it almost. but the sand does still have it. thats the problem

[blossom112]

I personally dont think a skimmer is needed for a SW tank , i have friends that dont have one and their tanks are fine .
But more cleaning and water changes are needed,i have forgotten to tell them about bio- so i will be seeing her tomorrow to let them know lol
I just found out about it myself when i had a wee bit of amm lol i pannicked .

Try some sand sifters if you cant handle the diatoms on the sand lol
But if your going to invest in a skimmer id have to say berlin -tripple pas -250 is awesome , i have used Coralife and curently using prizm (i love the prizm too)
Try and find one used ,can get a good price used ,think i saw one somewhere for 100 bux's which used is a great price (with pump).
if you have some algea in your refrrgum, can stick some in the tank to help with cleaning the water too! and the tang would love that treat lol


Good luck D