Newb To Saltwater Tank Build

[Lorekeeper]

I don't have any experience with chalice, but I don't think any coral will be particularly picky with whatever surface it's applied to. I think it has a lot more to do with flow and light. So if you can find a spot on your wall that a chalice might like light and flow-wise, then you'll probably be alright to try it there.

 

[xiholdtruex]

I don't have any experience with chalice, but I don't think any coral will be particularly picky with whatever surface it's applied to. I think it has a lot more to do with flow and light. So if you can find a spot on your wall that a chalice might like light and flow-wise, then you'll probably be alright to try it there.

I feel so new when I'm trying to plan out a new setup. I'm liking the mushroom corals, and hammers, frogspawn and torches and then I read how you have to know hot to position them if now its like coral warfare lol

 

[Lorekeeper]

Ohhhh yeah... The euphylia (hammers, frogspawn, torches) are definitely mean little things. Most corals aren't quite as aggressive as that, but most will have some sort of defense mechanism. War corals have tentacles that the extend, and so do most LPS. Most SPS seem to mainly engage in chemical warfare. Softies don't seem to give quite so many issues.

 

[xiholdtruex]

Ohhhh yeah... The euphylia (hammers, frogspawn, torches) are definitely mean little things. Most corals aren't quite as aggressive as that, but most will have some sort of defense mechanism. War corals have tentacles that the extend, and so do most LPS. Most SPS seem to mainly engage in chemical warfare. Softies don't seem to give quite so many issues.

I love the way that xenia and gsp look , I'm afraid they would take over the tank -.-

 

[Lorekeeper]

I'm doing a GSP floor in my tank, and so far, it's actually been decently slow to spread. It's doing well, just not laying down mat very quickly.

Xenia... definitely an invader. I want some, but I'll be adding it to either my "Lagoon" tank, or maybe a wall in my main tank.

 

[Culprit]

I love the way that xenia and gsp look , I'm afraid they would take over the tank -.-

Just keep them on individual rocks. My GSP grows super fast, but its on its own rock and if it starts to grow onto the sand I just cut it off. Pulsing xenia grows fast too, not as fast, but its easy to trim.

 

[xiholdtruex]

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Just keep them on individual rocks. My GSP grows super fast, but its on its own rock and if it starts to grow onto the sand I just cut it off. Pulsing xenia grows fast too, not as fast, but its easy to trim.

It grows on sand?

 

[Culprit]

It can, but it doesn't like to. If it does its super easy to cut.

 

[xiholdtruex]

It can, but it doesn't like to. If it does its super easy to cut.

Industructable coral lol

 

[Culprit]

Pretty much. I could probably let it dry out in the sun for a few hours, microwave it for 30 ,inutes, boil it, and then pop it in the tank and it'd be fine

 

[xiholdtruex]

Pretty much. I could probably let it dry out in the sun for a few hours, microwave it for 30 ,inutes, boil it, and then pop it in the tank and it'd be fine

And then some how it starts to produce palytoxins and it kills us all lol

 

[xiholdtruex]

Rip the trochus snail Mr. Bobby Singer your shell shall make a good hermit home.

 

[Lorekeeper]

Sorry bout your snail! Think it was old age, or another cause? Good name, btw.

 

[xiholdtruex]

Sorry bout your snail! Think it was old age, or another cause? Good name, btw.

Thank you , I'm not sure he was acting slow I went to pull him out before he became a ammonia battery and he's still alive but barley. The clown fishes name is Sam Winchester , the other trochus is John Winchester , the two new trochus are Crowley and Rowena , and the two porceljn crabs when I get them will be Cass and dean

 

[xiholdtruex]

Personally, I don't trust what any store tells me. Even the best stores out there will promote their more expensive products, for the simple fact that they need the money. Not a bad thing, but you can save some cash.

I use Instant Ocean Reef Crystals, and I haven't had any issues. Phosphate kits are definitely a nice thing to have, and can clue you into some issues before nitrate really will.

Trochus would probably be alright with 8-12 in a 12 gallon, actually. Personally, I'd get some nassarius and some ceriths to have variety and help stir your sandbed. Just stay away from turbos! They'll redecorate your tank real quick.

Do you have any issue with reef crystals and pH?

 

[Lorekeeper]

Nope. My PH is usually 8.1 in-tank. Comes out of the tap around 7.4.

 

[xiholdtruex]

Nope. My PH is usually 8.1 in-tank. Comes out of the tap around 7.4.

Is there a reason why we would want a different alk level?

 

[Lorekeeper]

Well, Alkalinity is used by certain corals (and coralline algae) to build skeletons and grow. If your alk is too low, you won't get great growth out of hard coral and coralline. It can also lead to flesh dissolving off of your corals. If it's too high, you might get burnt tips on SPS. Generally, weekly WCs with Reef Crystals keeps all my levels well within range.

 

[xiholdtruex]

Well, Alkalinity is used by certain corals (and coralline algae) to build skeletons and grow. If your alk is too low, you won't get great growth out of hard coral and coralline. It can also lead to flesh dissolving off of your corals. If it's too high, you might get burnt tips on SPS. Generally, weekly WCs with Reef Crystals keeps all my levels well within range.

Do you mix your water in trash cans or buckets?

 

[Lorekeeper]

I mix it in 5 gallon buckets from Lowes. They're like $3. Rinse em out with some tap water before you use, but they work fine. I'll usually mix with a small powerhead for between 30 minutes (if I need the water soon) or 24 hours, if I have time to prep it before I need to WC.

 

[xiholdtruex]

I mix it in 5 gallon buckets from Lowes. They're like $3. Rinse em out with some tap water before you use, but they work fine. I'll usually mix with a small powerhead for between 30 minutes (if I need the water soon) or 24 hours, if I have time to prep it before I need to WC.

Do you heat the water also? I have read to not mix longer than a few hours do to minerals evaporating , have you hear this. How much salt do you put for a 5 gallon bucket? What is you sg?

 

[Lorekeeper]

I heat the water if it's going to be mixed for a while. If not, then I just have it come out of the faucet at temp, and use it. It's usually close enough.

Never heard about the minerals evaporating. I know quite a few people mix their water for long periods of time. I don't think it's needed, but I don't think it'll hurt.

As for how much salt, use this calculator: Direct Salt Addition Calculator

For 5 gallons of water, mixed to a Specific Gravity of 1.025, you'll need 760 grams of salt. You may choose to raise or lower your SG, usually between 1.023-1.027, but I've always kept mine between 1.024-1.025, so I have wiggle room in case of evaporation or dilution from too much top-off.

 

[xiholdtruex]

I heat the water if it's going to be mixed for a while. If not, then I just have it come out of the faucet at temp, and use it. It's usually close enough.

Never heard about the minerals evaporating. I know quite a few people mix their water for long periods of time. I don't think it's needed, but I don't think it'll hurt.

As for how much salt, use this calculator: Direct Salt Addition Calculator

For 5 gallons of water, mixed to a Specific Gravity of 1.025, you'll need 760 grams of salt. You may choose to raise or lower your SG, usually between 1.023-1.027, but I've always kept mine between 1.024-1.025, so I have wiggle room in case of evaporation or dilution from too much top-off.

wow that's about 1.5 lbs of salt lol never tought about it but wow lol I'm going to need to start doing this to regulate the quality of water, I'm finding it annoying buy water now lol another addition to the aquarium hobby a ro dI system time

Thanks for all the info Lorekeeper

Placed some regenerated purigen in the tank this morning and performed my weekly water test, my ammonia and nitrite was at 0 but my nitrates where between 80 - 160 ppm. Noticed the Rfa we're closing up. So I performed a 70% wc and they started to open up again and put some prime in the tank. I thought it may have been the purigen. So I tested the water in my buckets.

I went to the bucket of salt water and tested the water from VIP reef. Which is water sourced from the reef down off the coast. Found that the Ph was at 8.2 the ammonia was at .25ppm the nitrite was 0 and nitrate was between 40-80 ppm. This is not good seems like I'm on my way to get some salt and RO DI water to mix my own.





Picked up the Ro DI water but the salt was super expensive they only had high grade reef salts $30+ for a small container, if I dose prime every 24 hours do you think my tank will be ok for two days till I can get more salt?

 

[Culprit]

Yes, it should be fine. Those water paramaters are absolutely horrible, I wonder what other nutrients are like. Can't believe they sell you that... I would complain. Wouldn't thiink they'd do that. Order some Instant ocean reef crystals from Amazon, and either buy RO/DI water or get a RO/DI unit.

 

[Lorekeeper]

Wow, I missed this one! Sorry!

That's super bad. I'm not sure I'd trust that store anymore, depending on how the handle this issue.

 

[xiholdtruex]

Yes, it should be fine. Those water paramaters are absolutely horrible, I wonder what other nutrients are like. Can't believe they sell you that... I would complain. Wouldn't thiink they'd do that. Order some Instant ocean reef crystals from Amazon, and either buy RO/DI water or get a RO/DI unit.

Just purchased 15 gallon of rodI and ordered some instant ocean salt, it's coming in in on Tuesday. I wish I had the other tests to check all my perameters.


Just had a second trochus snail flip over and hide in it's shell, flipped it over this morning and a hermit flipped it over, so I flipped it back over, I hope Meg the trochus snail lives

 

[xiholdtruex]

Went to Vip Reef and informed them of the water they said that's weird no one else has complained and they use the waters in all there tanks and there tanks don't show any nitrate levels. I'm going to be mixing my own water from now on.

 

[xiholdtruex]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a tds meter?

 

[Culprit]

Went to Vip Reef and informed them of the water they said that's weird no one else has complained and they use the waters in all there tanks and there tanks don't show any nitrate levels. I'm going to be mixing my own water from now on.

You could've just got a bad batch mabye?

I got these and love them both pH meter is SUPER helpful too. They both work great.

 

[xiholdtruex]

You could've just got a bad batch mabye?

I got these and love them both pH meter is SUPER helpful too. They both work great.

Sounds good to me, going to need to place a order next week for them.


Maybe It could have been, only problem is it just takes that one bad batch to screw with the tank I was speaking with the owner and he told me that since the water comes from the reef, even if the nutrients don't register on tests that there their from the organics.

I'm cutting all those variables out and just mixing it myself, won't be able to sleep knowing that lol

Retested my water a few mins ago and ammonia and nitrite is at 0 , nitrate is at 40ppm and salinity is at 1.023 a little lower than what I like but it should be ok till I can get the salt and wanted chage some out to regulate it.

 

[Culprit]

Maybe It could have been, only problem is it just takes that one bad batch to screw with the tank I was speaking with the owner and he told me that since the water comes from the reef, even if the nutrients don't register on tests that there their from the organics.

Exactly. I think there was someone on here who had a stunning reef, always bought water from the LFS. One day they gave him RO/DI water by accident instead of SW. He did a water change with pure RO/DI water and killed everything. Definitely wiser to either test all water you get or mix yourself.

Those params aren't too bad. Nitrate is definitely high but its only for a few more days.

 

[xiholdtruex]

Exactly. I think there was someone on here who had a stunning reef, always bought water from the LFS. One day they gave him RO/DI water by accident instead of SW. He did a water change with pure RO/DI water and killed everything. Definitely wiser to either test all water you get or mix yourself.

Those params aren't too bad. Nitrate is definitely high but its only for a few more days.

I would have had a heart attack, but at the end of the day , it's all on us once we leave the store.

Yep, I think we a 50% wc should be good. Nitrate at 40 does not worry me as much as nitrate at 80-160 lol

 

[xiholdtruex]

Has anyone had any issues with chloromine using there rodi? Does anyone still treat rodI water with prime after processing as a precaution?

Does anyone recommend a budget rodI system? Aiming toward the brs ones at

 

[Culprit]

No, your carbon block filter will pull out chloramines, and any that sneak through your RO membrane gets.

I use the AquaticLife 4 stage twist in. Really easy to use, small, and compact. I have the 100 gpd unit, cost about $125. The BRS 5 stage is really good as well.

 

[xiholdtruex]

No, your carbon block filter will pull out chloramines, and any that sneak through your RO membrane gets.

I use the AquaticLife 4 stage twist in. Really easy to use, small, and compact. I have the 100 gpd unit, cost about $125. The BRS 5 stage is really good as well.

This one? AquaticLife Twist-In 100 Gpd 4-Stage Ro Unit (Sediment, Carbon Block, Membrane, Deionization)

 

[Dch48]

At the relatively high pH levels needed in a saltwater tank, ammonia can quickly become toxic and there should be none present at all. It's far more critical than in freshwater where the pH is normally lower.

 

[Culprit]

I use the one from drs foster smith

 

[Wild Bill]

I use BRS RO/DI. LOVE IT. Bought a second set of filters when I got it, haven’t had to change them yet.

 

[xiholdtruex]

I use BRS RO/DI. LOVE IT. Bought a second set of filters when I got it, haven’t had to change them yet.

The 4,5 or 6 stage?

 

[xiholdtruex]

With my weird peramiters my rfas are nice and open today.

 

[Wild Bill]

The 4,5 or 6 stage?

4 stage. Withe extra cartridges, it was like 180. Cartridges are like 35 for the set.
Everything’s looking great.

 

[xiholdtruex]

This mixing has begun starting with 2 3/4 cups of salt to 5 g of water

 

[Lorekeeper]

If you take a long spoon and stir the middle of that salt, it'll begin to dissolve a bit more.

 

[xiholdtruex]

If you take a long spoon and stir the middle of that salt, it'll begin to dissolve a bit more.

went to grab the spoon and the salt in the middle was gone lol looking good so far 1 hour with a 550g power head, how long should I mix the salt for?

 

[Lorekeeper]

As long as the water's clear, you're probably good to go. I personally prefer to mix the day before a WC, and let it circulate overnight, but I've never had issues mixing the same day.

 

[xiholdtruex]

As long as the water's clear, you're probably good to go. I personally prefer to mix the day before a WC, and let it circulate overnight, but I've never had issues mixing the same day.

Do you have any issue in letting the water sit in the bucket a few days or do you use it instantly?

 

[Lorekeeper]

As long as the water is being circulated, and is covered, I don't see an issue with it.

 

[xiholdtruex]

As long as the water is being circulated, and is covered, I don't see an issue with it.

Do you think it would be a issue if I mixed it and stopped the circulation? Maybe circulate it again before use?

So all the salt has mixed 3 cups of salt makes 5 gallon of 1.026 water.

 

[Lorekeeper]

Only problem I see is that stagnant water is a breeding ground for bacteria.

 

[xiholdtruex]

Only problem I see is that stagnant water is a breeding ground for bacteria.

Never thought that would be a issue. Have always heard of people having big tubs of water around and only turinibg in the pump before the wc, I'll try it and let you know.

Checked peramiters before we, ammonia and nitrite at 0 , nitrate is between 40 and 80 pH at 8.0. Changed 4 gallon of water , dosed 1ml of prime just incase and checked the salinity in tank after letting it ciculate a bit it's at 1.024 which is the sweet spot usually for my nems let's see how it goes. I will test nitrate tommorow and see if it's gone down. Had a small bag of chemI pure break -.- let Amazon know and they are sending me a new one.