[hwadams]

Very new to hobby. Just bought a 29gal bio-cube and set up on 6-4-07 with 15lb live rock, 30lb live fiji sand. Kids found star fish and small crabs at beach that we already added. I know it is soon but they seem to be doing very well. They are all very active. Any advice would be helpful. Any problems I should be on lookout for. Testing water weekly and everything is within range.

[jimw369]

Just curious. What are you testing for and what are your readings?

[glampka]

I would add more LR. You want to have 1-2 lbs/gal depending on the density of the rock.

[hwadams]

the guy at the lfs sold me a 6 in 1 test strip kit. nitrate is between o and 20ppm. nitrite looks to be 0.5, alkalinity is 300 and ph is 7.8. do i need a better test kit or is this one ok
thanks

[Fishhead Junkie]

i know this is gonna anger alot of people in the saltwater fish world but i never check my ammonia or nitrate levels. i just do my weekly 25% water changes, add some calcium everyday. i did purchase a digital PH tester off of ebay. i got a free pack of base solution from my fishstore, got it properly calibrated and learned my tank was at around 7.7ph so i bought some ph powder and added it and BAM..right up to 8.4 in a blink of an eye. so far so good.

steve

[jimw369]

Everything I have read about Ph would say not to raise it that fast but if everything in your tank is thriving thats great.

[jimw369]

Hwadams: I would suggest a better test kit. You want to keep pretty close tabs on those nitrates and a reading of 0-20ppm is a little vague. Salifert makes good test kits. I think if you shop online a little there is a test kit made by salifert that checks most of the things needed to keep you and your tank in touch with each other. About $90. If you have a reef tank its pretty important to keep track of that calcium, alkilinity, Ph, magneseum and Phosphates. You should know I am a test freak. Good luck!

[glampka]

Hw - pH is definitely low. You want it around 8.2

[hwadams]

thanks a lot for all your help! I was reading another post and got a little confused. Someone said you needed to clean bio-balls monthly but the book with the bio-cube said not to clean. I guess it would be better to put in live rock instead?

[glasta]

well the guy at my LFS said that the bio balls should be cleaned once a month and that putting LR is like that same thing but less matenance.

[hwadams]

I think i will replace those bio balls at the 1 month date with live rock. here are a few pics. not much to look at yet. more live rock soon.



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...ictures027.jpg


http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...ictures026.jpg