Water Quality Opinions

[Alan Passmore]

I just did a water analysis on my marine aquarium, and would like your
opinion.

46 gallon bow front aquarium
Fluval 404 filter, with bio-balls
one power head for water movement
2 x 200 watt heaters
2 x fluorescent lights in the hood - these are marked GE F55BX/AR/FS on
their socket ends, and 700 on the glass tube
I had a 250 watt 14000K metal halide lamp in the hood as well, but it burned
out about 6 months ago and I haven't bothered replacing it

about 30 lbs. almost live rock... this rock was live a number of months
ago. I removed all the rock to experiment with just the crushed coral
bottom. We had 3 ocellaris (sp?) clowns for a couple months, then I added a
dragon sand sifter and a scopas tang. All seemed to be doing well. Then I
decided to add the rock back to the aquarium. That's when the trouble
began. Two of the three clowns went to their maker, as did the sand sifter
and tang. A quick water check indicated a rather large ammonia spike, which
I assume to be the cause of the fish's demise. The remaining clown, what a
trooper, survived the ammonia spike and seems to faring well. The rock is
showing some signs of life now - seeing some growth on it.

I did a water analysis today, and here are the readings I got:
ammonia: 0 mg/l
nitrate: < 5 mg/l
nitrite: < 0.1 mg/l
calcium: around 400 mg/l
iron: 0 mg/l
chelated iron: 0 mg/l
phosphate: 0 mg/l
KH carbonate hardness: 120 mg/l
GH general hardness: off the scale (no change from pink/red to violet after
over 60 drops of reagent)
pH: 8.2
SG: 1.021

At this point, I'm just looking for general comments on the set-up.


Thanks!

[Marc Levenson]

What did you do with your LR while it was removed?
GH and KH aren't normally tests taken, nor are Iron or
chelated Iron.

Since your tank is apparently FO (Fish Only), you don't need
to have NSW salinity, but if you wanted to start keeping
some corals, you'll want your salinity at 1.026

You should have a reading of 0 for Nitrite, not < 0.1. Your
tank still is cycling slightly.


Marc


Alan Passmore wrote:
> I just did a water analysis on my marine aquarium, and would like your
> opinion.
>
> 46 gallon bow front aquarium
> Fluval 404 filter, with bio-balls
> one power head for water movement
> 2 x 200 watt heaters
> 2 x fluorescent lights in the hood - these are marked GE F55BX/AR/FS on
> their socket ends, and 700 on the glass tube
> I had a 250 watt 14000K metal halide lamp in the hood as well, but it burned
> out about 6 months ago and I haven't bothered replacing it
>
> about 30 lbs. almost live rock... this rock was live a number of months
> ago. I removed all the rock to experiment with just the crushed coral
> bottom. We had 3 ocellaris (sp?) clowns for a couple months, then I added a
> dragon sand sifter and a scopas tang. All seemed to be doing well. Then I
> decided to add the rock back to the aquarium. That's when the trouble
> began. Two of the three clowns went to their maker, as did the sand sifter
> and tang. A quick water check indicated a rather large ammonia spike, which
> I assume to be the cause of the fish's demise. The remaining clown, what a
> trooper, survived the ammonia spike and seems to faring well. The rock is
> showing some signs of life now - seeing some growth on it.
>
> I did a water analysis today, and here are the readings I got:
> ammonia: 0 mg/l
> nitrate: < 5 mg/l
> nitrite: < 0.1 mg/l
> calcium: around 400 mg/l
> iron: 0 mg/l
> chelated iron: 0 mg/l
> phosphate: 0 mg/l
> KH carbonate hardness: 120 mg/l
> GH general hardness: off the scale (no change from pink/red to violet after
> over 60 drops of reagent)
> pH: 8.2
> SG: 1.021
>
> At this point, I'm just looking for general comments on the set-up.
>
>
> Thanks!
>
>

--
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http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
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[Alan Passmore]

Marc,

The LR was unceremoniously stored in a garbage bag in my outside garden shed
over the summer. In hindsight, it would seem didn't clean the previously
live rock well enough before adding it back to the tank, hence the ammonia
spike.

Eventually, I'd like to get some corals so I'll bring the salinity up to
1.026 as you suggest, and get a new metal halide lamp.

As for the GH, KH, and iron tests, these are included in the test kit I have
(Hagen Master Test Kit). The lowest reference for nitrites is 0.1, and the
water showed no colour for this test so I assume the nitite level is less
than 0.1; more likely 0.00.

Thank you for your input.

Alan

"Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
m...
> What did you do with your LR while it was removed?
> GH and KH aren't normally tests taken, nor are Iron or
> chelated Iron.
>
> Since your tank is apparently FO (Fish Only), you don't need
> to have NSW salinity, but if you wanted to start keeping
> some corals, you'll want your salinity at 1.026
>
> You should have a reading of 0 for Nitrite, not < 0.1. Your
> tank still is cycling slightly.
>
>
> Marc
>
>
> Alan Passmore wrote:
> > I just did a water analysis on my marine aquarium, and would like your
> > opinion.
> >
> > 46 gallon bow front aquarium
> > Fluval 404 filter, with bio-balls
> > one power head for water movement
> > 2 x 200 watt heaters
> > 2 x fluorescent lights in the hood - these are marked GE F55BX/AR/FS on
> > their socket ends, and 700 on the glass tube
> > I had a 250 watt 14000K metal halide lamp in the hood as well, but it
burned
> > out about 6 months ago and I haven't bothered replacing it
> >
> > about 30 lbs. almost live rock... this rock was live a number of months
> > ago. I removed all the rock to experiment with just the crushed coral
> > bottom. We had 3 ocellaris (sp?) clowns for a couple months, then I
added a
> > dragon sand sifter and a scopas tang. All seemed to be doing well.
Then I
> > decided to add the rock back to the aquarium. That's when the trouble
> > began. Two of the three clowns went to their maker, as did the sand
sifter
> > and tang. A quick water check indicated a rather large ammonia spike,
which
> > I assume to be the cause of the fish's demise. The remaining clown,
what a
> > trooper, survived the ammonia spike and seems to faring well. The rock
is
> > showing some signs of life now - seeing some growth on it.
> >
> > I did a water analysis today, and here are the readings I got:
> > ammonia: 0 mg/l
> > nitrate: < 5 mg/l
> > nitrite: < 0.1 mg/l
> > calcium: around 400 mg/l
> > iron: 0 mg/l
> > chelated iron: 0 mg/l
> > phosphate: 0 mg/l
> > KH carbonate hardness: 120 mg/l
> > GH general hardness: off the scale (no change from pink/red to violet
after
> > over 60 drops of reagent)
> > pH: 8.2
> > SG: 1.021
> >
> > At this point, I'm just looking for general comments on the set-up.
> >
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> >
>
> --
> Personal Page:
> http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
> Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
> Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
>

[Marc Levenson]

Alan,

If you ever store LR again, do so by putting it in a covered
container with powerheads, heater, airstone etc... whatever
would be good in a main tank is the same for stored LR to
keep it alive and healthy. If it is summer, I'd not put it
in the garage or shed because it gets too hot. A guest room
or covered patio might be your best bet, but if it was still
hot then a fan blowing over the water to keep it around 79
to 82F would be ideal. Topping off with fresh (ro/di) water
to make up for evaporation would be very important to
maintain salinity levels.

It isn't that hard or complicated, but it can't just be
ignored 100% and not have problems later, as you noted with
your livestock.

Marc


Alan Passmore wrote:
> Marc,
>
> The LR was unceremoniously stored in a garbage bag in my outside garden shed
> over the summer. In hindsight, it would seem didn't clean the previously
> live rock well enough before adding it back to the tank, hence the ammonia
> spike.
>
> Eventually, I'd like to get some corals so I'll bring the salinity up to
> 1.026 as you suggest, and get a new metal halide lamp.
>
> As for the GH, KH, and iron tests, these are included in the test kit I have
> (Hagen Master Test Kit). The lowest reference for nitrites is 0.1, and the
> water showed no colour for this test so I assume the nitite level is less
> than 0.1; more likely 0.00.
>
> Thank you for your input.
>
> Alan
>
> "Marc Levenson" > wrote in message
> m...
>
>>What did you do with your LR while it was removed?
>>GH and KH aren't normally tests taken, nor are Iron or
>>chelated Iron.
>>
>>Since your tank is apparently FO (Fish Only), you don't need
>>to have NSW salinity, but if you wanted to start keeping
>>some corals, you'll want your salinity at 1.026
>>
>>You should have a reading of 0 for Nitrite, not < 0.1. Your
>>tank still is cycling slightly.
>>
>>
>>Marc
>>
>>
>>Alan Passmore wrote:
>>
>>>I just did a water analysis on my marine aquarium, and would like your
>>>opinion.
>>>
>>>46 gallon bow front aquarium
>>>Fluval 404 filter, with bio-balls
>>>one power head for water movement
>>>2 x 200 watt heaters
>>>2 x fluorescent lights in the hood - these are marked GE F55BX/AR/FS on
>>>their socket ends, and 700 on the glass tube
>>>I had a 250 watt 14000K metal halide lamp in the hood as well, but it
>
> burned
>
>>>out about 6 months ago and I haven't bothered replacing it
>>>
>>>about 30 lbs. almost live rock... this rock was live a number of months
>>>ago. I removed all the rock to experiment with just the crushed coral
>>>bottom. We had 3 ocellaris (sp?) clowns for a couple months, then I
>
> added a
>
>>>dragon sand sifter and a scopas tang. All seemed to be doing well.
>
> Then I
>
>>>decided to add the rock back to the aquarium. That's when the trouble
>>>began. Two of the three clowns went to their maker, as did the sand
>
> sifter
>
>>>and tang. A quick water check indicated a rather large ammonia spike,
>
> which
>
>>>I assume to be the cause of the fish's demise. The remaining clown,
>
> what a
>
>>>trooper, survived the ammonia spike and seems to faring well. The rock
>
> is
>
>>>showing some signs of life now - seeing some growth on it.
>>>
>>>I did a water analysis today, and here are the readings I got:
>>>ammonia: 0 mg/l
>>>nitrate: < 5 mg/l
>>>nitrite: < 0.1 mg/l
>>>calcium: around 400 mg/l
>>>iron: 0 mg/l
>>>chelated iron: 0 mg/l
>>>phosphate: 0 mg/l
>>>KH carbonate hardness: 120 mg/l
>>>GH general hardness: off the scale (no change from pink/red to violet
>
> after
>
>>>over 60 drops of reagent)
>>>pH: 8.2
>>>SG: 1.021
>>>
>>>At this point, I'm just looking for general comments on the set-up.
>>>
>>>
>>>Thanks!


--
Personal Page:
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

[Cindy]

Alan Passmore wrote:
> Marc,
>
> The LR was unceremoniously stored in a garbage bag in my outside
> garden shed over the summer.

Then it was dead rock.

[Marc Levenson]

That would explain the ammonia spike, as it was probably
moist enough in the garbage bag. Plenty of loss, but not
dried out.

Marc


Cindy wrote:
> Alan Passmore wrote:
>
>>Marc,
>>
>>The LR was unceremoniously stored in a garbage bag in my outside
>>garden shed over the summer.
>
>
> Then it was dead rock.
>
>

--
Personal Page:
http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com