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**Gill Passman** · November 14th 06, 09:16 AM posted to rec.aquaria.marine.reefs

wrote:
Ditch the Red Sea kits and pick up some salifert kits. Are you using
RO/DI water or out of the tap? Do you have a refugium?

I'm using RO water which I get at the LFS. It is a small 15gall Nano
reef tank - I do not have a refugium. My nitrates are now down to 0
again but I have added two clowns a week ago (nitrites were 0 yesterday
but haven't given a reading at all since the fish went in so the tank
could still be cycling - I don't have an ammonia test kit but am testing
for nitrites daily) - don't know what my phosphates are as it is my
"water test day" today and water change day tomorrow.

I've been cleaning the algae off with a turkey baster a couple of times
a day. The green star polyps are slowly starting to come out again but
not to their full potential. The pink looks as if it might at lights on
but then retracts again after around 30 mins. So it looks as if there is
still life there.

I'm adding iodine, strontium, molybdenum and something described as
trace elements as a slow drip (manual) once a week. I've not had to
adjust the calcium as yet but make sure that my salt water mix matches
in terms of salinity, calcium, pH and buffering before doing the change
(10%). This is mixed and heated in a small 5 gall tank until it matches
the main tank.

On the advice of my LFS I now also have a Manthrax crab - he does appear
to be cleaning up some of the algae but typically not from the places
that I want him to - I guess he'll get around to it eventually.

Thanks
Gill