• Why not take a moment to introduce yourself to our members?

jaymo

Advanced Reefer
Location
norwalk ct
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hi I was wondering what temp I should keep my tank at ? Was also wondering if 2 96w c p 10000k is enough light for soft corals Thanks . Was also wonder ing why my live rock is loosing it's color. was also wondering about the white stuff it seems to be dieing
 

Attachments

  • DSC09642.JPG
    DSC09642.JPG
    128.4 KB · Views: 339
  • DSC09646.JPG
    DSC09646.JPG
    122.3 KB · Views: 337
  • DSC09645.JPG
    DSC09645.JPG
    134.2 KB · Views: 334

KathyC

Moderator
Location
Barnum Island
Rating - 100%
200   0   0
What temp it is at now?
Much more info about the tank would be helpful...water parameters, how old is the tank, size, skimmer, flow within the tank..do you have a sump..etc.
Are you running a phosban reactor? You seem to have an algae problem there.
 

jaymo

Advanced Reefer
Location
norwalk ct
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The tank is83f sorry I did read the sticky notes but couldn't wait to post .I'll have all my readings tomorrow the tanks a 60 with a built in filter and skimmer no reactor . The only flow in the tank is the power head pumping from the sump to the tank .Thanks For the help
 
Last edited:

KathyC

Moderator
Location
Barnum Island
Rating - 100%
200   0   0
Eek! You need some water flow in that tank! Very important.
Have a pic of the full tank? Built in filter & skimmer???
Assuming you are going to buy your test kits tomorrow? :)
No idea of the current temp?

The white stuff...Was it originally on the rock or the frags and has it been growing & engulfing the croals around it? Is it spongy if you touch it?
 

jaymo

Advanced Reefer
Location
norwalk ct
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The temp now is 83f and it's an acrylic tank with the sump and skimmer built into the back . I have a kit but I rarely see the giants win .GO BIG BLUE .The white stuff was on the rock orignaly haven't touched it yet
 

KathyC

Moderator
Location
Barnum Island
Rating - 100%
200   0   0
83 is a bit warm..have any fans in the canopy? Have a canopy? lol
Would help if you had a clip on fan ( at the very least) to blow across the water. Open a window.turn on the AC & cool the room off some.
The tank isn't covered is it?
You have a kit?? Did I miss something..other than the fact the Giants are on TV...lol

Has the white stuff been continually growing? Go wash your hands & touch it..:)
 

autoponicz

powered by MR
Location
Westbury L.i
Rating - 100%
59   0   0
keeping temp. at 78-80 is good.....2 96 watts should be fine but add a bulb with some actinics....and your live rock is losing color is mostly because your water parameters are all out of whack ...do you use RODI water or are you using tap water?

but u got no flow in the tank,not sure of your equipment and no test kits?
i would suggest reading the beginners section in this forum before going any further
 

Awibrandy

Old School Reefer
Location
Far Rockaway
Rating - 100%
182   0   0
Hi there! Is your temp. that high because you have the heater set that high, or because the room the tank is in is that hot? If it is the heater - turn the heater down. If it is the room - cool the room down some way.
Like autoponicz said; lr is loosing it's color because your parameters are out of whack - mainly your calcium & alkalinity.

The lighting you have should be enough if they include actinics. If not then you need to add the actinics.

I don't know much about the filter & skimmer you have, someone else may chime in that does. sorry.

If you go and look up my tank, you will see that I do not have pumps in my tank. My flow comes from my return pumps. I have two return pumps - pumping a total of 1350gph through 4 locklines. If your return pump is not putting out enough flow on its own then you will have to add flow via power heads in the tank, this is what I do in fowlr.
That white stuff on your lr. You stated it came on the lr, could be sponge, but I have never seen sponge that looked like that. You say it's dying, what I see that looks like it's dying is your mushrooms. Is that white stuff suffocating the shrooms?

DO your self a giant favor, and get a RO/DI unit. I didn't for the first 6 years, and always battled hair algea, and red slime. I switched back in Feb/2007. Best investment I ever did for my reef.
Hope this helps.
 
Last edited:

vanceny

Senior Member
Location
Woodside, Queens
Rating - 100%
17   0   0
My flow comes from my return pumps. I have two return pumps - pumping a total of 1350gph through 4 locklines.

If I remember Awibrandy has a 150gal tank, (correct me if I'm wrong)that's a little under 10x flow. Depending on what you are keeping even that may not be enough. If your looking to keep sps then even 30x is not unheard of. Just dont have all that flow running through your sump. Softies don't require that much but I would at least shoot for 10x your tank volume.
 

Awibrandy

Old School Reefer
Location
Far Rockaway
Rating - 100%
182   0   0
Your correct Vanceny, my tank is a 150g bow front. The livestock consist of lps, leathers, shroom, zoas, very small on the SPS (monti caps, patchy, and a large branching sps coral that was given to me), and heavy on the fish dept. plus snails, hermit crabs, shrimps, star fish. And the tank is thriving.:wink1:
 

Attachments

  • Tanks 10-01-2007 001_640x480.jpg
    Tanks 10-01-2007 001_640x480.jpg
    63.6 KB · Views: 227
  • Tanks 10-01-2007 004_640x480.jpg
    Tanks 10-01-2007 004_640x480.jpg
    58.1 KB · Views: 225
Last edited:

KathyC

Moderator
Location
Barnum Island
Rating - 100%
200   0   0
Any further test parameters to share?
You didn't say if you are using tap water or rodi water..can you post that info please? Are you doing water changes?

I have a concern regarding the rock that is underneather the rock with the corals on it. That type of rock is used frequently in FW tanks but it is a no-no for reef tanks. If I remember correctly it contains iron (that's what gives it the color it has). If you have more in your tank I would strongly suggest you remove it asap and get a 'Poly Pad' or two to remove the metals getting into your water.

IMO you stil need to add flow to your tank. Awilda's tank is one of my favorites and somehow she manages to have such a beautiful tank without additional powerheads...but she has been reefing for a long time now and her experience has a lot to do with her success.
 

Paul B

Advanced Reefer
Vendor
Rating - 100%
28   0   0
Whatever hydrometer you are using I would check it against the refractometer they probably have at the LFS where you got the hydrometer. Hydrometers are commonly off but if you check it against a refractometer you can put a line on it where you want your salinity to be. Even if the hydrometer is off, it will probably be the same amount of "off" all the time. Just check it once in a while. You can check your salinity with your hydrometer, then bring the sample to the LFS to check it against theirs. Swing arm hydrometers have the biggest problems and should be checked more often. Rinse the thing in fresh water after using because calcium will eventually build up on it falsifying the reading. Of course a refractometer is better but a hydrometer is serviceable.
Paul
 

Awibrandy

Old School Reefer
Location
Far Rockaway
Rating - 100%
182   0   0
NO one told me it was going to be this hard


It isn't.;) Once you get the hang of it, and do a little research on the animals you want to keep. If the animal's need do not fit with your set up you have two choices. 1. Do not purchase that animal.
2. Adjust your system to the requierements of the particular animal that you feel you must have.
And then remember that you can never have all the animals you want in the same system.:banghead: Hence the reason why some of us have more then 1 tank.;)

By the way, I have several swing arm hydrometers, and a refractometer. I use them all. Some of the hydrometers are dead on, and some are totally off. I prefer my refractometer, easy to use, and less mess. Shop around, I'm sure you'll find one that is not so expensive.
 

Sponsor Reefs

We're a FREE website, and we exist because of hobbyists like YOU who help us run this community.

Click here to sponsor $10:


Top