Aearin
Member
1.024 is fine mate, i usually keep mine at 1.026. Anywhere around that's idea
It's a good idea to calibrate the refractometer often before use, some people do it every time to get accurate results
Martin's RSM C-130
- Thread starter melvis
- Start date
1.024 is fine mate, i usually keep mine at 1.026. Anywhere around that's idea
It's a good idea to calibrate the refractometer often before use, some people do it every time to get accurate results
Cheers Aearin, that's good to know. Although, been stressing about it as I'm not convinced I'm using the refractometer right and the initial readings freaked me a bit (1.030). Think I'll try and pop into LFS this week and get them to take a look for me, test on their water and see what we get. It's the whole refractometer needing to be at a specific temp to ensure correct set up that vexed me lol. Think I need to get some DI water to calibrate it as assuming I can't use RO for that bit, or can I?
Will leave the system running as it is for now, i.e. lights on for 10 hours a day and skimmer running (as per Red Sea's instructions) until I'm 100% sure I've measuring salinity right, as I don't want to screw up the RS reef mature programme. That said, have a feeling that it's probably going through it's cycle anyway so unsure whether to run this or just start testing and see what readings I'm getting. Would appreciate any pointers as to best way of pursuing it now.
Cheers
Martin
Will leave the system running as it is for now, i.e. lights on for 10 hours a day and skimmer running (as per Red Sea's instructions) until I'm 100% sure I've measuring salinity right, as I don't want to screw up the RS reef mature programme. That said, have a feeling that it's probably going through it's cycle anyway so unsure whether to run this or just start testing and see what readings I'm getting. Would appreciate any pointers as to best way of pursuing it now.
Cheers
Martin
most refractometer are ATC (Automatic Temperature Compensation) ask your lfs if yours is...
pick up some calibration fluid - here an example from the UK
http://www.reefdreams.co.uk/acatalog/Pinpoint-400mV-Calibration-Fluid-PINPOINT_ORP_CALI.html#SID=552
pick up some calibration fluid - here an example from the UK
http://www.reefdreams.co.uk/acatalog/Pinpoint-400mV-Calibration-Fluid-PINPOINT_ORP_CALI.html#SID=552
Cheers Glenn, checked out mine (it's the Red Sea one) and it's ATC. Will look to get some calibration fluid too.
Decided to take the Red Sea Reef Mature Programme back to the store, just didn't see myself starting that, especially when I thought it's probably already started going through its cycle naturally. So out came the test kits today and here are the results...
Temp - 28c (82f) - higher than normal, but the house is a bit warmer today and the hood fans aren't on.
SG - 1.020 (35ppt) - seems a lot lower than the 1.024 reading I had the other day, got some checking to do.
Ammonia - 0.2
Nitrite - 0-0.05
Nitrate - 5
Phosphate - 0
PH - 8.2
Alkalinity - 5dkh
Will be doing some more tests on the weekend, probably Sunday, and see where I'm at then. Anyone reckon I should be chucking in a deli shrimp anytime soon?
Here's a shot from earlier this morning;
Cyano on the sand?
A single zoa? Not sure what the little flowers are on the right hand side though;
Loads of funky red stuff, leafy and not lol;
Still hunting the elusive other crab, although the missus briefly saw it last night so that allayed fears he was trapped somewhere after the aquascaping.
Cheers
Martin
Decided to take the Red Sea Reef Mature Programme back to the store, just didn't see myself starting that, especially when I thought it's probably already started going through its cycle naturally. So out came the test kits today and here are the results...
Temp - 28c (82f) - higher than normal, but the house is a bit warmer today and the hood fans aren't on.
SG - 1.020 (35ppt) - seems a lot lower than the 1.024 reading I had the other day, got some checking to do.
Ammonia - 0.2
Nitrite - 0-0.05
Nitrate - 5
Phosphate - 0
PH - 8.2
Alkalinity - 5dkh
Will be doing some more tests on the weekend, probably Sunday, and see where I'm at then. Anyone reckon I should be chucking in a deli shrimp anytime soon?
Here's a shot from earlier this morning;
Cyano on the sand?
A single zoa? Not sure what the little flowers are on the right hand side though;
Loads of funky red stuff, leafy and not lol;
Still hunting the elusive other crab, although the missus briefly saw it last night so that allayed fears he was trapped somewhere after the aquascaping.
Cheers
Martin
this is exactly what I would do... and mush him up a bit, to speed up his decay & get the ammonia up even more... more than one way to cycle a tank, but this method is proven over time & has worked well for many
Joeys Tank
Well-Known Member
The little "flowers" to the right of your zoa looks like xenias.
I wouldn't worry about the temp (almost the average ocean reef temp). I ran mine slightly higher than yours during my cycle to help bacterial growth. I see no problem with tossing in half of a deli shrimp. Since you mention hunting crabs, I would take a short glass, place the shrimp inside and set it leaning up against a rock. This way your shrimp can provide an ammonia source and also acts as crab bait.
The orangish-brown algae on your sand looks more like diatoms (very common during tank cycle). They will clear up on their own once silicates are consumed. I tend to scrape mine off of the glass but leave the rest.
I wouldn't worry about the temp (almost the average ocean reef temp). I ran mine slightly higher than yours during my cycle to help bacterial growth. I see no problem with tossing in half of a deli shrimp. Since you mention hunting crabs, I would take a short glass, place the shrimp inside and set it leaning up against a rock. This way your shrimp can provide an ammonia source and also acts as crab bait.
The orangish-brown algae on your sand looks more like diatoms (very common during tank cycle). They will clear up on their own once silicates are consumed. I tend to scrape mine off of the glass but leave the rest.
Cheers guys for the responses. Do I need to be running tests on anything else at this point?
Looks like I'll be getting the glass out and tossing in a deli shrimp again, hopefully this time I kill two birds with one stone lol.
Ah diatoms, I think that's what I actually meant. Been having to remind the missus that this is part of a phase and the worst is yet to come, but then it'll be nice and pretty. Might have to give the glass a little clean later to keep her sweet... ;-)
Looks like I'll be getting the glass out and tossing in a deli shrimp again, hopefully this time I kill two birds with one stone lol.
Ah diatoms, I think that's what I actually meant. Been having to remind the missus that this is part of a phase and the worst is yet to come, but then it'll be nice and pretty. Might have to give the glass a little clean later to keep her sweet... ;-)
Joeys Tank
Well-Known Member
As far as tests go, I would only focus on ammonia, nitrites and nitrates (salinity too to since your SG of 1.020 looks low-better to figure this one out now before you start stocking).
Once ammonia goes to zero, you can stop testing for it. Same for nitrites.
Once ammonia goes to zero, you can stop testing for it. Same for nitrites.
Thanks mate. It's this bloody salinity thing that's causing me the biggest pain in the arse at the moment. Struggled with initial readings the other day (over 1.030) and now it seems really low. Must be doing something obvious wrong because I can't see how it can swing that much. Won't be doing any stocking for a good month yet as I want to get all the maintenance tasks bang on. Might be a bit excessive, but I don't want to rush anything - I've been told that quite a bit you see....lol
Gotta finally install the Tunze ATO too this weekend, once other 'chores' are done.
Gotta finally install the Tunze ATO too this weekend, once other 'chores' are done.
Didn't get around to fitting the ATO, the pump didn't fit into the container I'd purchased so back to the drawing board on that one. Did manage to get some red LEDs to accompany the blues I'd fitted previously and boy is night life rife lol, it seems I have a lot more little snails than I thought. Most seem to converge and the big green lump on the top left.
Have to admit, I've neglected it slightly over the past 3/4 days due to serious work pressures but have concentrated on the main three tests tonight and finally got the salinity readings I've been hoping for. Not out the woods on this one and need to be 100% happy before I'm convinced I've got it nailed.
Temp - 27c
SG - 1.024
Ammonia - 0.4
Nitrite - 0.05
Nitrate - 2
Deli shrimp just gone in too. Tank is starting to look pretty ugly so things are progressing, albeit very slowly lol. Also changed the lighting sequence, running it for about 6 hours a day now.
Have to admit, I've neglected it slightly over the past 3/4 days due to serious work pressures but have concentrated on the main three tests tonight and finally got the salinity readings I've been hoping for. Not out the woods on this one and need to be 100% happy before I'm convinced I've got it nailed.
Temp - 27c
SG - 1.024
Ammonia - 0.4
Nitrite - 0.05
Nitrate - 2
Deli shrimp just gone in too. Tank is starting to look pretty ugly so things are progressing, albeit very slowly lol. Also changed the lighting sequence, running it for about 6 hours a day now.
Mike Johnson
Well-Known Member
I'd recommend that you raise the salinity to 1.025 with 1.026 being the precise target.
Will work on that next Mike, thanks. Have been thinking about scraping the shop brought saltwater going forward, and mixing myself. Looks like another trip to the LFS for more goodies is in order. Might have to pop into a shoe shop first this time, keep the missus happy and all that ;-)
Readings today are:
Salinity - 1.024
Ammonia - 0.4
Nitrate - 0
Nitrate - 0
Cheers
Readings today are:
Salinity - 1.024
Ammonia - 0.4
Nitrate - 0
Nitrate - 0
Cheers
Mike Johnson
Well-Known Member
Sorry, that's a Chiton - count the eight plates. I have lots of them, they don't hurt anything.
Good members of the cuc 
Hi all
Anyone know the best place to install the Tunze ATO in the RSMc130? I read somewhere about back right (if you're looking at aquarium) above the pump and filter foam, but it appears to me that there isn't enough space to locate the magnetic holder due to the hood bracket. Possibly could fit behind the media rack...
Any advice most welcome.
Cheers
Anyone know the best place to install the Tunze ATO in the RSMc130? I read somewhere about back right (if you're looking at aquarium) above the pump and filter foam, but it appears to me that there isn't enough space to locate the magnetic holder due to the hood bracket. Possibly could fit behind the media rack...
Any advice most welcome.
Cheers
Tank looking pretty grimly earlier but with the additional 5kg of LR added I was waiting on the LFS curing. Aquascaping not sorted yet as the missus was ill so had to limit wasting a whole Sunday fiddling with the tank in order to keep tabs on the missus and the boy lol.
As for the ATO, opted for just behind the media rack in the end, accepting the fact that it will need moving when changing the media periodically;
The reservoir and control unit;
Still got the wires to tidy up and need to think about a timer for the LEDs. Readings are showing 0 for both ammonia and nitrite and nitrate is up slightly, but will be keeping tabs on it over next few days. The prawn I put in doesn't seem to have caused any movement on the ammonia and the LFS seems to think it's probably cycled given the cured LR. Any thoughts guys?
Last pic showing the quick clean up I gave it whilst everyone else took a nap this afternoon lol.
Cheers
As for the ATO, opted for just behind the media rack in the end, accepting the fact that it will need moving when changing the media periodically;
The reservoir and control unit;
Still got the wires to tidy up and need to think about a timer for the LEDs. Readings are showing 0 for both ammonia and nitrite and nitrate is up slightly, but will be keeping tabs on it over next few days. The prawn I put in doesn't seem to have caused any movement on the ammonia and the LFS seems to think it's probably cycled given the cured LR. Any thoughts guys?
Last pic showing the quick clean up I gave it whilst everyone else took a nap this afternoon lol.
Cheers
Joeys Tank
Well-Known Member
Interesting that the ammonia hasn't started up. I say it is safe to add your clean up crew and let them feast upon the diatoms. I would avoid starfish at this time until I was certain the tank had stabilized.