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Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)
Hi,
John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.
I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.
With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.
I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.
If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.
I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.
I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.
Thank you
Darragh Sherwin
Parameters on my week old set up
- McQuaid (Mark McQuaid)
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15 Jul 2013 13:22 - 15 Jul 2013 16:01 #1
by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid)
240 litre mixture of cichlids
55 litre marine tank currently holding a few coral and clean up crew
Parameters on my week old set up was created by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid)
Well, just did my first load of tests this morning with the tank having been running a week with water, sand and rock, goes as follows
SG - 1.025
PH - 7
Nitrite - 1.6
Nitrate 50
KH - 161.1ppm
Calcium - 340mg/L
This looking to be ok progress?? i know i still have some settling to do with trites and trates but everything else ok?
SG - 1.025
PH - 7
Nitrite - 1.6
Nitrate 50
KH - 161.1ppm
Calcium - 340mg/L
This looking to be ok progress?? i know i still have some settling to do with trites and trates but everything else ok?
240 litre mixture of cichlids
55 litre marine tank currently holding a few coral and clean up crew
Last edit: 15 Jul 2013 16:01 by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid).
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- igmillichip (ian millichip)
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15 Jul 2013 16:25 #2
by igmillichip (ian millichip)
Irish Tropical Fish Society (ITFS) Member.
Replied by igmillichip (ian millichip) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
Still a long way to go with the nitrites and nitrates.
I'd re-check that pH.
I'm not totally convinced that measuring calcium at this stage is any advantage, but if you are then you should be measuring magnesium as well as it is a balance that is required.
Did you do any ammonia tests to see if the ammonia levels are changing or not.
ian
I'd re-check that pH.
I'm not totally convinced that measuring calcium at this stage is any advantage, but if you are then you should be measuring magnesium as well as it is a balance that is required.
Did you do any ammonia tests to see if the ammonia levels are changing or not.
ian
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18 Jul 2013 09:02 #3
by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid)
240 litre mixture of cichlids
55 litre marine tank currently holding a few coral and clean up crew
Replied by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
Cheers, i did an Ammonia test but its a kit for freshwater? any different? well result i got was 2.4
Also, just checked the hydrometer again this morning, now showing up 1.019??? how would it drop that drastically in a few days?
Also, just checked the hydrometer again this morning, now showing up 1.019??? how would it drop that drastically in a few days?
240 litre mixture of cichlids
55 litre marine tank currently holding a few coral and clean up crew
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18 Jul 2013 09:59 #4
by igmillichip (ian millichip)
Irish Tropical Fish Society (ITFS) Member.
Replied by igmillichip (ian millichip) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
S.G Up-Down reading?
there are a number of reasons, but I'd re-check first the method of reading the SG first (it could be the equipment used gives variable results.....mechanical pointers, for example, may jam)
If the equipment is fine then
If water had evaporated then you'd have expected the reading to go up.
If the reading goes down than that could indicate precipitation of some components of the saltwater.
as the tank is still well off being suitable for livestock just yet with the high nitrites and nitrates, then continue with it running to reduce the nitrites and ammonia to zero and test the SG again.
I'd still be concerned over the pH as 7 is low. The development of the bacteria in the biological filtration system will be much better and much better suited to coping with marines if the pH were at the correct pH for a marine tank.
ian
there are a number of reasons, but I'd re-check first the method of reading the SG first (it could be the equipment used gives variable results.....mechanical pointers, for example, may jam)
If the equipment is fine then
If water had evaporated then you'd have expected the reading to go up.
If the reading goes down than that could indicate precipitation of some components of the saltwater.
as the tank is still well off being suitable for livestock just yet with the high nitrites and nitrates, then continue with it running to reduce the nitrites and ammonia to zero and test the SG again.
I'd still be concerned over the pH as 7 is low. The development of the bacteria in the biological filtration system will be much better and much better suited to coping with marines if the pH were at the correct pH for a marine tank.
ian
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19 Jul 2013 01:23 #5
by jeff (Jeff Scully)
Where the tongue slips, it speaks the truth.
A life making mistakes is not only more honourable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing at all.
Replied by jeff (Jeff Scully) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
ian sorry to be a pain in d ass i know his levels are gona take another while to balance out but how the hell is his ph only at 7,
is it cause its only running a couple of wks. ???? how long does it take for the ph to rise over 8 i cant remember what mine was like at the start
is it cause its only running a couple of wks. ???? how long does it take for the ph to rise over 8 i cant remember what mine was like at the start
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19 Jul 2013 09:54 #6
by igmillichip (ian millichip)
That's what concerns me.
Most of the chemicals in seawater that contribute to pH contribute very rapidly.
I am also wondering how the nitrate and nitrite levels are quite high after a week. In a marine tank, and this is where marine keeping can be much more rapid than acid/soft water freshwater fish, there is plenty of buffers in the water to prevent nitric acid being released by the biological filter system.
I would suggest a re-check of the pH or of the equipment.
ian
Irish Tropical Fish Society (ITFS) Member.
Replied by igmillichip (ian millichip) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
ian sorry to be a pain in d ass i know his levels are gona take another while to balance out but how the hell is his ph only at 7,
is it cause its only running a couple of wks. ???? how long does it take for the ph to rise over 8 i cant remember what mine was like at the start
That's what concerns me.
Most of the chemicals in seawater that contribute to pH contribute very rapidly.
I am also wondering how the nitrate and nitrite levels are quite high after a week. In a marine tank, and this is where marine keeping can be much more rapid than acid/soft water freshwater fish, there is plenty of buffers in the water to prevent nitric acid being released by the biological filter system.
I would suggest a re-check of the pH or of the equipment.
ian
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22 Jul 2013 08:54 #7
by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid)
240 litre mixture of cichlids
55 litre marine tank currently holding a few coral and clean up crew
Replied by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
Hi guys, cheers for the comments
Ive done a few retests this morning after a water change the other day and some buffers reccomended to me by LFS
Im reading as follows
SG - 1.020
PH - 7.5
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
So certainly some improvement there anyway, how far do you reckon i am away from dropping in my cleaner crew?
Ive done a few retests this morning after a water change the other day and some buffers reccomended to me by LFS
Im reading as follows
SG - 1.020
PH - 7.5
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
So certainly some improvement there anyway, how far do you reckon i am away from dropping in my cleaner crew?
240 litre mixture of cichlids
55 litre marine tank currently holding a few coral and clean up crew
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23 Jul 2013 09:08 #8
by Bohrio (Alex Rodriguez)
Replied by Bohrio (Alex Rodriguez) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
I am not a friend of buffers myself. I would only use them on a fully cycled tank and when I have fish in them to avoid them stress. Also, buffers will only help for a short while, levels will go back to previous within a few days.
Being a fishless tank I would have waited a bit and just try to lower those levels by doing water changes. I still find it weird that your pH is 7.5. Where are you getting your water from? Maybe there is something in the tank that is lowering the pH?
Freshwater ammonia tests will not work on marine tanks (unless it is specified by the manufacturer, I believe API's Ammonia test is for both freshwater and saltwater tanks).
Being a fishless tank I would have waited a bit and just try to lower those levels by doing water changes. I still find it weird that your pH is 7.5. Where are you getting your water from? Maybe there is something in the tank that is lowering the pH?
Freshwater ammonia tests will not work on marine tanks (unless it is specified by the manufacturer, I believe API's Ammonia test is for both freshwater and saltwater tanks).
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23 Jul 2013 09:43 #9
by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid)
240 litre mixture of cichlids
55 litre marine tank currently holding a few coral and clean up crew
Replied by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
Cheers, i actually decided to stop relying on my test kits and bring a sample of water into LFS and they said all is good and gave me go ahead to add coral and cleaner crew, all is good so far
240 litre mixture of cichlids
55 litre marine tank currently holding a few coral and clean up crew
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23 Jul 2013 12:43 #10
by jeff (Jeff Scully)
Where the tongue slips, it speaks the truth.
A life making mistakes is not only more honourable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing at all.
Replied by jeff (Jeff Scully) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
I'd stay away from that shop if you were told you could go ahead a start adding stuff especially corals as nearly all your levels are wrong
sg should be 1.025 especially for corals
ph should be at least between 7.8 and 8.4
nitrates should be at around 3 if you want corals
sg should be 1.025 especially for corals
ph should be at least between 7.8 and 8.4
nitrates should be at around 3 if you want corals
Where the tongue slips, it speaks the truth.
A life making mistakes is not only more honourable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing at all.
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23 Jul 2013 12:53 #11
by Bohrio (Alex Rodriguez)
Replied by Bohrio (Alex Rodriguez) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
I was actually thinking the same but I preferred not to say anything as I dont have much experience with marine tanks.
I thought it was a bit too early for corals, the levels might look ok now after you using the buffers but this might change in a few days
For example, I am going to wait before adding any corals, my nitrates are around 15 atm and I want to bring them down to at least 5 (i dont have a protein skimmer so I might need to build a small sump). My tank was been running for more than 2 months now and I only put fish in last week (although the tank fully cycled more than 1 month ago).
I thought it was a bit too early for corals, the levels might look ok now after you using the buffers but this might change in a few days
For example, I am going to wait before adding any corals, my nitrates are around 15 atm and I want to bring them down to at least 5 (i dont have a protein skimmer so I might need to build a small sump). My tank was been running for more than 2 months now and I only put fish in last week (although the tank fully cycled more than 1 month ago).
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23 Jul 2013 18:05 #12
by igmillichip (ian millichip)
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Replied by igmillichip (ian millichip) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
Seawater is full of buffers......you can't avoid them. 
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23 Jul 2013 18:13 #13
by igmillichip (ian millichip)
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Replied by igmillichip (ian millichip) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
But I am interested to see what Buffers were recommended by a LFS for a tank that is only set-up for a very short time.
ian
ian
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24 Jul 2013 08:31 #14
by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid)
240 litre mixture of cichlids
55 litre marine tank currently holding a few coral and clean up crew
Replied by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
Morning folks, the buffer was Alkaline8.3, 2ml a day until my PH had raised enough
And having spoken to them about the test kits i was using, i was told to forget most of the readings i was getting as they will be false, so thats why i brought the water sample in and they tested it all and gave me accurate readings and the go ahead
And having spoken to them about the test kits i was using, i was told to forget most of the readings i was getting as they will be false, so thats why i brought the water sample in and they tested it all and gave me accurate readings and the go ahead
240 litre mixture of cichlids
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08 Aug 2013 22:18 #15
by jeff (Jeff Scully)
Where the tongue slips, it speaks the truth.
A life making mistakes is not only more honourable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing at all.
Replied by jeff (Jeff Scully) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
How's things mate how's the water doing now
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12 Aug 2013 18:01 #16
by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid)
240 litre mixture of cichlids
55 litre marine tank currently holding a few coral and clean up crew
Replied by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
Cheers Jeff, here's the latest, I got some new test kits so I have a bit more confidence in my results now, still need to raise the SG and PH a tad
PH - 7.5
SG - 1.021
Nitrate - 5mg/L
Nitrite - 0.1mg/L
Ammonia - 0.1mg/L
Phosphate - 0.25mg/L
KH - 160mg/L
PH - 7.5
SG - 1.021
Nitrate - 5mg/L
Nitrite - 0.1mg/L
Ammonia - 0.1mg/L
Phosphate - 0.25mg/L
KH - 160mg/L
240 litre mixture of cichlids
55 litre marine tank currently holding a few coral and clean up crew
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12 Aug 2013 21:54 #17
by jeff (Jeff Scully)
Where the tongue slips, it speaks the truth.
A life making mistakes is not only more honourable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing at all.
Replied by jeff (Jeff Scully) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
Good stuff your getting their, I want you to do me a favour, go to the shop where you got the water and and ask them to test the water they are selling, for ph and Sg at this stage to me it has to be their water that is not right, it's a stab in the dark but Jasus it could destress you cause I'd say ur heads wrecked
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12 Aug 2013 22:02 #18
by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid)
240 litre mixture of cichlids
55 litre marine tank currently holding a few coral and clean up crew
Replied by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
I know, it's baffling me!!!! One thing I'd like to do is take a step up from the hydrometer I'm using to a more accurate tool but still, should at least rise a bit more than that with the water changes I've been doing!!!
240 litre mixture of cichlids
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12 Aug 2013 22:10 #19
by jeff (Jeff Scully)
Where the tongue slips, it speaks the truth.
A life making mistakes is not only more honourable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing at all.
Replied by jeff (Jeff Scully) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
Yeah a refractometer is the way to go, but here I didn't know you were doing water changes that's going to slow the whole process down think we've hit the nail On the head their bud, please don't tell me you have fish in their
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13 Aug 2013 09:00 #20
by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid)
240 litre mixture of cichlids
55 litre marine tank currently holding a few coral and clean up crew
Replied by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
I was told that had to be done to raise SG???? ive done maybe 3 lots of 30% water changes since i set the tank up
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13 Aug 2013 09:02 #21
by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid)
240 litre mixture of cichlids
55 litre marine tank currently holding a few coral and clean up crew
Replied by McQuaid (Mark McQuaid) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
And also, can you tell me which refractometer i need? im seeing lots of different ones??
240 litre mixture of cichlids
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14 Aug 2013 18:02 #22
by jeff (Jeff Scully)
Never heard of that one before??
I use the D-D refractometer and find it brilliant think everyone would agree themir very good but they are around €60 but worth it
Where the tongue slips, it speaks the truth.
A life making mistakes is not only more honourable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing at all.
Replied by jeff (Jeff Scully) on topic Parameters on my week old set up
I was told that had to be done to raise SG???? ive done maybe 3 lots of 30% water changes since i set the tank up
Never heard of that one before??
I use the D-D refractometer and find it brilliant think everyone would agree themir very good but they are around €60 but worth it
Where the tongue slips, it speaks the truth.
A life making mistakes is not only more honourable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing at all.
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