Questions from a Newbie

[Marlin65]

2nd that

[Myka]

You should jack your salinity up to about 1.025-1.026 as reefs do better at that level. Yours is VERY low...almost hyposalinity. Make the change over about 1 week.

It sounds like your tank is cycled. Especially since you used well cured rock. However, your nitrate is SKYYYYYYYYYYYYY high for a reef if they ever pop up to 25 ppm!! How can you say 0-25 ppm? That's a HUGE gap. This may be why your Xenia is choked. Nitrate should NEVER be higher than 10 ppm in a reef, but you should aim to be under 2 ppm, and as close to 0 as possible. 0 is achievable. What are you running for filters? Protein skimmers? How big of waterchanges? How often?

[Ian]

oops typo 0-2.5...this make more sense?
so far just a stock biocube any suggestions on a good protien skimmer for a bc 29... weekly water changes of about 10% (3 gallons)
will start to raise salinity asap need to pick up some distilled water.
Anyone have a ro system they want to get rid of?

[Myka]

Yep, that makes more sense. It could just be a low salinity bugging the Xenia then. Personally, on a tank with either a poor skimmer or no skimmer at all, I like to to bigger waterchanges. Try doing 5g waterchanges instead.

Here's an Aqua FX RO/DI system for a very reasonable price. I have an AquaFX, and I really like it. I don't know where (or even what province) Rimbey is...

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...highlight=Aqua

[Ian]

LOL thanks for the advice I will start to move the salinity up and make larger changes....
BTW Rimbey is in Alberta west of Red Deer..

[Myka]

No problem. Well, you could buy from J&L Aquatics, and as long as it's over $200 they ship for free. I think I bought my AquaFX RO/DI from them for $180...? Just add a couple things to the order and you're over $200.

[Boomboy]

what myka said its really good, just a little tip, dont freak out everytime one of your corals closes up when you turn your back from the tank, mine do all the time, if you watch it long enough its because of hermits or shrimp or even one fish of mine, they reopen, just recently my leather didnt open for 2 days everything else was fine, and then it just opened( polyps came out) i didnt do anything to that tank or even a water change, i have no idea still what happened.ive got a 20H see here for a pic. http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=42603

[WhoPoopWrasse]

Originally Posted by Myka

No problem. Well, you could buy from J&L Aquatics, and as long as it's over $200 they ship for free. I think I bought my AquaFX RO/DI from them for $180...? Just add a couple things to the order and you're over $200.

They're having a shipping special right now, FREE SHIPPING OVER $100.00

[Ian]

Ok continuing advenures of a newb....got up today and one of my clowns was gone.....not dead ...gone...I have pulled the bioballs out and searched the back completely. I even moved my live rock around to see if any had shifted and trapped it but no luck...I have nothing in my tank that could eat it soo...what happened in 5 hours? Beamed up to his homeworld?
Anyhow Salinity is nearing 1.o25 and all other numbers are same as before. Xenia is still withered looking but starting to look better......quite the learning curve here...keep sending the advice I am listening and greatly appreciative.

On that I would like to get rid of the bioballs and make a refugium in the back of this tank as has been suggested. I know go slow but what light could I use for this and how much rubble would be adequate to replace the bioballs?

[WhoPoopWrasse]

have you checked the floor behind the tank?