cracker

Getting a bout of bubble algae....after investigation, I have added a rather nice sized Indo Pacific Sail Fin Tang. I have been told there is a good chance they may just scoff it up. Well been in the tank for three hours and just watched it find a decent bubble and very keenly extract it out of its little crevice and gobble it up. VERY HAPPY!! Looks like my KING FLAME has finally realised the QUEEN BUBBLE TANG has landed!!!

1.027 is a bit high Ira, I would drop back to .25 . Maybe your fishy didnt like it. Just My thoughts, I try not to go over .26 as a maximum. But others will be bound to say something different!!

It could be the massive water changes I have done in the last week, I have changed 75% over a week in two go's. Nitates are down to 3! One or two big ones to go and I'll then monitor my bioload!

Cheers...He is slowing down a bit, but still nutty!

Mmmmm......Wicked!

Cheers Chim.... No spots as yet, but rapid swimming and going to the surface. Will keep an eye on him.

Still doing it......weird.

Of course, why didnt i think of that!!

Just noticed tonight my medium/large Flame angel has gone completely insane. He is swimming at a hundred miles an hour around and through the rockwork like a nutter.... The remaining 9 fish are watching him like he is an idiot! Has anyone seen this...He has been doing this for half an hour and I havent been watching prior to this.....may heve been doing it for hours!!! Anyone?

Suphew...... please no........I wont do it again....!!!

Unfortunately its typical in all government departments and will never change. I deal with a lot of these departments all the time and get frustrated beyond belief.

Suphew, You're better looking than I imagined!! (Even though I dont know you from a bar of soap)!

Ring Rod..... Chimera knows his number, he makes tanks all day long. you dont want less than 12mm on a tank that size though. Give him a ring.

Yip...Must've..... :lol:

Bloody seawater! Cheers Reef.....

I think my small Chromis has been munched by my Coral banded..... how possible is this guys? He dissapeared about 3 days ago. Im not too worried as I can now add another fish!! (But I do feel sorry for it of course!!) :-?

:lol:

Going back a few replies with regard to parameters.... I dont have a problem keeping high KH, (Up to 14 at one stage) and a stable ph of 8.2. Along with Ca of 500 and Mg of 1500. Whats so difficult about acheiving this. High KH does not raise PH, all it does is stablilise PH and keep it running firmly at a stable level. I dose mine independently as most of you with reactors probably wouldnt achieve it due to the fact that your reactor mixes dont release the same as individual dosing. I generally run: KH 12 Ph 8.2 Ca 450-500 Mg 1300. I used to run 1500 Mg but Pie informed me that High Mg can result in exceess production of unwanted Algae. So, just in case, 1300 will do!

Hey Cookie, You must have then at least tried coral on toast then huh!!!! :lol:

I want one!

As Pie said, Old tank water wont make jack shit of a difference. If you are using dry rock from hollywood, you will need to let all the rotting old carcasses in the rock to break down along with the mussel. This WILL take a long time. Thats just the way it is.

Hey Bainorama, are you using a wet/dry filter and dry rock? What is the system you are running?

This person is new to the hobby. everyone knows to be patient whilst cycling. Not everyone new knows people who can give them live rock and sand to start off with. The wise choice is to patient.

Ideally, no...they shouldnt be that high, but its ok whilst the six monthly maturing is taking place...you just have to be watchful. This is a new tank....not really the time to be adding a clam.

To answer your question... When your Nitrite and ammonia levels are at zero, (which can take 2 months, so be patient!), a 50% water change is a good idea, as you will probably be reading around 20 to 40 with your nitrates. This will assist to bring it down to about 30. You want to keep doing reasonably big water changes when it creeps back up to 40-45. IMO Dont let it get higher than this. Some soft corals probably will be unhappy! Nitrates are ok in you tank for the first six months so long as you are not putting anything in your tank that requires superb water quality. Most fish will handle and soft corals may actually enjoy the nitrate levels. The only way to then get your levels down without spending heaps of money on apparatus is to put as much live rock in as many places as you can. Anearobic bacteria grows in the rock and reduces nitrate levels enough to start putting in the more delicate things. Fill you tank, your sump and everything else you can. Better to do it now whilst the tank is still cycling really, but not imperative. This anearobic bacteria takes the longest to establish and settle and this is why six months is about right. Every tank will be slightly different of course. HEAPS OF LIVE ROCK!! Hope this helps. Good luck!