Basement Office with a View

[Gaspipe]

https://www.aquaticlog.com/aquariums/gaspipe1/1
Back from lovely Savannah with 1 child left on loan there.

9/10 5PM Tests

Some info, I received my 500ml graduated cylinder and TM hydro read 1.270. Which means my Hanna Pen is off a bit.

Tmrw I will test salinity again and dilute it till it reads 1.0263 at 80*. Then will calibrate my Hanna pen and confirm it with a calibration solution.

I assume do not dose today?

 

[X-37B]

Sounds good. Test tomorrow.
Do you know what the mag level is of your salt? If not test when making new water.
1ml of trace is still fine.

 

[Gaspipe]

9/11/2022 Noon

Alkalinity: 7.9 dKH
Salinity: 34.9 (before setting w/ TM)
Temp: 80.1*

Saltwater Mix: Red Sea Coral Pro Mix
Alkalinity: 11.7
Mag: 1500++ (I used the entire 1ml)
Salinity: 37.0 (pre config w/ TM)
Temp: 77.0*

 

[Gaspipe]

Finished checking my saltwater

SW Bin: Salinity 35.0 ppt
Display Tank: was 36.1ppt. I am slowly reducing this number over the upcoming days.

 

[X-37B]

So is the coral pro salt mag at 1500+?
So no 1 and 2 add. When you get to dkh 7 restart dose at 2ml.

So you should be getting an undetstanding of what your system is doing. This is pretty much how it works. It may take some time for dkh adds to stabilize based on tank consumption.

 

[X-37B]

Also thats a pretty high alk salt. If it was me, I do this with mine, I would lower it to your tanks dkh before adding to your system.
This helps with stability in the long run.

 

[Gaspipe]

So is the coral pro salt mag at 1500+?

That is correct. The salinity was too high when I tested. I think that is the reason why.

So no 1 and 2 add. When you get to dkh 7 restart dose at 2ml.

Understood

So you should be getting an undetstanding of what your system is doing. This is pretty much how it works. It may take some time for dkh adds to stabilize based on tank consumption.

OK.

 

[Gaspipe]

9/12

Alkalinity: 7.3 dKH
Salinity: 35.9 ppt (will reduce again)
Temp: 80.4*

I assume do not dose Part 1 & 2 or Trace?

 

[X-37B]

9/12

Alkalinity: 7.3 dKH
Salinity: 35.9 ppt (will reduce again)
Temp: 80.4*

I assume do not dose Part 1 & 2 or Trace?

Dose trace daily. It wont affect mag much as your salt is very high.
Also 500 mag wont hurt and thier is no way to lower it.
Tomorrow dose 2ml 2 part after testing and go from thier.

What is your water change schedule?

 

[Gaspipe]

Dose trace daily. It wont affect mag much as your salt is very high.

Will dose 1ml now

Also 500 mag wont hurt and thier is no way to lower it.
Tomorrow dose 2ml 2 part after testing and go from thier.

Understood

What is your water change schedule?

It used to be 2-3 Gallons once a week. But I stopped all WC since you told me to. Please advise.

 

[X-37B]

Lets do once a month at 2g's from when you stopped.

 

[Gaspipe]

I believe this weekend is about a month. So I will do that this weekend.

Also, what about carbon? Would you want me to do 2 tablespoons as well? (that is the recommended amount)

 

[X-37B]

I believe this weekend is about a month. So I will do that this weekend.

Also, what about carbon? Would you want me to do 2 tablespoons as well? (that is the recommended amount)

Are going to lower alk to tank levels first?

I run 1 cup of rox carbon on my nano and change once a month.

If you run rox then start at 1/2 cup change once a month. If not rox then start at 1 cup.

 

[X-37B]

Carbon removes impurities that degrade the quality and purity of water in the aquarium. I run more in my nano because I run no skimmer.

 

[Gaspipe]

Are going to lower alk to tank levels first?

How do I do this? It's funny I switched from TM to this due to TM had lower dKH

I run 1 cup of rox carbon on my nano and change once a month.

If you run rox then start at 1/2 cup change once a month. If not rox then start at 1 cup.

Understood

Carbon removes impurities that degrade the quality and purity of water in the aquarium. I run more in my nano because I run no skimmer.

I have no skimmer either.

 

[X-37B]

You use an acid to reduce alk. I use sodium bisulfate, which is in powdered form.
You mix your salt, test alk, and then add a small amount of the acid. Retest until you get to your alk range.

For now though lets mix 2gs of the salt and test alk. Also test alk of tank.
Do the WC and retest the alk.
This will tell you the how much of an effect it has on your system.

 

[Gaspipe]

You use an acid to reduce alk. I use sodium bisulfate, which is in powdered form.
You mix your salt, test alk, and then add a small amount of the acid. Retest until you get to your alk range.

For now though lets mix 2gs of the salt and test alk. Also test alk of tank.
Do the WC and retest the alk.
This will tell you the how much of an effect it has on your system.

I already have a premade batch of SW in a bin.

This weekend I will:

1. Test Salinity of Tank and Bin
2. Test Alkalinity of Tank and Bin
3. do a 2 gs WC
4. Test Alkalinity of tank

 

[Gaspipe]

9/13
Alkalinity: 7.7 dKH (yesterday I tested at 7.7)
Salinity: 35.8 ppt (I will remove more SW from tank)
Temp: 80.3*

Steps:
Dose 1ml of Trace
Remove some SW from tank

 

[Gaspipe]

@90's reefer just to give you some idea of what you helped with...

You saved these two little guys.

This was originally one and due to moving the rubble around and not able to find a good spot it was a gonner. I actually (ashamed to admit) think I split it from all the movement and scratching it on other rock. Well the three baby frags are starting to show some life!!

I actually had this guy on the glass but it never grew so I moved it to a rock. After some time it got bad GHA (it still does) so I soaked it in peroxide and it was NOT happy. I thought I was going to loose this as well. I believe it's actually starting to encrust on the rock now.

 

[X-37B]

@90's reefer just to give you some idea of what you helped with...

You saved these two little guys.

This was originally one and due to moving the rubble around and not able to find a good spot it was a gonner. I actually (ashamed to admit) think I split it from all the movement and scratching it on other rock. Well the three baby frags are starting to show some life!!

I actually had this guy on the glass but it never grew so I moved it to a rock. After some time it got bad GHA (it still does) so I soaked it in peroxide and it was NOT happy. I thought I was going to loose this as well. I believe it's actually starting to encrust on the rock now.

This is what you can expect once you learn how to keep your tank stable.
Nice job!
Just keep learning.

Do you keep a logbook. Any time you test observe change something or learn something write it down.
Logbooks work because you have write everything down. It becomes a great reference and keeps you involved and focused on your system.