Father of 9 (soon to be 10) with 320 gallon system

[Fishy888]

I know I'm a bit late but welcome to R2R!

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Can I add macroalgae to my refugium at this point or should I wait until after water changes and retesting? Is the copper and zinc an issue for the macroalgae?

 

[tbrown]

Can I add macroalgae to my refugium at this point or should I wait until after water changes and retesting? Is the copper and zinc an issue for the macroalgae?

How are your nutrient levels?

 

[Manny’s Reef]

Hello and welcome to R2R. We are excited to have you.

 

[Imrahilwjz]

How are your nutrient levels?

Ammonia and nitrite zero, nitrates around 20 ppm maybe a little more. I just got my protein skimmer running but it is a little deep in the water, I plan to get egg crate coming to lift it up a bit. The icp test said my phosphates were high and I'm guessing that's still true. I still need to do 4 more water changes as recommended by Triton. It took me a bit to get the system changed and the new salt water mixed. I plan to do the 3rd water change this evening. The attached photo is the tray I plan to put the algae in. My intention is to get the 4 pack from Algaebarn but I'm open to suggestions.

 

[tbrown]

Ammonia and nitrite zero, nitrates around 20 ppm maybe a little more. I just got my protein skimmer running but it is a little deep in the water, I plan to get egg crate coming to lift it up a bit. The icp test said my phosphates were high and I'm guessing that's still true. I still need to do 4 more water changes as recommended by Triton. It took me a bit to get the system changed and the new salt water mixed. I plan to do the 3rd water change this evening. The attached photo is the tray I plan to put the algae in. My intention is to get the 4 pack from Algaebarn but I'm open to suggestions.

Copper cam slow growth/kill some macro algaes. Higher phosphates and nitrates means you can, but it may be too soon with the copper.

 

[TheSharksDen]

Welcome!!

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Copper cam slow growth/kill some macro algaes. Higher phosphates and nitrates means you can, but it may be too soon with the copper.

Thanks. I'll wait then. Enough money has gone down the tube already.

 

[WirelessMike]

I posted previously as having a 90 gallon tank, with plans to move into a 180 gallon tank. 2 years ago there was an ice storm here in Oregon and my 90 gallon tank crashed.
I now have a 180 gallon tank with a 50 gallon (ish) sump, and a 90 gallon (my old tank) refugium.
I have 4 chromis and 4 firefish in the 180 who are doing fine. I tried to add some snails, hermit crabs, and emerald crabs. They all died. The crabs lasted a little longer than the snails, but everything died pretty quickly. The LFS owner I got them from talked about the possibility of heavy metals in the water. What's the best way to check for that? If that is the case, the only possible sources I can think of are a chunk of concrete in the water or the pump I use to transport water to the system from my salt water mixing system, which dies have rust on the bleeder plug. Should I eliminate one or both things right away, or test first? My best guess is the fish will be okay for now, and that every crustacean in my rock is already dead. Testing shows no ammonia, no nitrates, and 10 ppm of nitrate. I do have brown algae starting. I thought I knew what I was doing, since I was following the pattern that worked very well when starting my 90 gallon tank, but I guess still have much to learn.

Welcome to the party and bless you for the patience of having that many children. It will pay off in that tank! Ha!

 

[Elise_]

Also late to the party but welcome to R2R! Looks like you have found a great amount of advice already for your new setup. I unfortunately cannot help much as I am much newer to the hobby but getting lots of good advice from here.

 

[Imrahilwjz]

New pump in. Can this set up be any more Rube Goldberg?

Don't answer that

 

[Kristopher Conlin]

Haha if it works it works!

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Still a thin stream compared to the first transfer pump but fills the sump faster than the Iwaki did

 

[tbrown]

Still a thin stream compared to the first transfer pump but fills the sump faster than the Iwaki did

And with cleaner water hopefully!

 

[Imrahilwjz]

And with cleaner water hopefully!

Straight up

 

[Tidal Gardens]

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Original test dated 10-15

Copper

85.00 µg/l

Zinc	112.00 µg/l

Current test dated 11-25

Copper

38.00 µg/l

Zinc	47.00 µg/l

I need to continue water changes as my phosphates are still quite high as well. I have got the skimmer going and just added the chemipure elite. I plan to send in another test in a couple of weeks and see if those numbers continue to decline. I did test the mixing tank and everything is now fine there with no heavy metals or phosphates. I have a sneaking suspicion that the concrete piece in the DT was adding to the issue. Does anyone how low these need to be for macroalgae to survive? I tried to look online but haven't had any luck yet.

 

[Imrahilwjz]

green algae has started to grow on the rocks in the center of the tank so maybe

 

[Imrahilwjz]

Fishsshhh

 

[Imrahilwjz]

I know. I should clean the glass first