Low Tech 10g

[Advil_LiquiGLs]

Hey guys! Moving my thread over from Beginners to a build thread. Follow me as I navigate the uncharted waters of my first reef!

Build:
Circulation- Fluval CP1 and Imaginitarium IN CIRC small
Lighting- 25w LED white, upgrading soon to a Nicrew Navareef 65w
Tank- Standard Rimmed 10 gallon
No skimmer, no ato, no refugium, minimal automation
I use an Aqueon Internal 30g Filter on and off as needed for mechanical filtration. Easy to just plop it in and run it if I need to clear up suspended particles in the tank

Thanks for following!

 

[Advil_LiquiGLs]

Anyone know how to attach a link to this thread so that it shows up under my name like how people do that on this forum? Sorry I am not forum savvy at all

 

[Fish Fan]

Looks great, I am a big fan of budget builds!

The one suggestion I might make is that having no ATO and toping off everyday gets old in a hurry. At the least, consider one of these inexpensive gravity fed solutions like this:

Inexpensive gravity fed ATO on Amazon

I ordered this inexpensive ATO last night to try:

NextGen II ATO

Good luck with your build!

 

[Fish Fan]

Anyone know how to attach a link to this thread so that it shows up under my name like how people do that on this forum? Sorry I am not forum savvy at all

Go to this link to get a build thread badge, you've already completed step one (create a thread in the Member's Tanks sub-forum), now you just need to copy the address of this page, then paste that into your profile as shown here:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/so-you-want-a-my-tank-thread-badge.590311/

If you need further help with that, just let me know

 

[X-37B]

Anyone know how to attach a link to this thread so that it shows up under my name like how people do that on this forum? Sorry I am not forum savvy at all

Start a build thread so we can follow is the best way
Check out this simple gravity ato on my 13g.

 

[Fish Fan]

Anyone know how to attach a link to this thread so that it shows up under my name like how people do that on this forum? Sorry I am not forum savvy at all

You can also go to your user setting and paste this same address to your profile signature, and then a link will appear at the bottom of your posts too. Again, let me know if you need help with that.

 

[Subsea]

When you desire upgrading mechanical filtration, consider a canister or a HOB
(Hang on Back) filter

 

[Advil_LiquiGLs]

Hey thanks for the help! Super easy and I got my badge now. Yay

 

[Advil_LiquiGLs]

Finally got my Salifert Calcium test the mail. Now i can get complete readings on my tank.

Temp: 75.5F
Salinity: 1.026
pH: 7.8
KH: 6.2
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 20 ppm
Phosphate: 0.03 ppm
Calcium: 300 ppm?

The only reason why I put a question mark is because I am not sure if I did the Calcium test correctly. It was mightily confusing to do. If anyones got pointers on the Salifert Calcium test because every time I add the second reagent, the water turns blue and i have 4ml left in the syringe, and that's my reading? Bc it turned blue? Very confused

 

[Fish Fan]

See if this helps:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-read-salifert-calcium-test.824940/

 

[Advil_LiquiGLs]

See if this helps:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-to-read-salifert-calcium-test.824940/

I read and Im still a bit confused. I did the test again, but this time I put a little of the solution instead of .6 ml like the instructions say (bc my test doesn't turn pink. After .6ml it turns blue) It turns pink after only a few drops of the second reagent, then purple, then blue. The plunger is at .85 at this point. So this means my Calcium is under 100?

Probably should start dosing calcium and Reef Carbonate to raise my calcium and KH levels. The levels are a bit low

 

[Fish Fan]

I read and Im still a bit confused. I did the test again, but this time I put a little of the solution instead of .6 ml like the instructions say (bc my test doesn't turn pink. After .6ml it turns blue) It turns pink after only a few drops of the second reagent, then purple, then blue. The plunger is at .85 at this point. So this means my Calcium is under 100?

Probably should start dosing calcium and Reef Carbonate to raise my calcium and KH levels. The levels are a bit low

Sorry you're still having trouble with the Salifert calcium test. I would not yet start dosing anything. That 300 ppm calcium result is almost certainly calcium test error, or salinity testing error because your Alk is a little low too. Low salinity is very common, and when your salinity is low, all your other parameters will read low too.

The first thing I'd suggest is double checking your salinity tester. It's not actually a good idea to calibrate them with distilled or RODI water, even if the instructions tell you to do so. We've also seen store bought 35 ppt calibration solution that is "off". The best bet is to make your own 35 ppt calibration solution, it's very easy to do using only ordinary Morton's kitchen salt and a good kitchen scale or even measuring spoons. Use this solution to calibrate your salinity tester, adjust your salinity if necessary, and then recheck those parameters (Alk and Calc). The author, Randy Holmes-farley, is a pro chemist and a reef tank guru. If you have questions or need help with this, let us know:
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/reef-aquarium-salinity-diy-calibration-standards.956/

And then, the Salifert calcium test can be a touch finicky. Here's a couple of videos that may help:



And here's another thread from Randy Holmes-Farley on how to read a syringe correctly:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reef-chemistry-question-of-the-day-161-using-a-syringe.226267/

Let me know if this helps, and if you're still having trouble I'll get some others to take a look for you

 

[Advil_LiquiGLs]

Thanks for that. I shall get to watching and reading

 

[EricR]

Cool little setup! Have fun with with it.
ATO (auto top off), as others have said, would be my recommended next purchase. (Make your life easier)

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Welcome with your low tech addiction......I mean tank!

 

[Advil_LiquiGLs]

Ok so it seems like my refractometer is a bit off. But in order to make the calibration fluid accurately, I need a scale that measures in the hundreths. I need 3.65 g salt and the closest I can get to that is 3.6g on my small scale. Thank god I work at a head shop and will look for one when I go to work today.

 

[Fish Fan]

Ok so it seems like my refractometer is a bit off. But in order to make the calibration fluid accurately, I need a scale that measures in the hundreths. I need 3.65 g salt and the closest I can get to that is 3.6g on my small scale. Thank god I work at a head shop and will look for one when I go to work today.

Yes, a "head shop" will have an inexpensive microgram scale that would be perfect for this DIY calibration recipe. Keep in mind, you can get "close enough" with measuring spoons, but if you can get a little microgram scale, so much the better

 

[Advil_LiquiGLs]

There is a difference between this new Salifert kit and the videos. In the videos, they have 3 reagents. In the new test kit, it only has 2 reagents. Trying to get the pink color

 

[Advil_LiquiGLs]

The new salifert calcium test

 

[Fish Fan]

#reefsquad does anyone use this newer Salifert calcium test kit and could maybe help the OP out please?