fisherdmin
New Member
I'm a few weeks into my cycle and I THINK I have witnessed the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate spikes. The problem is that my pH remains stubbornly low (I'd estimate 7.2. I have a 30 gal breeder with a Tidal 55 (sponge filter and bag of Matrix), a hygger "wavemaker", and a DIY fuge that is still being setup but currently has another bag of Matrix. I've got 30 lbs of Marco rocks over 40 lbs of CaribSea live sand. I'm planning on adding chaeto on a reverse light cycle to the fuge and have some Indo Pacific WonderMud with amphipod breeder kit coming at the end of the month.
I do have a tight fitting DIY lid made of the twin wall polycarbonate that is used in greenhouses. I opted to go this route bc I don't want to find desic
ated little fish on the floor, but also intentionally to prevent evaporation. I live in an area with VERY problematic water and an relying on the LFS over 40 minutes away for my RODI water.
I added the fuge to attempt to boost the pH (it's got an air pump that pushes air up a tube to move the water like an old UGF) and the hygger is stirring the surface and the Tidal is on its strongest for setting.
The LFS suggested aquavitro eight.four, but I have received advice that as a noob, I should avoid any buffers.
My test kit IS cheap as I was more interested in confirming that the tank was cycling more than pinpointing numbers at this point. I'm trying to keep things on a budget, which is not a realistic consideration, I realize.
Here are some photos. I'm color blind, but I view the pH as 7.2 so someone please do a color check for me. The next photo is my tank showing the lid and the fuge with the light on artificially to show what my capability is once I source my cheato.
I appreciate any help and suggestion the group can provide.
I do have a tight fitting DIY lid made of the twin wall polycarbonate that is used in greenhouses. I opted to go this route bc I don't want to find desic
I added the fuge to attempt to boost the pH (it's got an air pump that pushes air up a tube to move the water like an old UGF) and the hygger is stirring the surface and the Tidal is on its strongest for setting.
The LFS suggested aquavitro eight.four, but I have received advice that as a noob, I should avoid any buffers.
My test kit IS cheap as I was more interested in confirming that the tank was cycling more than pinpointing numbers at this point. I'm trying to keep things on a budget, which is not a realistic consideration, I realize.
Here are some photos. I'm color blind, but I view the pH as 7.2 so someone please do a color check for me. The next photo is my tank showing the lid and the fuge with the light on artificially to show what my capability is once I source my cheato.
I appreciate any help and suggestion the group can provide.
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