Hi, new to reefing but have 40+yrs with FW & plantd tanks. Have a new 66g SCA aquarium with dry rock & substrate ready to go, all I need is SW which i just made in 2 - 32g brute trash cans. Using HW Marine reef salt. S.G. - 1.025 ( using RO/DI water)
Now here is my problem : I set up an IM fusion 20g QT approx. 3.5 weeks ago. No substrate just a couple of pvc pipes for fish to hide, with ATO system, and pinpoint pH monitor w/probe. Heater set to 77.5. Added SW from above batch ~17g. pH - 8.15 , dKH - 8.5 using Hanna Checker, also added a seachem ammonia alert tag. Ten proceeded to add a bottle of Biospira and used the Dr. Tim method of adding ammonium chloride to tank, approx 4 drops/g = 68 drops. Day 2 = pH - 8.03, NH3 - 0, NO2 -0.13ppm ( using Hanna digital LR checker), Day 3 - added 68 more drops, Day 4 = pH - 7.76 , NH3 - 0(using salifert test kit), but seachem tag shows 0.05ppm, NO2 - 0.20, Day 5 added 68 more drops, Day 6 = pH - 7.88, NH3 - 1.5ppm ( Salifert, but tag still showing color for 0.05), NO2 - +0.2, so went to the H. checker HR for NO2 - 6ppm, NO3 - 95ppm (Nyos Nitrate test kit). Skip to Day 12 = NH3 - 0.05 (Seachm tag), 0.25 using Salifert kit., NO3 - 40. During this time up to Day 20 pH was slowly lowering to 7.5 and dKH was down to 6.3, so then performed 20% WC; Day 22 = pH - 7.81, dKH - 6.7, NH3 still at o.02 ( Seac tag) and 0.25 w/Salifert, No2 - 19ppm, NO3 - 60ppm. Day 23 = added 2 tsp. of Seachem Reef Buffer & waited a few hours to test = pH monitor - 8.51 ; NH3 - 0.05 (tag) & 0.25 (Salifert); NO2 - 19ppm - WOW -; NO3 - 80ppm, dKH - 11.1 *I think I added a little too much Reef Buffer. As of today - 8/9 - pH down to 8.39, NH3 - 0.05, NO2 - 11ppm, NO3 - 80ppm. Something seems screwy here. How can NH3 still be showing up, why is NO2 so high and why is NO3 staying at 80ppm. Shouldn't NO2 be going down substantially and NO3 be going up more?
I know HW Marine salt mix says at 1.025, pH should be 8.1 and dKH ~8 to 8.5. Any ideas of what I'm doing wrong? *I know during cycle there is some acidfication ( ?-right word?) to lower pH a little but down to 7.5 & dKH down to 6.7?
Now here is my problem : I set up an IM fusion 20g QT approx. 3.5 weeks ago. No substrate just a couple of pvc pipes for fish to hide, with ATO system, and pinpoint pH monitor w/probe. Heater set to 77.5. Added SW from above batch ~17g. pH - 8.15 , dKH - 8.5 using Hanna Checker, also added a seachem ammonia alert tag. Ten proceeded to add a bottle of Biospira and used the Dr. Tim method of adding ammonium chloride to tank, approx 4 drops/g = 68 drops. Day 2 = pH - 8.03, NH3 - 0, NO2 -0.13ppm ( using Hanna digital LR checker), Day 3 - added 68 more drops, Day 4 = pH - 7.76 , NH3 - 0(using salifert test kit), but seachem tag shows 0.05ppm, NO2 - 0.20, Day 5 added 68 more drops, Day 6 = pH - 7.88, NH3 - 1.5ppm ( Salifert, but tag still showing color for 0.05), NO2 - +0.2, so went to the H. checker HR for NO2 - 6ppm, NO3 - 95ppm (Nyos Nitrate test kit). Skip to Day 12 = NH3 - 0.05 (Seachm tag), 0.25 using Salifert kit., NO3 - 40. During this time up to Day 20 pH was slowly lowering to 7.5 and dKH was down to 6.3, so then performed 20% WC; Day 22 = pH - 7.81, dKH - 6.7, NH3 still at o.02 ( Seac tag) and 0.25 w/Salifert, No2 - 19ppm, NO3 - 60ppm. Day 23 = added 2 tsp. of Seachem Reef Buffer & waited a few hours to test = pH monitor - 8.51 ; NH3 - 0.05 (tag) & 0.25 (Salifert); NO2 - 19ppm - WOW -; NO3 - 80ppm, dKH - 11.1 *I think I added a little too much Reef Buffer. As of today - 8/9 - pH down to 8.39, NH3 - 0.05, NO2 - 11ppm, NO3 - 80ppm. Something seems screwy here. How can NH3 still be showing up, why is NO2 so high and why is NO3 staying at 80ppm. Shouldn't NO2 be going down substantially and NO3 be going up more?
I know HW Marine salt mix says at 1.025, pH should be 8.1 and dKH ~8 to 8.5. Any ideas of what I'm doing wrong? *I know during cycle there is some acidfication ( ?-right word?) to lower pH a little but down to 7.5 & dKH down to 6.7?
