So I got the nitrate remover you linked but it says I need to use a skimmer which I don’t have unfortunately. Well I assume it means protein skimmer anyway. Any recommendations on that?
Slowly dying...
- Thread starter Markclaster
- Start date
Which one did you get?
The Red Sea one that was the first one on your link. For some reason I thought that was the one you meant. This is what happens when I think lol
Are you against getting a skimmer?
Not against it. The way I’m going I’m going to have a fish only tank anyway. Lol
Would I then get rid of my filter? Or keep it too?
You would keep it
so I got my Hanna Checker today. Did the test twice. Once I got .32 and then .26.
That is weird. I have the hanna checker as well and my numbers are in the margin of error when I was double checking. That is a big difference that you’re getting.
how I do it: I flick the reagent while sealed to get it into one corner of the packet. Fold it diagonally, cut along the dotted lines. Fill the vial with tank water, start the first check, pour the reagent (flicking the packet to get every bit out) into the vial, then hold the button to start the 3 min timer, shake vigorously for 1.5 minutes, then just tilt the vile up and down gently to loosen the bubble that gets stuck to the side, place in checker 30 sec before timer ends. Also, make sure your vial is clean. I wipe it clean before use and handle with a paper towel during the above process.
my personal opinion is that is high either way, but I believe plenty of tanks out there are fine with that number.
do you leave the cap on when it’s in the checker? And I just did a 10% water change and my nitrates are still 10. (Maybe 15)
Yes, leave the cap on
Update. Things seem to be a little better. I’ve raised the light, cut back the light by an hour, got rid of the veremetid snails, lowered the flow, got some phosguard, replaced the sponge in my filter. My zoas are starting to open more (more so when it’s only blue light). My harder corals still look dead but other things are coloring up.
Current parameters
Phosphates .15
Ph 8.0
Nitrates 0
Kh 9
Magnesium 1320
Calcium 460
Thanks for the help. Feels like it’s turning the corner.
Current parameters
Phosphates .15
Ph 8.0
Nitrates 0
Kh 9
Magnesium 1320
Calcium 460
Thanks for the help. Feels like it’s turning the corner.
Its funny, I’ve been struggling keeping nitrates down for months. There is no medium for me it seems
Thank you for this Andrew. Temp problems terrify me. I already had a less than one year old heater go out and raise water temp to over 100 degrees. Thankfully it was in my water station barrel and not my QT or DT.
I am going to go buy some glass thermometers today, as soon as I can figure out where to find one.
My Finnex thermost which is my primary heater reads 77, my backup controller for my backup heater is an inkbird. I got the fanciest model and for me it’s really difficult to program (to me, I can’t get it to pull up all the different things you can change parameters on.
Also Andrew, would the thermometer in the attached picture work.
I got these. I got two because that was the minimum order to get them so cheap
Marina Floating Thermometer with Suction Cup https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AQITK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_oLDlFb3ZVQ7JZ
@NanCrab These, recommended by @Markclaster are the most common and they float. But the ones you have ought to work as well, as long as they’re easy to read.
Thanks for the feedback. I have a few of these but a well trusted fellow ARC member told me they are unreliable. Who knows?
I figure between that and the controller I should be ok. The one you posted is for checking pets I think?
Ok thanks Andrew. I think I’ll order a few. I like the hole at the top too so it could be hung by that.
