hello, tank pic, and cal/alk/ph question

salt creepette · 10-26-2005, 11:46 PM

Hi everyone. Havent been around much, way too busy. Which leads to my next issue: tank maintenance has been sliding. In my defense, I did do a 10 gallon water change last weekend (the previous one to that was a tank transfer to the larger tank which involved the addition of 20 gallons of freshly mixed (24 hours old) ASW; that was in September. I have not done any additives (I usually dont). For those not familiar, I keep mostly soft corals with the exception of my torch coral. Yesterday I picked up a couple frags of anthelia, green tree coral, and some brown cap frags. The guy's tank was gorgeous. He made me feel guilty with all the additives he uses and made me want to go home and test my water which is why I am writing.

Calcium: 300
Alk: 6 dkh
ph: 8.4
sg: 1.025
didnt measure anything else at the moment.

As you can see my calc and alk is low but my ph is ok. Being that NSW is at 8dkh and 380-450 ppm, my levels are proportional but a bit low. I was going to go to the store and pick up a 2 part additive and begin dosing. If anyone has recommendations I am all ears.

But anyways, just wanted to say hi, show a pic of the tank with the new MH lighting (I didnt really show the canopy, its just a black canopy, no big deal although I did just invest about $600 for it and the lights and paint). If you look real close at the bottom you can see the stand which is my next project to get it painted. it was just a wood frame with gray fabric thumbtacked around it, but since I have the baby who is crawling now, I felt compelled to replace the gray dropcloth and had my dad add doors enclosing all the wiring and cords beneath it, and it now needs to be painted.

My husband hates it when I say 'the baby.' Here is Evan now, at 8 mos old!

Geoff · 10-27-2005, 04:12 AM

you could just try a couple more water changes and see how the levels behave. since most of your corals are softies your alk Ca demand is not that high. water changes if kept up regularly could do it for you. if not than any of the two parts should work for you if you follow the directions. it is a royal pain to fix it if they get out of balance.

glad to see you around again!

G~

Loverotties · 10-27-2005, 07:10 AM

Tank looks good!

dobejazz · 10-27-2005, 07:15 AM

Great Picture of Evan. He is Soooo Cute!!
Sorry can't help you with the tank questions.

tims · 10-27-2005, 07:17 AM

WOW 8 months already!? Evan looks like he will get in to trouble pretty fast..

i agree with geoff,a few more WC and test, you can do the 2 part thing or even a kalk drip..
the tank is looking nice withthe new lighting. congrats. great to see ya again Erin..

VWD · 10-27-2005, 07:40 AM

Your tank looks nice, and Evan is a cute boy.

Doug1 · 10-27-2005, 11:35 AM

Good to See you and the kiddo Erin, I second the 2 part then maybe consider a kalk drip after you get the calcium and alk where you want them to be

salt creepette · 10-27-2005, 11:49 AM

thanks all for the comments. I do miss you all! yes evan is getting real close to being into everything. kids are great though. if you dont have one, and you are thinking, man i'm glad I dont have any kids, you're missing out.