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04-22-2007, 04:30 PM
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#1
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Now What?
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: charleston, sc
Posts: 1,083
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help mixing water
I'm ready to add ro/di water  but, don't know what else to add. I have salt, how much? Anything else? What kit do test with?
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75g, 350W MH's. LPS tank
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04-22-2007, 04:36 PM
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#2
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: New York
Posts: 329
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Um the salt mix should tell you there ratio or mix.. Follow the instructions..
As far as test kits I know most people will not agree I use hte quick 6 tests in one dip strips. (Lol)
Buy a kit sea chem or something for 20 bucks to get you started.
Need to test
PH
Hydrometer for Salinity
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
Those are the main ones, and if you are getting into reefs add calcium and alkalinity to that list
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04-22-2007, 04:49 PM
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#3
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Now What?
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: charleston, sc
Posts: 1,083
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So is that all I add is salt..? then test?
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75g, 350W MH's. LPS tank
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04-22-2007, 04:57 PM
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#4
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 751
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For your tank to cycle it needs life you can use cheap hardy fish to cycle your tank but the most common way of doing it now would be to let your live rock cycle your tank for you, so mix your water and then put some rock in and in a few days star testing your tank, every other day and whene everything is at 0 or close to 0 you can do a waater change and you should be good to go.
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Pit-bull-pirate-arrrhhhh
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04-22-2007, 04:57 PM
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#5
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.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: bend, oregon
Posts: 10,733
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You will find that 1/2 cup of salt to every gallon of water will get you close. Start with that and then test what that gives you. After a while you wont need to test your water change water for salinity every time as you will know how much it takes in whatever container you are using.
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I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other
Zoa and paly pics HERE
SPS pics HERE
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04-22-2007, 04:59 PM
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#6
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Shark
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 3,117
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add 1/2 cup of salt per gallon of water, let it run with the pumps on for 24 hrs. checking your salinity with a meter...try to get it to 1.023 for starters... then If you are doing a sb add the sand with the pumps off... then you can turn the pumps on after the sand settles...
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Joe Henderson
210 aga, 24 gallon nano(built In) 60 gallon refugium with sump 
& Now 75 Reef at work
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04-22-2007, 05:11 PM
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#7
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Now What?
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: charleston, sc
Posts: 1,083
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So add the DSB last? You say meter...What kind of meter?  . As far as rock(18 month old LR) goes I suppose to get some from a local breaking his tank down ,tomorrow I hope, he also said he would throw in some hearty zoas to help w/cycle.
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75g, 350W MH's. LPS tank
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04-22-2007, 05:13 PM
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#8
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Now What?
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: charleston, sc
Posts: 1,083
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It should be ok to go ahead and add water and sand before I have any rock? 'Cause the RO is VERY slow. I'm thinking hours to fill.
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75g, 350W MH's. LPS tank
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04-22-2007, 05:15 PM
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#9
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Shark
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: alpharetta, GA
Posts: 2,555
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refractometer, hydrometer. you do know what salinity is right!!!!
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04-22-2007, 05:19 PM
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#10
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Canada
Posts: 751
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The zoas will probably die in the cycle.
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Pit-bull-pirate-arrrhhhh
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04-22-2007, 05:26 PM
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#11
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BIG SMELLY MOD
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Livingston Parish, Denham Springs, Louisiana
Posts: 16,775
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If the rock is fully cured and You make the move from the old tank where you are getting the rock to your tank, you will have a very small cycle, We do it like that alot when we move tanks, the rock will stay good, just keep it wet and try to make the move to the new tank fast.
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Vince aka VINNIE
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04-22-2007, 05:28 PM
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#12
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Now What?
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: charleston, sc
Posts: 1,083
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thekid55
refractometer, hydrometer. you do know what salinity is right!!!!
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Yeah, didn't know I needed another tool though  . Thought a test strip or solution test. How much do those run? How necessary is it?
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75g, 350W MH's. LPS tank
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04-22-2007, 05:32 PM
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#13
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Shark
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: alpharetta, GA
Posts: 2,555
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one of the most important tool if not the most important tool. refractometers are anywhere from $40 to $120 but really dosent matter how much you spend all of them are really good. hydrometers are $10-$25 and are ok but sometimes are off. testing salinity every day is a good practice in the start off period.
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04-22-2007, 05:33 PM
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#14
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Carpe Noctem
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Western Colorado
Posts: 4,819
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bosscrab
Yeah, didn't know I needed another tool though . Thought a test strip or solution test. How much do those run? How necessary is it? |
Very! Try to grab a refractometer. They run from about $29-200. I have a $40 one from one of the big online retailers and it works fine.
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"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." - Albert Einstein
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