new tank question

[gamepoint]

I just set up a 125gal reef that I bought used. The tank was running for two years so I without storage for the the live stock and corals I had to just get water mixed and to temp and put everything right back in. I was hoping for some guidence on how to proceed. First question is I am going to pick up a test kit tonight, so is one type better than another. and what all should I test for keeping in mind that there are some mushrooms a zoo rock, 2 open brains, bubble, frogspawn, hammer, maze brain, one stoney and after I get it up and running I hope to do more with some easier to keep stonies. There are also two clams. I have some Kalk, but what else should I be dosing. The tank has been running without a sump and is in pretty good shape. It has about 225lb live rock a hang on the back cpr refugium, and a remora skimmer (I am a little worried about size and efficency of this skimmer although does seem to be taking a good amount of stuff out of the water) For light it has three 175watt 10k mg and two 130watt actinic pc lights. I hope to stop by the library shortly and see if I can pick up a book on reef tank management.

[loubee]

I think Salifert Profi- Test kits are the best & suggest pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate & KH to be the most important to start off with then to consider getting phosphate, calcium & magnesium kits as the next step.

I wouldn't use any additives in the tank untill you have tested the parameters... then you will know if it is, for example, short of magnesium.

Good luck with the tank!

[Reef-Keeper]

i would take as much of the water as possible with you and reuse it, and add SW as needed (kinda like a waterchange). i have done this evey time i moved and seems to work great. i have only lost one coral in 3 moves, and no fish.

it would also be nice if you had a few tubs, extra heaters, and powerheads for the tubs. while the corals are in the tubs (while you are redesigning the rock work) they will be good on heat and flow, and could be left overnight if need be. good luck and HTH.

[skeety]

WOW that color is hard to read! ahahaha

good advice so far. Salifert make very precise and reliable test kits. But you'll probably only find them on-line.

You say you're dosing Kalk...do you know your Ca and Alk levels are?

I personally don't recommend dosing ANYTHING that you can't test for.

I used to dose Ca and Alk (now I have a CA reactor to do that for me), but other than that...nothing but water changes.

Welcome aboard (if I haven't welcomed you already).

Keep the questions coming!! (just please...not in bright green on white background. hahaha)

[gamepoint]

I haven't started the Kalk yet, but shortly I just picked up the test kits, they had salifert at ocean devotion in Savage, but for more questions "in plain black" I am using RO water so do I need to use a buffer on this and if so do I use buffer in both top off water and water changes. Is there a shelf life to this stuff since I have some Kalk, buffer and strontium but it is about two years old.

[Mike01z]

do you mean buffer as in Kalk? or do you mean something else? On my RO water I don't' use anything else to be honest and I don't think many people do either.

[loubee]

I use buffer whenever I do top ups (for evaporation) & make the KH similar to the KH of my tank to avoid any stress to the livestock (caused sudden by drop in KH)...

I also use Tropic Marin Pro Reef salt which is specifically designed for use with RO water & I have found it to be a very well balanced salt. It depends on which salt you plan to use as to whether you need to add buffer with water changes and also on the condition of the water in your tank... so as always testing is important to enable you to get it right!

[skeety]

Just want to repeat that I hope you guys are TESTING for whatever it is your adding.