my saltwater parameters

[JaredCBell]

So i finally got the 30+ lbs of live rock in. I tested my water earlier when I had only 15lbs of live rock in. Everything was 0, PH was 7.8 and nitrate was around 40 ppm. Its a 29 gallon with 20lbs of Caribbean Live Sand, 30lbs of fiji fully cured LR and three small puffers occupying it till it is done cycling.

i just tested the PH now that everything is settled 9and i did a 15% water change after adding the final LR) and it is still around 7.8+

SG is at 1.25. Also, i still have my aqualclear 70 HOB filter running. is it time to take it off (since I switched from a BW to a SW tank I left it on)?

What do you guys do to raise the PH? get rid of nitrates? or will my LR naturally over the cycle period get rid of it?

I ordered The New Marine Aquarium book, should be here tomorrow!

[travie]

Over time the LR should take care of the nitrates. Don't worry about the pH just yet. Allow your tank to settle for a little while, since you just added LR. See where it is at in a couple weeks to a month then see if it needs adjusted. I would leave the filter on and running for a week or two, then take it off.

[JaredCBell]

Over time the LR should take care of the nitrates. Don't worry about the pH just yet. Allow your tank to settle for a little while, since you just added LR. See where it is at in a couple weeks to a month then see if it needs adjusted. I would leave the filter on and running for a week or two, then take it off.

ok. just retested the nitrate since I did the first test before the LR addition and water change and now it is around 20 ppm. I will leave the filter on for a week or two. Then replace it with a Koralia 400GPH powerhead so i can have some circulation.

When should I add a CUC?

[coachfraley]

I would try to get your nitrates to zero before you add a CUC. You can do water changes help lower your nitrates.

[travie]

Add the Koralia now even with the filter running.

[JaredCBell]

Add the Koralia now even with the filter running.

im gonna have to wait till next friday (payday). The 30+ lbs of live rock (even half of it at 3.00/lb!!) set me back this week, plus i am in the process of buying a house! 1800 sq ft to house a new 125g reef! So i am tapped till then. I am gonna go with a Koralia 1 (400gph). You think that should be enough?

[travie]

That works too. I ran a Koralia 1 and the return pump from my sump tank. Depends on your LR setup if it will be enough. You want to aim for no dead spots in your tank. A Koralia Nano or similar might aid down the line to eliminate dead spots if you have them.

[JaredCBell]

That works too. I ran a Koralia 1 and the return pump from my sump tank. Depends on your LR setup if it will be enough. You want to aim for no dead spots in your tank. A Koralia Nano or similar might aid down the line to eliminate dead spots if you have them.

how do you know when you have dead spots? And you mean in addition to the one, correct? heres the setup:

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[travie]

Just wherever floating things settle equals a dead spot. You see where stuff settles on the bottom.