dnreef Introduction and Questions

[dnreef]

Hello to everyone,
I have been a member of this forum for the past few months and have had the opportunity to meet a few of you. I've finally taken some time to introduce myself and post pictures and questions regarding my tank. I have set up a 55 gallon reef tank and use an Amiracle wet/dry filter for my sump. I have set up the sump with live rock on the bottom and let the water fall in a manner which doesn't create any splashing. I have a Coraife 65 skimmer which is attached on the outside of my sump.

Here are my water parameters:
The following results were achieved using the Saltwater Master Liquid test kit from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals
pH 8.2
Ammo 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20 ppm

The following were achieved using Hagen test kits
Phosphate 0.25
Calcium 300 ppm

The following was achieved using an Elos test kit
kH 14.5dKH

I do a 5 gallon water change weekly using tap water that is run through DI tube filter from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals (haven't set up RO yet) and I use TropicMarin salt mix. I also supplement the tank with 3/4oz daily of the B-Ionic 1 and 2.

I am running a Coralife lighting system which uses 2x250 MH with 20K bulb and 2 PC actinics. The metal halides are on for about 6 hours out of the day.

My corals seem to be doing well, although I still have too much algae, but I can't seem to keep fish alive to save my life. I have had all of my fish die in the past week and I can't figure out why. Two succumbed to a case of ich (maybe oodinium?) but the rest appeared healthy one day and dead the next.

Here is the list of former occupants;
Lamarc Angel
Powder Brown Tang
Maroon Clown
Tailspot blenny
Algae blenny
Red banded goby
Warteye goby
All of them passed on within 3 days of each other. Except for the Powder Brown tang, all of the fish were 2 inches and under in size, so I didn't think I was overloading the tank. The first 3 died from obvious parasitic infection but the others looked perfect until I found them the next morning.

I will attach some pictures and I am looking for your thoughts and comments. I have been in the fish hobby for over 30 years but only tried my hand at a reef setup about 2 years ago. The current tank has been set up since early January 2009.

Thanks in advance everyone.

 

[dnreef]

here's more pics

 

[dnreef]

and a few more pics

 

[dnreef]

And finally, although this might be sacrilege here, these are some pics of were I spent most of time in the hobby. Thanks everyone.

 

[Tangs Rule]

beautiful discus. I would love to start a discus tank, but I hear they are a lot of work :biglaugh::tongue1:

 

[dnreef]

[beautiful discus. I would love to start a discus tank, but I hear they are a lot of work :biglaugh::tongue1:/HTML]
 
Not as hard as you'd think.  Barebottom tank and 3 water changes per week.  Also, I've never found a LFS that has quality discus.  Send me a pm if you ever want to head in that direction.

 

[rbtwo4]

I might just up that water change to 15 gallons IMO I have a 30g with a 20g sump & I do 15g a week.

 

[masterswimmer]

You're parameters are a bit out of whack.

1 - you should raise your calcium to approx. 450 (300 is very low).
2 - your kH is very high at 14.5. You should get that down to 9-11 dkH
3 - calcium and alkalinity are extremely important parameters to balance. You need to test for magnesium as well. All three of these elements work together. If one is off, you'll likely have two or all three of them off.
4 - I forgot to welcome you to MR.......sooooo, Welcome to MR
5 - I know you said all your fish were under 2". However, the Powder Brown Tang, Maroon Clown and Lamarck Angel in a 55g tank is an eventual overload....and not in the distant future, very soon.

Best of luck with your system.
Russ

 

[dnreef]

You're parameters are a bit out of whack.

1 - you should raise your calcium to approx. 450 (300 is very low).
2 - your kH is very high at 14.5. You should get that down to 9-11 dkH
3 - calcium and alkalinity are extremely important parameters to balance. You need to test for magnesium as well. All three of these elements work together. If one is off, you'll likely have two or all three of them off.

I was concerned about this also. I am using the B-ionic dosing system which supposed to maintain these two parameters. It says I should use equal parts of the A (maintains alkilinity) and B (maintains calcium). Should I unbalance that equation? Is there a better way to maintain the Ca. Haven't tested for Mg. Is there a preferred test kit? Does anyone have any comments on the test kits I used?

Thanks again.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

If you are dosing 2 part then you should also dose Mg. However when you test your water only dose what you need to keep the parameters in check, don't do the suggested per dosing per day as the instructions state, only dose what is needed. Never dose anything you do not test for.

 

[masterswimmer]

If you are dosing 2 part then you should also dose Mg. However when you test your water only dose what you need to keep the parameters in check, don't do the suggested per dosing per day as the instructions state, only dose what is needed. Never dose anything you do not test for.

Ditto +1