NYC tap water, no skimmer, Nano!

[MisterTickle]

You know I didn't have any algae growth until I started using Distilled water (and I was using NYC tap water initially) but, I also got the light around that time. I wonder... Better off just getting a damn RO/DI unit.

 

[Reef Greek]

Been reading this thread and all i can say is you've been very lucky. Lived in Queens(NYC tap water) for almost 30 years NEVER had 0 nitrates coming out of the tap. Also If you're putting in 1ppm every time you do a water change and have 0 in the tank something is absorbing it (see a few of the posts above). As long as you use low grade and/or expired kits you will get 0 readings until you add more fish or corals and the watch out. Its great you have success with the tank so far and I wish you always do but to promote tap water as a safe medium for reef tanks is irresponsible.

 

[Awibrandy]

Sounds about right! Now that the rocks have absorbed as much as they can you will start to see some of the issues we speak of. I ran my original tanks without ro/di, and like you initially all looked good. But after to 2 years the tank starts to go down hill. I would suggest you get on top of it.
Wish I'd known then what I know now.

 

[cali_reef]

DR. F&S would tell you need to buy new rocks, sand, and gazillion of additives to make this right, but you don't need a RO\DI and pure water, because they can't make any money on water.

 

[Harif87]

Cyano?

Two words, Special Blend

I would also consider getting rid of tap water.... I remember when I first started a good man warned me about using tap water, but I didnt listen and I got stuck batteling cyano a year later.

 

[Jimm0425]

I don't know if anyone has brought this up before on this thread, but NYC adds phosphoric acid (orthophosphate) to help control corrosion in copper piping. This is pretty common among water providers it is also used to prevent iron from oxidizing and staining the toilet.

 

[Matorral]

I think the algae problem is due to detritus build up , never used any additive in the 2 years

 

[Matorral]

Porbably phosphates build up too, will buy a new phosphate test kit to check it out. Any brand that you recommend?

Yes what I have is mainly cyano, what is this spacial blend??

 

[Matorral]

Has anyone tried changing sand? I only will need one bag since my tank is so small.

 

[batt600]

To test phosphates you need a hanna phosphate photo meter to check phosphates.
Those test kits will always give you a false reading.

 

[Matorral]

Will buy phospahte kit or phospahte meter, a new bag of sand, and start doing like 50% water changes, maybe like twice a week to see how that goes. Sorry guys I hate to start an RO system in my small apartment, that will be my last choice. I already have a cheap RO system from the tank I had in Puerto Rico, but I just hated it, it was such a waste of water and a big mess. Ill post some pics of my sad looking tank soon (my camera is dead).

 

[Matorral]

Just tested my water with the same old kits I had: nitrate 0, phosphaet 0-0.25, nitrite 0 and pH 8.0.

 

[batt600]

If you do have a phosphate problem large water changes is bad you would have to slowly bring the phosphate levels down so you dont shock your corals only do 25% water changes and buy a phos reactor and use gfo to keep phosphate low you will need to use a ro/di unit or your never going to fix your problem. I was using tap water in my tank at first and all most lost eveything test kit said 0ppm phosphate but it was wrong i had 2.66ppm phosphate in my tank .after that used ro/di water and gfo and a few mouths later now at 0.00ppm and corals are great and full of color.

 

[Matorral]

Does anyone syphon their sand when they do water changes. I have never done it. Is it a good idea??

 

[Awibrandy]

It is difficult to syphon a sand bed with out removing the sand via the syphon.
Your complaint about running the RO/DI in an apt. is sort of understandable. But think of it this way: at least you don't pay for water.lol Get a small unit that hooks up to the faucet, make your water, and put it away.
I would just start using ro/di water, gfo in a reactor, and perhaps the "Special Blend".
Your phosphates are not 0, and trust me if your kit says .25 it is probably more likely that it is actually 2.5.

Batt, I think you need to run your checkers' test again. I initially got the same reading of 0.00, but after playing with the checkers a little more got 1.27, now down to .48 after running new gfo/carbon through a reactor & weekly 20% water changes, and second week of the "Special Blend".

 

[Awibrandy]

You asked what is "Special Blend", below is a quick look at what it is suppose to do. I just recently started to use it so I can't say wether or not I recommend it.


">Contains both Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria

Other benefits include: Organic waste degrader, naturally stimulates plant growth, lowers ammonia levels and biologically reduces nitrates, removes odors and clears cloudy water, enhances ability of plants to utilize light, water and nutrietnts, breaks down residue on gravel, plants, rocks, etc.
Great for both fresh and saltwater fish."
http://www.aquariumproductreviews.com/Bacteria-Starters/Microbe-Lift-Special-Blend-p-63.html

 

[Harif87]

You asked what is "Special Blend", below is a quick look at what it is suppose to do. I just recently started to use it so I can't say wether or not I recommend it.


">Contains both Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria

Other benefits include: Organic waste degrader, naturally stimulates plant growth, lowers ammonia levels and biologically reduces nitrates, removes odors and clears cloudy water, enhances ability of plants to utilize light, water and nutrietnts, breaks down residue on gravel, plants, rocks, etc.
Great for both fresh and saltwater fish."

Nitrosomonas and nitrobacter... arent those the same strains found in FW Bio Spira? Those are the strains that turn ammo --> nitrite -->nitrate.

Never knew how special blend worked exactly other than it was a concotion of bacteria. Is it that they out-compete microalgae for nutrients??

 

[Awibrandy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Awibrandy

You asked what is "Special Blend", below is a quick look at what it is suppose to do. I just recently started to use it so I can't say wether or not I recommend it.


">Contains both Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria

Other benefits include: Organic waste degrader, naturally stimulates plant growth, lowers ammonia levels and biologically reduces nitrates, removes odors and clears cloudy water, enhances ability of plants to utilize light, water and nutrietnts, breaks down residue on gravel, plants, rocks, etc.
Great for both fresh and saltwater fish."

Harif, sorry I don't have an answer for your question. What I mean is that I understand it the same as you, and cannot elaborate further.lol
As you can see by my previous post I quoted from the net. Not my words buddy...
I only recently started using the product, and will hold off on recommendations until I see wether, or not it works.

 

[batt600]

It is difficult to syphon a sand bed with out removing the sand via the syphon.
Your complaint about running the RO/DI in an apt. is sort of understandable. But think of it this way: at least you don't pay for water.lol Get a small unit that hooks up to the faucet, make your water, and put it away.
I would just start using ro/di water, gfo in a reactor, and perhaps the "Special Blend".
Your phosphates are not 0, and trust me if your kit says .25 it is probably more likely that it is actually 2.5.

Batt, I think you need to run your checkers' test again. I initially got the same reading of 0.00, but after playing with the checkers a little more got 1.27, now down to .48 after running new gfo/carbon through a reactor & weekly 20% water changes, and second week of the "Special Blend".

Did that check it 3 time all come to 0.00ppm

 

[fritz]

Think of it this way, it took several months to get PO4 saturated in your rock and sand, it's going to take several months for them to slowly leach it back out. Be patient, keep up with water changes. My tank never looked better than when I was changing about 8% a day.