hippo tang/ percs

[marshall.read]

i think he suggested losing the rocks as he assumed the tank was new and the rocks were a source of nitrates, i'm sure the idea was to move the rocks to a holding tank until the they were cured and the display tank was under control. Check the filter sock to see if it needs replaced, a polyfilter will also help remove unwanted waste. Also 15% water changes every other week would also help lower your nitrates and improve the water quality. I would definately invest in a good skimmer first, refugium later. There are also hang on back refugiums which don't require any drilling or anything like that.

[SABOB]

What Test kit are you using for Nitrates?I had an API kit that showed Nitrates off the chart.Took a water sample to LFS to verify and found out my API Nitrate test was bad.Might take a sample to a LFS or have someone else test with a different kit to see if your results are accurate.

[p00num3lli]

no, i think its fine, i test my freshly mixed water be4 i change it and it shows 0 nitrates, just when i bought the tank it was in bad condition, and for the 9 months its been up ive been trying to lower it

[p00num3lli]

wen i got the rocks i was a real newbi beginner and didnt knw to *cure them so i didnt. but it was only a 45 min trip, so would that have been bad just to put them in if it was only 45 mins?and there covered in coralline algea now, so its still not dead and giving off nitrates is it?

[jessie71763]

Hello, this saltwater hobby is not as complicated as most people think it is, actually it's very simple if you follow some real simple steps. First, your tank size is not important, what is important is that you have at least two pounds of live rock for every gallon of water. Second, your live rock has to be cured because if it's not then you need to cure it. Don't worry if you bought at a pet shop usually it's cured. Third, you need to get rid of any bio balls or bio mesh in your wet&dry filter and just put some live rock in there if possible, then simply by putting a small compact light on your filter area and that should do the trick. Also, do not over feed, you should only feed once a day and a little at a time so the fish eat everything. Also, a good rule of thumb is that one fish for every four gallons of water is good. If you want send me your dirrect e-mail address and I will send you pics of my tank which happens to be nitrate free, I mean zero nitrates and I don't have a refugium, just what I told you. Good luck and don't hesitate in asking any more questions.

Jessie
jcjma@worldnet.att.net

[Mr Cob]

Don't worry if you bought at a pet shop usually it's cured.

Not true, especially if it's a popular saltwater store or a store that does not stock a crud load of it. Which means the live rock is not in the store long enough to cure.

What happens when they get a shipment....they add it to their tank (the top of the tank) and then you walk in an hour later and buy it. That's not cured live rock.