Recent content by Japache

480 is a nice level & don't worry about your KH, unless you start seeing white snow like residue in your sump. Also, high calcium is unnecessary, but helps with phosphate control in the water column. High KH (generally anything above 12 degrees) will precipitate calcium, which is fancy way of...

Not a problem, but I'm saying you should rinse foam or floss out in tap water. Judging from the amount of live rock you have, you really don't need the floss to be a biological filter, only mechanical. So rinse away in tap water & you'll prevent further nitrate processing & just remove debris.

Hi - no one mentioned this yet, but if you rinse out any filter floss or pads in regular tap water this will kill all the bacteria in them. This will prevent the eventual creation of nitrates, which is probably the main problem. You'll have to rinse them more, but overall you don't want muck to...

FYI - there are downloads of the API cards here - Downloads; Pump and filter Instructions, Test Kit charts Saltwater & freshwater are different for everything aside from nitrite. Also, you have LPS corals - have you tested your calcium levels? It sounds like you have the Kh test (turns to yellow).

I just use trace amount minerals, i.e. Flourish or the like, a couple times a week. But, I'm only moderately planted up & down the sides of the tank, with about 4 inches inwards towards the middle. If your 20 gallon is high, you might need a bulb with more penetrating light (i.e. 10k) or a...

Not long enough for 10 gallon & up, although you could place one at each side. That's what I'm doing for my corkscrew val, vesuvius sword & hornwort. Also, be vary careful about getting them wet, as the bulbs' glass may not be as strong as classical aquarium bulbs. By the way, my plants are...

I just washed about 3 lbs. (1/2 bag) yesterday & it's very easy. Put in container with about 1-2 inches of empty spaces Fill with water - feel free to swich it around but be careful of spillage & cutting yourself on the gravel. Carefully empty out water (don't spill the gravel) Repeat until you...