Ro/di system

[dmolavi]

The API kits really aren't good for saltwater (the ammonia and nitrIte are fine, but the others don't have the low range resolution you need).

Do you have a skimmer? And it might be better to switch to LEDs (either chinese ones from ebay or ones from BuildMyLED.com ) if you start dropping $$$ on your existing lights for new bulbs, etc.

 

[dmolavi]

I was told by others that the Hanna checkers are for freshwater only??

Nope, I use them on my SW tank...as do lots of others here...definitely worth the money for the accuracy and ease of use.

 

[Sniperhank]

Sadly, when it comes to API only the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are worth their weight. All the rest are junk...I fell into the same trap when I started in the hobby. Same goes for the hydrometer. I have 2 of the pieces of junk. The hanna checkers are worth their weight in gold IMO.
Atleast on a good note the lighting is nice. Have you owned the tank for the whole 7-8 years, it doesn't appear that way.

 

[dmolavi]

I don't think the API nitrAte kit is worth it for saltwater use.

If your test kits are old (more than a year or two), they may be expired, too. If that's the case, go with Hanna and either Salifert, RedSea, Lamotte, or some other test kit...

 

[jjh302]

I do have a fairly large insump skimmer. I don't know the brand name. Tonight when I get home I am doing a 20gal water change straight from the sump and plan to dismantle the skimmer and I'll post some photos and maybe someone can identify that and my return pump.

 

[jjh302]

Sadly, when it comes to API only the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are worth their weight. All the rest are junk...I fell into the same trap when I started in the hobby. Same goes for the hydrometer. I have 2 of the pieces of junk. The hanna checkers are worth their weight in gold IMO.
Atleast on a good note the lighting is nice. Have you owned the tank for the whole 7-8 years, it doesn't appear that way.

I apologize...in my rambling I failed to disclose that I have only owned this setup for a month and a week so far. I bought it and transported all of the live rock,water, and fish home (which was a 3.5 hour ride) in brand new 32 gallon trash cans and new 5 gallon buckets.

 

[Sniperhank]

Is it all new sand...? That is a almost 8 years of poop, food, and other detrius built up that has been stirred up by the move.

 

[jjh302]

Is it all new sand...? That is a almost 8 years of poop, food, and other detrius built up that has been stirred up by the move.

I put 20 lbs of new sand in. The rest is the original. When I got home I rinsed it all real well before I put it in the tank.

 

[dmolavi]

Rinsed in non-tap water, right?

 

[jjh302]

Rinsed in non-tap water, right?

Wrong....Garden hose. Crap!

 

[dmolavi]

Ouch...that's gonna hold a lot of chlorine and everything else that was present in the water. I might let the sand dry out. It won't get rid of the dissolved solids that were in the water, but at least the chlorine should out-gas and go away. Either that, or just do an RO/DI rinse once you get your unit.

 

[jjh302]

So pull all of the sand out of my tank?

 

[dmolavi]

You might be able to use some Prime to dechlorinate and bind to the heavy metals in the water, too...Folks use tap in their tanks w/ Prime, so I'd imagine that for the (relatively) small amount of water being held in the sand, compared to the total system volume, you should be OK with a Prime treatment after getting saltwater in the tank.

 

[jjh302]

Is there a way to test for chlorine? Couldn't I use a dechlorinizing additive?

 

[dmolavi]

Yes, there are chlorine tests, but see my comment above your post...

 

[jjh302]

I'm treating with Amquel right now which is comparable to Prime. It's been three days.

 

[dmolavi]

Never used it, but if it's a good dechlorinator, I think you should be OK. Just make sure to use RO/DI from now on