WMAS Discussion Forum : bringing my 29g back to life http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:52:42 +0000 Fri, 29 Nov 2019 15:41:58 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=84326 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[bringing my 29g back to life : So I decided to get some new test...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=636746&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#636746 Author: Davidwillis
Subject: 84326
Posted: November 29 2019 at 3:41pm

So I decided to get some new test kits, to make sure the reading are correct.  I got an hanna ultra low phosphorus checker, and a salifert nitrate test kit.

The phosphate is still reading zero ppb... I have no idea how it is so low..  The Nitrate is reading between 5-10 
]]> Fri, 29 Nov 2019 15:41:58 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=636746&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#636746 <![CDATA[bringing my 29g back to life : I don&#039;t do anything with...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=636720&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#636720 Author: Davidwillis
Subject: 84326
Posted: November 23 2019 at 2:31pm

I don't do anything with this tank other than feed it, and clean the glass, skimmer, and filter socks once or twice a month.  

This system works perfectly.  However I am planning on setting up a larger tank next summer, and I am afraid the large amount of carbon will cause HLLE in any tangs or angel fish I get.  Also I have not had any coral in this tank, and I am afraid the nutrient levels are too low for them to do well.

So I decided to test a couple of parameters, nitrate, and phosphate.  They both show 0 on my test kit.  The Nitrate test is on an API test kit, and the phosphate is using a Hanna low range tester.  After the test I noticed my reagent had expired, so I orders some new packets, and it still shows 0.

I guess that is the reason I don't have very much algae growing. 

Anyway, I don't think I am going to use this system with my new tank (180 gallon or so), because I want to have some tangs angels, and coral in it.  So I am going to see if I can switch out the carbon (in this tank) for some ceramic filter media.  I have already put the filter media in the sump, and will slowly start removing the carbon.  I expect the nitrate and phosphate will go up, and if it does, I will try carbon dosing to see if that keeps it down.

I want to make sure I can keep a good tank going without the large amount of carbon.
]]> Sat, 23 Nov 2019 14:31:24 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=636720&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#636720 <![CDATA[bringing my 29g back to life : Wrogers wrote:Would love to...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=635053&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#635053 Author: Davidwillis
Subject: 84326
Posted: April 06 2019 at 1:14pm

Originally posted by Wrogers Wrogers wrote:

Would love to see pics of this tank in a year. I have read a lot now on this system with mixed reviews. Love reading about things I have not seen or heard of Smile

As promised, here is a year later (or around that).
I really have not been doing anything other than feeding the fish.  I have not even tested anything other than salinity (not nearly frequent enough as it was way low down to 0.015).  I have it back up now.

The only thing I do for cleaning is clean the filters about once every 3 months (I know, I should do it more often), and scrap the glass of about once every 2-3 weeks (when I start to notice a little algae).

I have lost a couple of fish.  The Royal Gramma died, but I am not sure why, and the Green spotted puffer was somehow able to get into my overflow, and got sucked into a pump.

I also added a couple of yellow mollies which I acclimated to saltwater.  I needed some yellow, and I don't have a saltwater store close by, so I just picked these two up at walmart.

overall, I think the system has done excellent, and is very low maintenance.

I would really like to get one more fish that will be the main attraction to my tank, but it is difficult to find anything for such a small tank.  I am thinking about adding a small puffer, maybe this:  https://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+39+2909&pcatid=2909

I would like an angel, but I have had issues with HLLE with angels using this system, and my tank is a little small.  
]]> Sat, 06 Apr 2019 13:14:10 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=635053&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#635053 <![CDATA[bringing my 29g back to life : phosphates are slowing going down...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=632593&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#632593 Author: Davidwillis
Subject: 84326
Posted: May 16 2018 at 3:39pm

phosphates are slowing going down after cleaning out the filters.  It is down to 0.33 now.   I guess I need to clean them more often.
]]> Wed, 16 May 2018 15:39:06 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=632593&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#632593 <![CDATA[bringing my 29g back to life : I found a bunch of rotting food...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=632553&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#632553 Author: Davidwillis
Subject: 84326
Posted: May 11 2018 at 10:58pm

I found a bunch of rotting food in my filter.  Maybe I need to change it more often.
]]> Fri, 11 May 2018 22:58:16 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=632553&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#632553 <![CDATA[bringing my 29g back to life : Still going up.... 0.39 I am going...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=632531&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#632531 Author: Davidwillis
Subject: 84326
Posted: May 11 2018 at 10:17am

Still going up.... 0.39  I am going to clean out my filters
]]> Fri, 11 May 2018 10:17:20 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=632531&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#632531 <![CDATA[bringing my 29g back to life : I will keep an eye on it and see...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=632513&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#632513 Author: Davidwillis
Subject: 84326
Posted: May 09 2018 at 7:59pm

I will keep an eye on it and see if it goes up or down.

I also added a little more bacteria to see if that will help.  The skimmer almost mediately started producing foam (not a lot, but more than it was).
]]> Wed, 09 May 2018 19:59:21 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=632513&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#632513 <![CDATA[bringing my 29g back to life : It could be old phosphate bound...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=632511&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#632511 Author: Krazie4Acans
Subject: 84326
Posted: May 09 2018 at 7:27am

It could be old phosphate bound up in the rock or sand, or from food breaking down.]]> Wed, 09 May 2018 07:27:46 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=632511&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#632511 <![CDATA[bringing my 29g back to life : I noticed some algae showing up...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=632508&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#632508 Author: Davidwillis
Subject: 84326
Posted: May 08 2018 at 5:38pm

I noticed some algae showing up on the glass, so I checked my phosphate and nitrate levels:

phosphate 0.37
Nitrate:  Just above zero, but very close to zero.

Now I am wondering why the phosphate level went up so high.
]]> Tue, 08 May 2018 17:38:18 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=632508&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#632508 <![CDATA[bringing my 29g back to life : Reef 2 reef had some talk about...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=632376&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#632376 Author: Wrogers
Subject: 84326
Posted: April 25 2018 at 12:39pm

Reef 2 reef had some talk about it.. Then the rest I googled. Found more info that way.. I spent a few hrs reading about it, could have spent more.. I read the ones that where or did use it and passed by the ones that where just sharing their opinion...  Proof is in the pudding my Dad always told me.. LOL]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2018 12:39:12 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=84326&PID=632376&title=bringing-my-29g-back-to-life#632376