Detailed form submitted: Barlan

[Barlan]

Detailed help request

Are you experiencing any problems in your tank?

Not Sure

Brief Description

apparently Diatom algae on tank glass and back wall.
nitrates are 15-30ppm, trying to drop them.

Tank size

40X33X40xm

System Volume

37 liters

How long has your tank been running?

6 weeks (from 26/03/2012)

What livestock do you have?

2 gold and black chromis
1 electric blue hermit
some bristle star fish and bristle worms, came with LR

Water Parameters

Alkalinity (dkh):8
Calcium: unknown
Phosphate:unknown
Magnesium:unknown
pH: 8.2 - 8.4
Nitrite:
Nitrate:15 - 30
Ammonia:
Salinity:1.020 - 1.024
Temperature:24 - 27 degrees

What lighting is over the tank?

2X 24W PL tube and 4 X 24W high power T5 tube
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/27...RINE_TANK.html
37 liter version

Pumps and equipment

venturi skimmer, Biological filter sponge ,microbial filter ceramic rings, seachem matrix bio media, bio balls. water pump

Maintenance

weekly water changes approx 30-40%.
vacuum substrate if weekly feeding was a bit excessive or fish not hungry.
wipe diatom off tank walls with clean sponge.
monthly: clean equip - skimmer, sponge.planning on cleaning water pump.

Other info and photo's.

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[dallasg]

Hi Barlan.

i have seen a rise in diatoms lately, are you using RO water and which salt?

while your nitrates could cause some issues, we would need to know phosphates

[belindamotion]

Below are recommended water parameters that can be used as a guideline for general marine tanks.

pH - 8.2 to 8.4
Salinity - 1.023 to 1.026 (or 30.5 to 34.5 Specific Gravity (SG))

Calcium - 380-420
Alkalinity - 6 to 9 dKh (ideally 6.5 to 8.5 dKH) NSW levels
Magnesium - 1300 to 1350
Iodine - 0.04 to 0.06
Strontium - 8ppm or 8mg/l (NSW levels)
Potassium (K+) - 380-420
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - less than 5
Phosphate - less than 0.01
Ammonia - 0

Ideal Water Parameters - Marine Aquariums of South Africa
What to test for and why - Marine Aquariums of South Africa

[dallasg]

while correct, please note that those parameters are for reef tanks

[belindamotion]

Reef Tanks or Marine Tanks..?..Reef is usually refered to as SPS dominated Tanks..and I know they usually contain HIGH ALK..sometimes 9-11...as I've been corrected a few times when giving these "parameters"...I'm usually told that these are "basic" lower range and not "correct" if it's SPS Tanks as it then has to be on the "higher" scale of water parameters...

[dallasg]

in FOWLR most of the params arent a concern, hence for reef tanks

Reef is usually refered to as SPS dominated Tanks

reef tank is any tank with fish and inverts and/or corals[sps,lps,soft] etc

[belindamotion]

Originally Posted by dallasg

in FOWLR most of the params arent a concern, hence for reef tanks..

...ok..so he has a FOWLR Tank..

[dallasg]

no he doesnt, or hasnt said so, i was just stating the difference but those are great links

[belindamotion]

...oh WOW...I think I need to log off now......I'm having major blond moments...

[RiaanP]

Originally Posted by Barlan

How long has your tank been running? 6 weeks (from 26/03/2012)

just part of your cycle.