Is It Worth It? Got Potential?

[TigerIssey]

With the test kits, most of use Salifert. I tried the saltwater API master and its not the best to be honest.

Test kits to start
pH
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate

Because of the amount of cyano you have I would also get Phosphate

Reef Test Kits (Not sure if you are planning Reef)
Calcium
Magnesium
Alkalinity

Refractometer get off ebay or search for UK Aquatics, Lancashire, thats where I got mine from, £27 ish delivered and its D-D.

RO - Look at RO-MAN website


Salt go for a decent brand if going for a reef and make sure its reef salt not sea salt (used for fish only)

You will also need a spare powerhead, themometer and heater plus a container to mix in.

I ffel there is something I have forgotten, will have a think and somebody may spot it.

 

[Crazy fishes]

API test kits down right stink; you would be better guessing the levels than using that kit. Ironically I still have one in my cabinet, but it is never used.

Regards

 

[greenbottle]

cheers for the replies so far, i will be asknig if i can arrange to pick it up mid week, i sense a jornal coming along...

 

[TigerIssey]

API test kits down right stink; you would be better guessing the levels that using that kit. Ironically I still have one in my cabinet, but is never used.

Regards

Exactly why I swapped all to Salifert, except Nitrate and pH. Need to get Salifert Nitrate now only one left to get.

 

[greenbottle]

I am not the proud new owner of the tank. Time to get to work this weekend!!

Picked it up at a steal....

£130!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SkiFletch]

Big steal indeed. If you find out that the water in the tank was NOT salted, the rock is no longer "Live", but it is still quite useful. Either way if you wish to test if it's aragonite based, break off a small pea-sized section of rock and put it in a bowl of vinegar. If it "fizzes" or bubbles for more than 1min, it's aragonite based and very useful.

Either way my suggestion would be, get the tank, do a 100% waterchange with freshly mixed seawater and remove as much cyano as possible. Keep removing cyano as often as possible until the bloom dies down. Then go to the store and buy a small amount of Live Rock to "seed" the system. Even if it had seawater in it when you pick up the tank/rock, you still look as though you could use a little more. So buy a few nice pieces and let them cycle the tank. Once they're settled and cyano is still not coming back you can consider adding livestock.

Keep us posted

 

[greenbottle]

Cheers for the advice,

The water is salted, thats for sure. I am pretty sure the rock is live but i will do your test tonight.

The plan is to sort out an RO system this w/e and change water as fast as it can produce it! I cannot really see the point of buying the water from a shop especially when i will be using so much in the next few weeks.

Where the rock is concerned, i didnt weigh it but i would guess at there being 20-30kg's worth.

 

[greenbottle]

i shall be doind a fll clean tomorrow! i have just done a 70% water change and will clean the tank sides with a scraper tomorrow, will be picking up a test kit too

 

[rabbut]

That tank looked a mess, probably due to a lack of flow Get a couple of water pumps in there ASAP Other than that, if you don't have the fish he was trying to shift with the tank, I'd go with the 100% water change Ski mentioned. If you still have the fish, I'd get shot. Damsels that were described earlier, can be down right nasty to new fish, so are best as the last additions

All the best
Rabbut

 

[greenbottle]

That tank looked a mess, probably due to a lack of flow Get a couple of water pumps in there ASAP Other than that, if you don't have the fish he was trying to shift with the tank, I'd go with the 100% water change Ski mentioned. If you still have the fish, I'd get shot. Damsels that were described earlier, can be down right nasty to new fish, so are best as the last additions

All the best
Rabbut

I added a 1100gph powerhead this afternoom- soon got things moving! Have done a 75% water change, will do more when my RO kit arrives.

Did a full perameters test- will post details tomorrow

 

[rabbut]

Your moving the the correct direction now