New tank

[Fally]

Hey all! I picked up a 75 gallon last night and was looking for some advise on how to move everything from my 29 into it.

I have setup the 75 with sand and crushed coral. I have 30 pounds of white sand and 20 pounds of crushed coral that was fairly small pieces with some shells and such in it. I put all the sand from my sump(10 pounds) in as well. I filled it with water that wend through a PUR faucet water filter. I mixed the salt in the buckets.

Can I seed the 75 with stuff from my 29 and avoid a cycle? I will list what is in my 29 and maybe people could advise me how I can move everthing? I want to move it as quickly as possible so I can get the 29 out of the room, but I want to avoid any losses if possible.

I have about 50 pounds of live rock and 40 pounds of crushed coral in the 29.

various small mushrooms and ricordias
yellow polops
small zoo rock
green star polops
green carpet aenome
zena
cleaner shrimp
six line wrasse
algae blenny
clown
2 flame scolops
hermits & snails & a few shrimp

Any advise would be greatly appreciated!

[Dirt4dinner]

You plan looks good. You might see a small cylcle from die off. You never know. The only problem I see in your equation is your water source. You need to test that water, PUR water filters are great for drinking water, but your corals are more picky than we are. Do you have a TDS (total desolved solids) meter? If you don't you can get them on ebay for under $20. You should pick one up and make sure that water is suitable.

[jerryc]

Id agree with Dirt get a TDS meter http://cgi.ebay.com/New-TDS-Meter-Reverse-Osmosis-Reef-RO-Water-PPM-Tester_W0QQitemZ4448910718QQcategoryZ20684QQrdZ1QQ cmdZViewItem

If your water is over 10 you will need a new water sours

May help if you use as much water from the old tank as you can

[Fally]

I made the move last night. I had a large bucket that hadn't been used yet lting around. It was 23 gallons I think. I filled it up 8-10 inches with water. I put a heater and a airline in there with a light across the top. I then put all my creatures in the bucket.

I scooped out all the crushed coral with a plastic cup and transfered it to the new tank one cup at a time. The water in the new tank got pretty cloudy again. Every 15 minutes I would pour a gallon from the new setup into the bucket. Once I moved all the base rock, I put everything from the bucket into the 75.

This morning everything seemed to be doing well. Thanks for the advise, I'll look into the TDS meter. I just figured that filtered water was better then right from the tap.

[Dirt4dinner]

Filtered water is definatly better than from the tap...but that PUR filter isn't doing the work that it needs to do. Look into an RO/DI unit or considering purchasing your water from a water store. But get the TDS meter and see what it's like. I know at my house the tap water is over 700 TDS (which is considered toxic), even after we filter the water through our state-of-the-art refrigerator it only knocks the TDS down to about 200. I had to install an RO/DI unit which gets the TDS down to about 15 TDS, and I think I am going to add a second DI chamber onto it to get it down to 0 TDS. If you don't know what RO/DI units are this probably confused you, we would be glad to help you find one on ebay, they are about $100.

[jerryc]

.

This morning everything seemed to be doing well. Thanks for the advise, I'll look into the TDS meter. I just figured that filtered water was better then right from the tap.[/QUOTE]


Good to no everything is going good with the transfer ...........

Your probable right that its better thin strait from the tap.

But not often do you find tap water that will do for tank use my
TDS is not bad for household use but far from whit you need
for your tank

[Fally]

I have looked at them before but don't really have the room for a large bucket to sit and fill up over several hours. I was buying some sort of natural filtered sea water for changes in the 29, but I'm not sure what I'm gonna do yet for the 75 as the changes will be larger. I don't think I have a source for ro/di in the area to my knowledge. I'll have to look a little harder I guess. I suppose I should start with the TDS meter and go from there.

Thanks!

[Fally]

I actually filled my 29 with tap water. It had some algae growth but not much. I live in Maine and the water up here is pretty good. I'll look into getting a TDS meter, it will be interesting to see what the reading is for my water.

[dsfdbutterfly]

Fally,
Some water around the country is good enough for water in tanks. I used tap water for my fish only for years without any problems. Didn't even know that it would harm anything actually. That being said I wouldn't trust tap for sensitive corals. They are a little more finiky about their water source. I had a RO unit installed. The guy that installed it was real cool and offered some suggestions because we were doing this for a fish tank and not really for our drinking water. He was willing to go down to the local wal-mart and test their water that you buy at the fill stations for us. The thing being there that most companies don't change their filters regularly so you get inpur water. If you have a company that sells ice and water they too may sell water that is filtered. There again you have to count on them to change their filters when needed. Since us humans can't tell the difference a lot of companies push the limits on filter changes. There are also some things on the market that you can add to the water to make tap safe. Again I don't know that I would trust them for corals. The meter tester that everyone mentions is a great idea to let you know where you sit. However, if that has a negative result then I don't think the pur filters will help.

Dirt4dinner mentioned the RO/DI unit. These are the gold standard and if possible I would go that direction. You will have to lay out some cash in the beginning but in the long run you will save money over other options. If your LFS's are anything like the ones here in AZ then they should have water for sale. You will have to bring containers and store it but they are really good about changing the filters and making sure that everything is good because they are using this water for their own display tanks. As the next option I would buy already bottled water. Companies that way try to pride themselves on selling the best and their filters are not exposed to kids and people walking by that may be punks that mess with things. Bottom line is you have made an investment to keep saltwater fish. If your tap is not up to par, which most in the country isn't for corals, your better off putting a few more dollars into better quality water. Most of us find this hard (I know I did) but the reward is worth it. Good luck and congrats on the upgrade.

Angie

[Reptoreef]

If you have a Walmart close, you should have access to RO water with a of 2 or less(pretty good stuff).

[Fally]

I haven't yet found a source for ro/di water. My LFS uses tap water in his tanks. He told me there wasn't any need for ro/di. I figured I was doing pretty good using a 3 stage PUR filter. :) I have been looking into the ro/di units, mainly just for my own peice of mind. If I can make life for my fish and corals any better, I want to do it.

Here is a picture of my setup a week after the move:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y109/Falmord/75.jpg

I am still using the 10 gallon sump from the old setup. I have been dreaming about my new sump for a week now. I think I'll use a 30 long I have sitting around.

[Fally]

I'll post a pic of the back of the tank later. Once the sun goes down and I can get a good shot.

[Reef_Angel]

Hello Fally....From the Administrative point of view on this topic, maybe my advice on how our members set out to help others will be of some use to you in the future. These members that have stepped up to help you with your water choice issue have only meant the very best, and I can attest to their replies that all their comments have been well meaning & accurate. Your LFS uses tap water for his tanks in the store? Honestly, if I found out that my favorite LFS's weren't using RO/DI water, I would no longer patronize their store. I also think that you're not going to find many other people that would tell you anything different about the importance of pure clean water. Sure, it has to slowly be made with a big Rubbermaid tub, but the whole idea is to have a good amount of pure & fresh ro/di salt water available to you for water changes or emergencies involving the replacement of large amounts of water in your tank. Get ahead with the water making with an ro/di and you will be so grateful when it's time to do a water change. Everyone here has suggested locations that you can get ro/di & bottled water. I believe that the companies responsible for bringing good clean water have guidelines & rules they are required to meet when selling the bottled water. Big department stores like Walmart will have it in gallon jugs, good LFS's use only ro/di and have it available to purchase, and some larger supermarkets have it as well. There are millions of people who will only drink ro/di pure water, so there has to be several place where you can purchase it from if you really want to. We can only suggest what is best for salt water tanks, but ultimately it is your decision to use it or not. You can go and purchase a TDS meter ($20-$30)to see how your water tests out, and that's all it can do for you. Wouldn't it just be easier to stick those much needed reefing $$$ into the ro/di unit (approx. $100) that you really need, and will have for a long time to come. You never know, you might be able to make ro/di water to sell to your LFS & also your other salty friends, make yourself some pocket change, and key other's into the importance of the "BEST" water quality possible for all fish & coral. If you decide to stay with the fridge filter, your results will be interesting to our board members since it's not the norm for most. Share your water test results with us, as we are all curious about your outcome if you decide to stay with the water you are currently using.
Again, you've been given the best advise by each reefer that posted here, and you seem to be sold on your fridge filter. If you are determined to stick with what you have, and that's totally up to your discretion. It's good solid consistent advice, and I do believe that our members have excellent backgrounds & years of experience in reefing. ( :) Good Job to all who assisted in this post!) We are here to help you anytime, but you need to be open and ready to accept consistent answers. All in all, I can't help but be excited for you with your new upgrade for your reef! You'll love it, and so will all the critters you already have. I can tell when our tank is happy, and also when somethings amiss! We're all here for the same reasons as well...to learn and share this fantastic hobby. Most of all, good luck with your new set up, and Happy Reefing! :)

[Fally]

Thanks for all the good advice. I did say in my last post that I was looking at the ro/di units. I am definately not solid on using my current filter. I want my tank inhabitants to have the best water I can give them.

Everything is happy and my water tests are all perfect except for a little Nitrate(10) and some phospate(1-2). I suspect the nitrates will go down as the deeper parts of my sandbed have time to breed more anarobic bacteria. I am surprised I didn't see a spike with how much everything was disturbed.

[Reef_Angel]

Sounds like you have the right idea with how to care for your system. Now get yourself switched over to RO/DI clean water, and you'll see how your corals & fish respond. Good Luck!

[lReef lKeeper]

Fally, i would have to agree with Angel on the subject of not going back to that store if they don't use RO/DI water in thier own tanks.

with that being said, i have to admit not using RO/DI water. but at the same time my water is better than 95% of water in the U.S.( registers a 2) my brother in law is an enviornmental chemist and he does tests for me. but at the same time ... i am going to add a RO/DI unit to my system as soon as i can.

until you do add the unit i would steer clear of corals that would be considered "fragile" or less hardy until you get one.

hope this helps some ...

see ya round

[KG]

Are you sure about your phosphate reading. 1-2 is very high and can damage the symbiotic algae living in some coral. If so, I'd add a phosphate binder right away to bring it down. If space or initial start up cost is an issue with a RO/DI unit, most drinking water dispensing machines use the same technology with the added benefit of UV. That's where I buy mine for about $0.25 a gallon.

KG

[at]

I'm curios I have a RO unit but not DI, is this a problem? What does DI remove that RO does not?

[Dirt4dinner]

at-

I don't know all the ins and outs of RO/DI units, but I know that you should purchase and test a TDS meter (they are about $20 on ebay) and test your water quality after your present filter. If it's not reading zero or REALLY close to it, then add the DI stage to get it down to zero.

[spookey]

i did not know all .... sh*t i have to look in on that ro/di and a tds love this web site ......

[lReef lKeeper]

at, the DI stage removes anything that the RO misses

[Fally]

I actually used RO & UV filtered water from the grocery store machines and after 5 gallons I had the worst outbreak of purple slime. The filter must have been old and the 'sold out' light must have been broken... My PUR filtered water was MUCH better. I am back to using distilled water until I can buy a RO/DI filter. I just don't trust the PUR filtered water but for some reason I trust something someone else put in a gallon jug... It's strange because I tested some spring water once that I bought for a water change in a freshwater tank and one out of the three had crazy high nitrates. I really need to get a RO/DI filter with the inline TDS meter. Then I'll be sure of the quality of my water.

KG: I'll have to go back and check the test kit I used and make sure. Everything is fine and my algea is finally gone. The purple slime turned yellowish and died a few days after I switched to distilled water for top-off.