nuxx Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Just setup my Apex and have been monitoring temp and PH in the tank. Looks like the temps go between 79.1 and 79.8 and PH goes between 7.91 and 8.0 over 24 hours. I haven't hooked up the heaters to the Apex outlets yet, just running on their own thermostats right now. What would you recommend for mixed reef temp, and what type of fluctuations would be acceptable? Also, does PH seem ok? Will adding macro and proper lighting help out with PH? Just bought my first Kessil A360w-e today, want to make sure I like it before buying the other 4. Have the lights for the fuge area as well, and plan on running a reverse cycle on those. Maybe also help with PH? BTW: Tanks had water in it for about 6-7 weeks now. I've never seen an ammonia spike or any traceable nitrites. Rock had been curing for months prior to going in as well. Ammonia reads 0 as well as nitrites/nitrates. Never had a diatom bloom either. Cycle tank with 3 shrimp and some TLC Start Smart Complete bacteria. Do you think I'm good to go? Just weird I never saw a spike or diatom bloom... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planeden Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 ha, i can't even measure my Ph to the tenth of a point. but my temp and Ph swing more than that and i don't worry about it. as far as the cycle if you add ammonia (like shrimps) and not getting any measurable stuff you should be fine. i usually test my cycle by dumping in a bunch of food or something to make ammonia and check the next day before starting to put little ammonia factories in it. but if your shrimp are still in there that is effectively the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madsalt Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Your temps and ph look good. Some people like to run temps a little higher, I run mine right about where yours are. The ph could be a little higher. If you plan on doing water changes regulalry you might see your ph go up some. As I started to add fish I have noticed my ph go from around 7.9-8.0 now it is around 8.1-8.2, I am good with that. If you are going to have a mixed reef the things I would really want to monitor is calcium and alkalinity. Again if you are doing regular water changes you should be ok unless you start to increse your LPS/SPS corals. Just watch those levels as you begin to add them. If you had no ammonia spike, this can be due to the fact that you had already cured rock and you used the bacteria in a bottle. As far as the diatome bloom just because you haven't had it does not mean you wont, it just may not be as big as some tanks that start cycling with uncured rock and do not use the bacteria in a bottle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuxx Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 Thanks guys Just about a week away from putting my first fish in. They've been in QT and been through 3 Prazi treatments. Little nervous about putting them in. Wanted to have at least a week of logs before they went in. Going to setup an automatic water change system doing 3-5 gallons a day. Will use a dual head pump to make sure the same goes in that goes out. Hopefully with better lights, live stock, macro, sump lighting, water changes and live stock I'll be above 8.0 ph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madsalt Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 it will get there. To be honest don't force it. If your tank never gets above 8.0, that might be where your tank likes to be. Most importantly watch your livestock and corals to see what they are doing. If the fish are happy and the corals are doing what they should, just maintain the course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuxx Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 Yeah not rushing out to buy buffer or anything Just never ran a controller before, so too much knowledge is getting to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 If you don't like your readings (I think yours are fine btw) always stick your ph probe in cal solutions to check accuracy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 If you don't like your readings (I think yours are fine btw) always stick your ph probe in cal solutions to check accuracy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuxx Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 If you don't like your readings (I think yours are fine btw) always stick your ph probe in cal solutions to check accuracy.Just calibrated it with the Apex 7 and 10 PH solutions, read correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuxx Posted March 27, 2014 Author Share Posted March 27, 2014 PH has balanced out better. Now running 7.96-8.01. I need to get my heaters connected to my Apex, have the heater profiles set up. Just running off of the heaters' thermostats now. Also just added a Kessil A360W-E this afternoon. Hopefully some better light will help out PH as well. Just bought one Kessil to see if I liked it, and see how many I'd need for the tank. 3 will cover it, but there will be shadowing. My 90 degree gooseneck adapter isn't here yet, so I'll probably raise the light a bit more as well. I'll end up with 5 in the tank, but will run 3 for a while. My next fish purchase will be expensive, and don't want to push it with the wife... Also have the lighting programs/profiles setup for the Kessils, just need an extension for the Kessil Apex cable. BTW: The left and right of the tank are being lit by some Marineland LEDs I had laying around for comparison. The Kessil is at about 80% color and 80% intensity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted March 27, 2014 Share Posted March 27, 2014 its. alive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuxx Posted March 31, 2014 Author Share Posted March 31, 2014 Well finally got my heaters plugged into the Apex and now temps range between 78-79 over 24 hours. Also, now PH seems to be around 8.1. Maybe adding the Kessil helped? Ordered two more A360W-Es today. I'm thinking 3 might actually cover the tank pretty well at 10" above the water. We'll see, I'm surprised how much one A360W-E covers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madsalt Posted March 31, 2014 Share Posted March 31, 2014 Sounds like good numbers to me. Those numbers are right where my tank sits. As a matter of fact per fusion I am ph 8.13 and temp 78.6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nuxx Posted April 3, 2014 Author Share Posted April 3, 2014 Just added 2 more Kessil A360W-E fixtures. (Only 1 on the Apex right now...) Also added some LEDs to the fuge area, and will put them on a reverse schedule when I add macro... PH has been around 8-8.1 for a while now as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.