Recent content by mike surtees

  1. M

    Annoying Algae Problem

    Hi d2mini, Thats right, In a 100lt tank, with your inhabitants, frequent water changes are a must, I think by your answers your pretty well there, just a bit of back up is what maybe you were looking for, quite rightly too. I have a 200lt natural reef, no filter, no sump or refugium, just good...
  2. M

    Annoying Algae Problem

    Hi Your pictures don't show too much algae problems, [ It's easy to get fussy ] Iff your sure your no3 and phos are ok, ease off on feeding , and be patient, your biofiltration in the rocks will in time balance out, remember the water changes. Iff not the two recomended methods will work. Good...
  3. M

    Annoying Algae Problem

    Hi d2mini, I think you may have too many fish in at present, and your bacteria cannot cope, [ too many nuetrants ]. Possible solution 1.. keep the clown and put the othere fish [ for the moment] into a spare tank, maybe a friends. Put a clean up crew in, and reduce feeds to a minimum. Your...
  4. M

    What kind of algae is this?

    Hi, It looks good to me, I bet the bug's will be thick in no time, just what you need. Iff it was hair or cyno, it would be different, I wouldn't woory too much. Regards.
  5. M

    Annoying Algae Problem

    Hi, Lets start right back at basics. Size tank - quantity of rock - substrate - quantity of fish[ if any] ph / alk / cal / mag / sg / nitrate .......temp....What are these values firstly. From there we can deduce the problem. Regards.
  6. M

    6 days of working w/ATO water

    Hi, Project5k advise is good, 1gl at a time, and soon your sg will be ok. But you will also have now the extra benifit of a clean tank as far as algae goes. You can always do it again if it returns, but iff you keep your parameters right you'll have coraline not hair algae, best of...
  7. M

    6 days of working w/ATO water

    Project5k....is correct, 1gal/day drop until your SG is approx 1.022 - 4 willbring it to exceptable parrameters, you can fine tune it later if you wish. With the tank blacked out for a week, your algae problems should be under control too. When all is settled, bring your CAL - MAG - ALK levels...
  8. M

    This is not an introduction but.....

    Hi you guys. Wow, I only joined a week or so ago, and I am having the time of my life, I realise that I'm not the only one who's found a community of likewise thinking people, some requests I understand only too well, and some I need to think about. Some [ like Larry ] he'll know, are very deep...
  9. M

    Chronic Low Alk

    To Reef Moderator----Larry, Very interesting explanation on ALK. What I did was to experiment to keep the costs low, and learn whilst doing it. I am far from your level, but I enjoy it when someone who really understands submits something that ordinary Joe Bloggs can understand. I obtained a tub...
  10. M

    What is dkh

    Hi, Your right, why worry iff you don't have to. In saying that, Ph will follow the sg, To take the alk up, without it effecting the Ph, you need both sodium biocarbinate, and sodium carbonate,[ the latter being baked biocarbinate], one slightly raises Ph[ carbonate] and one slightly lowers it[...
  11. M

    high nitrites

    Hi, Stop panicking, Have patience, let it cycle, the time it takes dependes on many things, [which if you knew you wouldn't be asking ] the trick is patience and pass your time reading all the books you can get hold of. Regards.
  12. M

    spikes

    Hi, Spot on, Patience, no water changes until the cycle ends and nitrite at zero. Then water change to bring down your nitrates. It depends on rock qauntity, substrate, amount of ammonia being created, all sorts of things, but it's nature and you cannot beat or interupt it. Regards.
  13. M

    water testing?

    Hi, Iff you have corals in your tank, you need to maintain Cal & Mag, with an eye on alk [kh] and sg. Ph will follow sg, Your mag will reduce very slowly [ maybe 100ppm over 1-2mth] Your Cal will reduce as per the amount of cal using absorbitants you have in the tank. Example [ 200ltr tank...
  14. M

    6 days of working w/ATO water

    Hi, I think several things at once are happening. Give yourself 5-6 days and try this... Black your tank out [ wrap it in a binliner bag/s ] Only do top up's with RO water on it's own, With the lights off, the slight drop in temp will increase the oxygen content, all in all you will see an...
  15. M

    water change wait time thingy

    Hi, Your spot on, I couldn't agree more. With RO water, [at zero TDS] your down to basicaly the qaulity of your salt. You should start of as you intend to finnish. All the othere problems with water qaulity come from your own grasp of understanding how to successfully run your tank. But iff you...
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