My marine experience

[KahluaZzZ]

well do your first batch, then check ph and salinity. Ok you have a 55g too. Today i lost half a gallon of water that needs to be replaced. Replaced with non salted water and the buffer. I put 1 teaspoon of the buffer to set my ph. I do it when the lights are off because there is a light ph drop during the night.
The buffer should be dissolved in your replacement water before you add it to the tank. I badly burned a coral last year with a bad mix.

 

[KahluaZzZ]

Cute avatar btw. It was time you got a new one.
.

Yep almost 2 years with the sniper kitten

 

[Joe Fish]

My PH in my freshwater tank is about 8.4 or so. Does that mean I shouldn't need to add the buffer because my water is still fairly high?

 

[Lorna]

It isn't the ph in your tap water that is the biggest concern it is phosphates which will cause horrendous algae blooms later on. You should go and buy ro/di water at the local grocery etc or water place like Culligan. You can buy the jugs and return them empty for credit after. (I had to get 15 when I filled my 75) mix the initial batch directly in your tank....after that water changes for curing purposes will be driven by the ammonia rates. Check daily for ammonia and change water to keep it down to reduce more die off.......when everthing ammonia, nitrites and nitrates are zero you are cycled and ready for animal life......You should go down to Walmart and buy some large plastic tubs that you can mix water in and store it. I have a 15 gallon which works great for mixing water for my 75, my 20 I just use a 5 g bucket and do that once a week. The 75 is about once every 3 weeks.....as I have a good skimmer on that....

 

[Joe Fish]

How do you get that mixed SW back into your tank? Since my tank is going to be higher than the mixing tub. I have a tub I can use for mixing. I bought it for wine making then realized I couldn't use it. I also have 3, 5 gallon buckets. I think I could get my hands on a 10gallon, would that help?

 

[Joe Fish]

This is probably a dumb question, but could I use a britta filter thing?

 

[kevin4052002]

You can use a 10 gallon if you want....mind you, that is more than 85lbs of water that you will have to coordinate into your tank, unless you siphon

 

[Joe Fish]

I just need to know how to siphon going up...

 

[dbacksrat]

To get the water to go up a siphon will not work. You will need a pump or powerhead.

 

[KahluaZzZ]

damn gravity

 

[Joe Fish]

So there is no magical way to do that, but lift the buckets up?

 

[dbacksrat]

If you can figure it out then come back and tell us

 

[Lorna]

lol, yeah let me in on the secret too. Personally I lift buckets of 3 g many times over when I do my water changes.....helps to eliminate those saggy underarms that happen with age. A powerhead would work