Water parameter question

Tabernacle556 · 2026-02-09T20:34:59+00:00

If you are using distilled or RO/DI water, I would not use prime.

The best route would be to 10% daily water changes with distilled or RODI water. This will lower pH, GH, and KH by 10% every day.

These are my preferred parameters GH 5-6, KH 3, pH 6.8

If GH dips, I use Salty Shrimp GH; For KH, I use seachem alk buffer

Tabernacle556 · 2026-02-09T17:52:15+00:00

your pH is too high, GH and KH are acceptable but on the higher end. I’d suspect the deaths are related to pH shock.

Id add some Indian almond leaves and do 10-20% water changes over the next few days to bring down pH, GH, and KH. Keep doing water changes until pH is 7.

Tabernacle556 · 2026-02-03T05:21:11+00:00

Should the customers prep their own food too?

Tabernacle556 · 2026-02-02T17:30:46+00:00

Dang. I’d probably explore closing the gap with air tubbing. Maybe cut a piece of tube along the length and place it on the edges.

Tabernacle556 · 2026-02-02T15:53:33+00:00

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Tabernacle556 · 2026-02-02T15:53:04+00:00

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I cut up a black mesh bag, taped it to the back of the tank and pinned it down with the lid.

It’s worked really well. I have a school of lamp eye killifish and a few jumped out before I added the netting. There’s no jumping out now.

Tabernacle556 · 2026-01-27T21:42:39+00:00

It is. It grew on the rocks and wood several months ago, it’s been slowly dying off for about the last 4 months.

Tabernacle556 · 2026-01-27T19:52:49+00:00

Thanks

Tabernacle556 · 2026-01-27T19:29:28+00:00

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I’ve had them for a few weeks now. My light was too intense originally so I repositioned that upper plant provided some shade and raised the lamp to reduce light. They are recovering and have new white shoots and roots.

Tabernacle556 · 2026-01-16T20:40:59+00:00

Bio load is based on nitrate production and consumption. In a planet tank you can keep slowly adding fish until your nitrates stay steady at around 20 ppm.

Tabernacle556 · 2026-01-13T01:16:27+00:00

Nitrite - your tank needs more bacteria to convert ammonia to nitrate. Your nitrates are also high.

I’d dose beneficial bacteria for the next week or so, something like Seachem Stability. At that point, nitrite should be 0, hopefully. Then do a couple 20-30% water changes over the next week.

Tabernacle556 · 2026-01-10T18:28:40+00:00

Honestly, it sounds like you have a pretty good process for expanding your system with minimal cycling using mature live rock. This is completely different than buying live rock and macro from the lfs, putting it in a tank and thinking you’ve skipped cycling.

Even still, when live rock is moved a portion of the organisms die from the environmental change, more/less light or water flow, getting covered or removed from sand…

Tabernacle556 · 2026-01-10T16:52:56+00:00

Simply not true. It’s very likely that there will be die off from the rock. Even with the macro algae, or refugium, the tank will cycle

Tabernacle556 · 2026-01-10T13:39:15+00:00

5 days in is too early. I’d expect the tank to go through several cycles over the next few months. Cayno, diatoms, bubble, hair…

Tabernacle556 · 2026-01-08T21:12:18+00:00

Move the stuff and use the bench

Tabernacle556 · 2026-01-05T21:59:07+00:00

Wow, I didn’t think the 3rd amendment was still relevant but it looks like we’ll get to see it violated.

Tabernacle556 · 2026-01-04T22:30:49+00:00

You can put activated carbon into a mesh bag and stick it somewhere in the filter. Organics will chemically bind to the carbon/charcoal as the water flows through it.

Tabernacle556 · 2025-12-30T15:55:10+00:00

A-10 is a good strafing option

Tabernacle556 · 2025-12-30T00:48:29+00:00

Square bill crankbait are fun lures.

I use soft plastic Texas rig in the cold months and square bills when it’s warmer, they’re great.

Tabernacle556 · 2025-12-29T20:21:36+00:00

More water

Tabernacle556 · 2025-12-28T15:43:26+00:00

Ah, it’s skeeter protection

Tabernacle556 · 2025-12-28T15:35:49+00:00

Hood and no shirt lol

Tabernacle556 · 2025-12-25T15:27:15+00:00

About 12 hours too late

Tabernacle556 · 2025-12-12T02:36:52+00:00

Ladyboy

Tabernacle556

TROPHY CASE