|
|
|
FTC Disclosure: Fishpondinfo contains affiliate links, and, if you click on such a link and make a purchase,
and I meet their minimal requirements, then I will be compensated.
My Nano Reefs Part Twenty - 3/14 to 10/14
Last Updated: 11/2/14
On 3/1/14, I did the usual. I calibrated the pH meter with fresh calibration solutions (pH 7.0 and
4.0 and then back in the 7.0, otherwise it takes forever to go back up in a sample) and then read
the three water samples. To show you how fickle a pH meter is, when I tested the samples in the
order below, my first readings were 7.4, 7.7, and 8.1. I then went back to the two tank waters
and got 8.3 and 8.2. I think it takes time for the pH meter to get used to the high ion content in
salt water before it gives better readings.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.6 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.3
6 Gallon Tank: 76.1 degrees F, 1.026 SG, pH 8.2
Make up water: 73.8 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.1
On 3/8/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 78.2 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.0
6 Gallon Tank: 74.6 degrees F, 1.0255 SG, pH 8.0
Make up water: 74.0 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.1
On 3/15/14, I did the usual. All is well. Both peppermint shrimp are alive, and the one is still
carrying tons of well-developed eggs.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 78.7 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.0
6 Gallon Tank: 76.4 degrees F, 1.026 SG, pH 8.0
Make up water: 74.0 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.1
On 3/22/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.7 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.1
6 Gallon Tank: 75.6 degrees F, 1.026 SG, pH 8.0
Make up water: 74.1 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.3
On 3/29/14, I did the usual. I calibrated the pH meter. The first time after that that I tested the
pH of the 12 and 6 gallon tanks, I only got 7.2 and 7.5! I repeated after the make-up water and
got the numbers below.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 78.0 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.2
6 Gallon Tank: 75.0 degrees F, 1.0255 SG, pH 8.1
Make up water: 74.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.0
On 4/5/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.0
6 Gallon Tank: 75.9 degrees F, 1.026 SG, pH 8.0
Make up water: 73.8 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.2
On 4/12/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 78.8 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.0
6 Gallon Tank: 75.6 degrees F, 1.0255 SG, pH 8.0
Make up water: 73.8 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.2
On 4/19/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.7 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.0
6 Gallon Tank: 76.3 degrees F, 1.0255 SG, pH 8.0
Make up water: 73.7 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.2
On 4/26/14, I did the usual. I calibrated the pH meter. The results a first run through after that
were 7.8, 7.8, and 8.1 for the pH. I went again and got the results below. There always seems to
be a lag after calibration. I changed the lamp in the 6 gallon tank. I have to find time to change
the two lamps in the 12 gallon tank and one of the fans. Both need changing but I've only got
one spare. They make a lot of noise and are probably dirty.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.6 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.3
6 Gallon Tank: 76.2 degrees F, 1.0255 SG, pH 8.3
Make up water: 74.1 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.2
On 5/3/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 80.2 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.9
6 Gallon Tank: 75.8 degrees F, 1.026 SG, pH 8.0
Make up water: 73.9 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.1
On 5/8/14, I operated on the hood for the 12 gallon nano reef. I removed dozens of screws to
take it
entirely apart. I changed the two main fluorescent lamps, the two nightlights, and both fans
which had
been rattling a lot. I cleaned out the dust. I tested all the lights and fans before I put it back
together.
Once it was back together, the main lights and fans were fine but the night lights stopped
working! I ran a
separate extension cord directly to them in case there was something wrong with the other
extension cord,
timer, or outlet. Nothing. So much time and money for nothing. The other nightlight is in the
mail (they
only sent me one when I ordered two). One day, I'll put it in the 6 gallon, and I bet the same
thing happens.
On 5/10/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 81.1 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.9
6 Gallon Tank: 78.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.0
Make up water: 74.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.1
On 5/17/14, I did the usual. Since I was running 20 minutes ahead of time (very rare), I decided
that I had time to install the replacement LED nightlights in the 6 gallon nano reef. It ended up
taking 40 minutes! I got it all apart and found that the last time I replaced them, I had to have
my father splice and solder the two ends that have little clamp-things on them. There is a
receptacle for them in the 12 gallon hood but not the 6 gallon. My father can no longer do
anything so I considered throwing in the towel but went ahead with making my first splice. I
couldn't find the tool he used to pull the plastic off so I just did a partial cut (after cutting the
ends off) and managed to reveal enough wire on both ends. I've never used the solder iron so I
just twisted the two wires together and put electrical tape on them. I did a test, and it worked! I
put the entire thing back together, and realized that despite having removed and added tiny cable
ties to pull the wires away from the fans, the wires prevented one of the fans from running. So, I
had to take it all apart again. I did a test, and the lights weren't working either. The connection
where they plug in has got to be the worst design ever for a plug. One end has two tiny pieces of
metal. The other end is plastic with two tiny holes in it. The metal, which bends very easily, has
to go in the holes. Once in there, there's really nothing holding it all in place which is probably
why the original hood had all those connections stuck in place with melted plastic. Anyway, I
finally got it done, and it works! The next time I find some time, I will take the 12 gallon hood
apart again. It's probably the same connection that is making it so it doesn't work.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 79.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.0
6 Gallon Tank: 75.9 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.0
Make up water: 74.4 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.1
On 5/24/14, I did the usual. I calibrated the pH meter and let is sit in the make-up water for a
while before doing the readings. After I was done cleaning the 12 gallon nano reef, the auxiliary
pump was not putting out any water. I opened it, and the impeller was just spinning. I went to
my collection of Maxi-jets, and I had 600 and 1200 gph. For some reason, I thought that pump
was a 1200 but, when I hooked that up, water was going all over; it was way too much. So, I had
to assemble a 600 gph pump and did twice the work to get things back to normal. Now, in front
of my computer, I can see that it was indeed a 600 gph, and the one in the main filter is 900 gph.
I hope that if I replace it with the 1200 gph one day, it will work. I'd better buy a 900 gph back
up just in case. The 6 gallon tank uses a 600 gph but it could stand a little more umph.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 79.0 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.0
6 Gallon Tank: 78.0 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.0
Make up water: 74.4 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.0
On 5/31/14, I did the usual. I decided I was going to fix the moonlights in the 12 gallon tank.
I took the lid apart and found that the LED line wasn't even plugged in. It had fallen apart
sometime after I put it together before. "Great," I thought, "easy fix." Well, no. I tried plugging
it in about 50 times in 10 different ways with the power cord connected and on after first trying
without the power on. I verified that the other end of the connections worked first by plugging
the cord in to the 6 gallon lights which worked. After almost half an hour, I gave up, never to try
this again. An hour of time and ~$40 was enough waste. The tank will be in the dark every
night.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 81.1 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.8
6 Gallon Tank: 77.8 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.9
Make up water: 74.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.1
On 6/7/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 82.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.8
6 Gallon Tank: 78.4 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.9
Make up water: 75.0 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.1
On 6/14/14, I did the usual. When I put the blue algae scrub brush in the 12 gallon tank to
remove algae, Nemo attacks it violently. This time, he ended up with a piece stuck in his mouth
which was noticeably bothering him. I got a net and scooped him up. He put up a big fight. By
the time I saw his mouth, the piece stuck in his mouth was gone.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 82.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.9
6 Gallon Tank: 78.8 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.9
Make up water: 74.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.0
On 6/21/14, I did the usual. I calibrated the pH meter. Every time I do that, the readings are
phooey so I have to play with the meter. I don't trust these results.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 82.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.2
6 Gallon Tank: 77.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.4
Make up water: 74.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.9
On 6/28/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 83.0 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.8
6 Gallon Tank: 79.1 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.9
Make up water: 74.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.0
On 7/5/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 82.8 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.7
6 Gallon Tank: 78.6 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.8
Make up water: 74.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.9
On 7/12/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 82.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.7
6 Gallon Tank: 78.5 degrees F, 1.0255 SG, pH 7.7
Make up water: 74.1 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.9
On 7/19/14, I did the usual. I calibrated the pH meter.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 82.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.8
6 Gallon Tank: 78.0 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.9
Make up water: 74.8 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.8
On 7/26/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 83.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.6
6 Gallon Tank: 78.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.6
Make up water: 74.6 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.7
On 8/2/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 83.0 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.6
6 Gallon Tank: 78.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.7
Make up water: 74.9 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.7
On 8/9/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 82.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.8
6 Gallon Tank: 78.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.8
Make up water: 74.7 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.8
On 8/16/14, I did the usual. I calibrated the pH meter.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 83.0 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.8
6 Gallon Tank: 78.1 degrees F, 1.0255 SG, pH 7.8
Make up water: 74.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.8
On 8/23/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 82.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.6
6 Gallon Tank: 79.2 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.6
Make up water: 79.2 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.7
On 8/30/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 82.6 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.5
6 Gallon Tank: 79.1 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.6
Make up water: 74.2 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.5
On 9/6/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 83.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.5
6 Gallon Tank: 79.2 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.6
Make up water: 74.9 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.6
On 9/13/14, I did the usual. I calibrated the pH meter.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 82.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.9
6 Gallon Tank: 79.2 degrees F, 1.0255 SG, pH 8.0
Make up water: 74.6 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.8
On 9/20/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 83.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.5
6 Gallon Tank: 79.2 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.5
Make up water: 74.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.5
On 9/27/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 82.1 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.4
6 Gallon Tank: 79.0 degrees F, 1.0255 SG, pH 7.5
Make up water: 74.8 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.5
On 10/4/14, I did the usual.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 82.7 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.3
6 Gallon Tank: 78.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.4
Make up water: 74.2 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.5
On 10/11/14, I did the usual. I calibrated the pH meter. I knew the first readings would be erroneous as they have
in the past. I think the saltwater throws the pH meter for a loop at first. See
how much different the readings were below (the first readings are in parethesis with later readings after a 20 minute
soak of the pH probe in the make-up water)
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 79.0 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.2 (5.6 at first)
6 Gallon Tank: 75.7 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.2 (6.0 at first)
Make up water: 73.8 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.0 (6.3 at first)
On 10/18/14, I did the usual. The pH meter is so fickle that I read all the water samples twice; the first time, I got 6.8, 6.9, and 6.9!
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 80.8 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.5
6 Gallon Tank: 77.4 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.5
Make up water: 79.7 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.6
On 10/25/14, I did the usual. The first go through with the pH meter, I got 6.7, 6.8, and 6.8. When I
repeated, I got 7.3, 7.4, and 7.3. I think the meter is nearing the end of its life.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 78.8 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.3
6 Gallon Tank: 74.7 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.4
Make up water: 74.0 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.3
On 10/31/14, I did the usual. The first go through with the pH meter, I got 6.6, 6.8, and 6.9. When I
repeated, I got 7.4, 7.4, and 7.3.
The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.6 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.4
6 Gallon Tank: 74.6 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.4
Make up water: 73.4 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.3
Continue to the next page
Go to the marine index
Go the marine master index
