I may of just really screwed up

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SteveD

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Apr 1, 2004
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Hello,
My tank is currently cycling with no fish in it. My ph was low at 7.8 so I added this stuff called PH up. It looked funny in the tank, so I re read the package and it said for fresh water only. Did I fry my live rock or ruin my cycle? I am so pissed I did'nt read closer!
 
Nope, it won't kill anything. Depending on the buffer they use, though, you may have just added a bunch of phosphate to the tank. Does it say what's in it?

What do you mean it looked funny? Did it get cloudy.

Marine buffers are usually carbonate based.
 
don't know what to do in this situation, i've never added freshwater stuff to a saltwater tank. I would just do some water changes. Surely Mogurnda or Oriongirl can advise you better.
 
too much info...

Sounds like it precipitated something, probably calcium. How much did you add, and how do the parameters look now?
 
Ammonia is .5
nitrite 3.0
AK 300 This concerns me a bit
PH 8.0
Nitrates 20

I also added some stuff called cycle. It is said to contain nitrifying bacteria, any good?
 
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I think your alkalinity converts to about 6 meq/L. Rather high. NOt really surprising if you just put a bunch of base into the tank. My guess is that your Ca would be low if you test it.

The patient will be fine. Better to do the experiment on a cycling tank than when it's full of precious livestock.

Ben's advice is probably the best. Do a few extra water changes, and the chemistry will probably move toward normal.
 
Thanks I feel better now! Do you think my ammonia is a little low for a tank cycling on the 4 to 5th day? Should I add some shrimp or hosehold ammonia?
 
just throw in a couple of cocktail shrimp from your local deli and they'll do the trick for you. As to frying your live rock the cycle is going to do that anyway so I wouldn't worry too much about my ph until the cycle is done with. All you have to do is add a little more live rock if want some of the neat inverts it kills off.
hth
chris
 
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