Started Mini Bow 2.5 Pico Reef!

[severum mama]

LOL, I won't worry too much about the perils of the pico when I start my 90 gal reef! It's almost a sin to have so much LR and no 90!

 

[jojo22]

what do you mean ALMOST????

 

[severum mama]

LOL! It's insane to me that I can't afford the 90 right now. But it will happen eventually, and it will be beyond sweet when it does.

 

[Germanman]

looks great!

 

[severum mama]

Great news- I got a refractometer today! No new pics to post, as it looks exactly the same as yesterday.

I tested the water again, after adding another pinch of flake food.
Ammonia= .25 ppm
pH= 8.1-8.2 (again, so hard to tell with the color card)
Nitrite= 0 ppm
Nitrate= 20 ppm
temp= 77
SG= 1.024

I topped up the tank today with distilled water. After the cycle finishes, I'll start doing pwc's with distilled water. I'm sure the tap water is causing the nitrate reading, thus the switch.

On another note- Oceanic brand salt is awesome. I only had experience (from work) with IO and Tropic Marin (which is clearly better than IO). I was really impressed with the Oceanic because it dissolves so quickly, and you don't end up with that grainy stuff at the bottom of the bucket like with IO.

 

[jojo22]

I prefer reef crystals, I switch over from oceanic and my corals seem happier not, but I have no way to prove they are. Don't want to start the great debate just my thought.

 

[severum mama]

Never used reef crystals. Just an observation vs. IO.

 

[Germanman]

i will swear buy reef crystals and i have tried just about every brand out there.

 

[severum mama]

LOL, I so didn't mean to start this debate!

I didn't make it to my computer yesterday, but here are my test results:
Ammonia= .25 ppm
Nitrite= 0 ppm
Nitrate= 20 ppm
pH= 8.3
SG= 1.024

 

[H3D]

Great pics! Keep them coming.