New 72 gallon bowfront,FOWLR.

$100 is about right for the aquac and from what I read its a good bang for the buck skimmer. I don't know much about the mag pumps but they seem to have a good rep.

I know what you mean about the neon algae. I have a bright orange algae that I can only see when the lights hit it just right. Sounds like the tank is going well. Don't be surprised if you see another diatom bloom here and there. They won't be that bad but its common over the first 6-months to year. Look forward to pics.
 
Lookin good.
 
just took some pictures.. will update in a little while

here's a question i'd love a QUICK response to:
I'm ordering a bunch of stuff online from petmountain.com (i found to be the best as far as prices)
What test kit or tests should i order?
I already have the basics (ammo, nitrite, nitrate, pH...) But i plan on doing some corals. So what do i need to test for? Also, any suppliments i should buy now?

Thanks!
 
Alkalinity and Calcium are the 2 most important for corals. Secondary but still important would be Magnesium and Phosphate. Hanna just came out with a new Phosphate meter for $40.00!!! I paid over $200 for mine a few months ago! Argh!

Pre-Order so far..
Phosphate Meter (Must have IMO!)

Edit: Oh, and what to buy for supplements, a 2 part like B-Ionic, Kent A/B, etc.
 
Well, it claims to have the same accuracy and precision that the full priced ones have. I'll be curious to see if they stay within the specified range compared to the normal photometers. If they are, it'd be worth every penny.
 
^ guess whos buying it lol
 
Tested my water earlier and confused as to why my pH has dropped to about 7.8 ?

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5
Salinity - 1.023
pH has been consistently 8.2 for the passed month and a half since the tanks been set
up.

Any ideas?
 
Are you measuring pH at the same time each day? The pH fluctuates during the day as organisms in the tank respire, giving off carbon dioxide, which lowers pH. Keep in mind that coral zooxanthellae, as well as algae, use carbon dioxide in the presence of light, producing oxygen (photosynthesis). So pH will rise as the day goes on and begin to fall once the lights are off.

Also are you running that skimmer yet? Although it will oxygenate the water a bit, a skimmer can add carbon dioxide to the water through air excahnge with the air inside your home. This might be more of an issue if your tank is located in a confined space. Try testing it in the morning, late evening (before the lights go out) and a couple of hours after the lights go out for a couple of days and see if the swing stays consistent. If the swing is 0.2 or less, I personally would not worry about it.

One way to stabalize pH is a refugium that is set on an alternate light cycle from your display tank. This allows photosythesis to occur 24/7. There are a number of HOB fuges or you can DIY using a HOB filter (recommend Aquaclear 110).
 
Actually that could make sense. I've been testing every or every other night after the lights have been on all day. Today i tested in the morning after the lights had been out for about 10 hours. I will test again tonight to see if its back up to 8.2 or what's going on with it.

Didn't get the skimmer yet. Still haven't decided if i should definitely buy one after reading a bunch of articles about them.

Any good links to a HOB fuge or a DIY ?
 
Yup, that is your answer. pH is always the lowest in the morning before the lights come on and the highest at the end of the day right at lights out. Just the way it works. The ideal thing to do is to get a automated doser that will slowly dose Alkalinity suppliment overnight so the pH doesn't drop as much... something I still need to do myself.. just waiting on Bubble Magus to release their dosers in the states. Best price I have seen for one.

As for the skimmer.. ya, I am seriously contemplating building an Algae scrubber myself after reading all the positives on them, especially from Amphiprion.
 
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