New Tank Many Problems. NEED HELP !!

[mogurnda]

There are a few species of crabs that will be fine with a reef, but it's usually better to pull them out. Because their larvae will not survive in the tank, there's not much worry of them spreading.

Your salt mix should be buffered to get the right pH. There could be several problems:
-organic acids release by rotting material are neutralizing the carbonate in the water
-you have high CO2 from too little circulation or too much CO2 in the room air, which is becoming carbonic acid
-your salt mix is not well buffered.

If you take a sample of water from the tank and aerate it strongly for half an hour or so, and the pH goes up, you have CO2 problems. That can be helped by boosting the circulation.

If your alkalinity measures low (got a test kit yet?), then the buffer is being run down by acid. If your salt mix is decent, then a few heavy water changes should bring things back in line.

 

[jacobus]

i got my pH test kit quite a while ago ... everytime i raise the ph .. it drops again the next day .. im not putting my 2500 L/hr return pump to full capacity cause it messes up the sand bed should i put it up ? and is that pump enough ? i guess i'll try both methods .. i have a question . if all the is happening to my tank.. is the nitro cycling still going on ? or do i have to start from square one when everything is stable?

 

[caseykell21]

I had that problem

Araganite helped but not much. I use kent ph buffer now and mine stays at 8.3.
Casey

 

[Mahlhavoc]

Instead of adding damsels that can die and cost a few $$, try just feeding your invisable fishes, this will help you cycle alot cheaper and a bit safer for fish. Just pretend you have 3 fish your feeding.

 

[mysis]

There are a few species of crabs that will be fine with a reef, but it's usually better to pull them out. Because their larvae will not survive in the tank, there's not much worry of them spreading.

Actually no crab should be considered reef safe, if there is such a crab that is, please tell me the name of it, also i had some sand crabs and a black one, the black one was nipping at some zoanthis, and the sand crabs (pale colour) bred and made about 40 or so others, also i did take oneout that was carrying eggs, my guess is that i missed one, and it laid it's eggs.

 

[Blinky]

Actually no crab should be considered reef safe, if there is such a crab that is, please tell me the name of it

Porcelain crabs are completely reef safe, and sometimes arrive as LR hitchhikers.

 

[jacobus]

umm ... so how will i know its ok to put in my fish from the old tank ?

 

[jacobus]

ok. so it has been a few days... my pH is still fluctuating. ive increased the circulation and added air bubbles too. its still fluctuating. ive been running around a few lfs to ask and one told me that this happens and i would just have to wait till the thing stablises and meanwhile keep adding kalkwasser. i was also told that i had insufficient live rock. i just added in more rock.. and now my tank looks much better .. but still gotta wait.. anymore tips ?

 

[mysis]

Porcelain crabs are completely reef safe, and sometimes arrive as LR hitchhikers.

They are not true crabs

 

[Mahlhavoc]

Pom Pom crab, emerald crab, many various hermits, Acropora crab, sea cucumber crab, nudibranch crabs, tube anenome crab, common shore crab, and a few pea crabs that live with clams and mussels. Theres a few that are reef safe that havent been identified yet also.