Newcomer from AZ

M

M&CReef

New Member
Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to say hi! We are very new to this whole thing, so please forgive any redundancy that may occur.

We are just starting a 24g Nano and are still trying to get the salinity right. Considering we are in a warmer climate we're curious about everything. We have purchased one book to assist. When the average tank temp is 80 degrees F. We've noticed it goes up to 81 and down to 79 at night. Our question is... with the temperature being at this level what should the salinity really be?

Michelle and Chris :gcool
 
J

Jennie

New Member
Try to aim for around 1.025 (ish). 80 is a good temp, and a degree -/+ is fine, sometimes you might see it rise a little higher or drop a little lower, just something that you learn to keep an eye on.

:welcome to Nanotank!
 
EDGRAY

EDGRAY

New Member
:welcome and well even at 82F they will be fine if you can you should try putting the heater in a timer and turn it off during the day and at night on at 78F, that might work, ohh yeah if is too hot leave the feeding door open an put a fan blowing the water a stand fan or a clip on really cheap! HTH..

Salinity will be fine between 1.020 to 1.030 but i guess we all keep it around .024-.027!
 
M

M&CReef

New Member
Jennie said:
Try to aim for around 1.025 (ish). 80 is a good temp, and a degree -/+ is fine, sometimes you might see it rise a little higher or drop a little lower, just something that you learn to keep an eye on.

:welcome to Nanotank!
Click to expand...
Jennie,

Thanks. I keep checking with my hydrometer and at last check it was 1.027.

I just want to get it right before I continue. I was initially told to keep it within the red zone on the hydrometer which is between 1.020 and 1.024.

Thanks again,
Michelle :alice
 
M

M&CReef

New Member
EDGRAY said:
:welcome and well even at 82F they will be fine if you can you should try putting the heater in a timer and turn it off during the day and at night on at 78F, that might work, ohh yeah if is too hot leave the feeding door open an put a fan blowing the water a stand fan or a clip on really cheap! HTH..

Salinity will be fine between 1.020 to 1.030 but i guess we all keep it around .024-.027!
Click to expand...
ED,

Thanks for the info. BTW congrats on the win last month!!
I keep my house temp at 78 so I think that's why my tank temp has been around 79-81. I don't have a heater, but you think I should get one? The shop told me if anything I'd probably need a chiller.

Michelle
 
M

M&CReef

New Member
TimSchmidt said:
:welcome

I guess you got your answer, just wanted to say hi!
Click to expand...
Hi Tim,

Thanks for giving me the welcome.

Hopefully, I can get some great advice here.

Michelle :blob
 
M

M&CReef

New Member
Jennie said:
M&CReef said:
TimSchmidt said:
:welcome

I guess you got your answer, just wanted to say hi!
Click to expand...
Hi Tim,

Thanks for giving me the welcome.

Hopefully, I can get some great advice here.

Michelle :blob
Click to expand...
Of course you will

:lol3:
Click to expand...

Jennie,

Do you think I need a heater? I was informed that I may need a chiller instead of a heater.

With my temp being between 79 & 81 is the salinity at 1.027 ok?

Michelle :thanks
 
R

reefman23

New Member
IMO I think you should ALWAYS have a heater, even if you need a chiller on the tank. temps can drop, especially at night, and the only way to avoid big temp swings is to have a heater.

1.027 is a little high, but as long as it is consistantly 1.027 then you will be fine. It becomes a problem when it goes to the extremes (below 1.020 or above 1.028) or when there are big swings in the salinity over a short period.

BTW, WELCOME to nanotank.com!

also btw, just a heads up... if you are referring to your salt levels in the decimal measurent (i.e. 1.027), that is the Specific Gravity or SG. Salinity is measured as a whole number, usually right around 30-35.

Jesse

Jesse
 
J

Jennie

New Member
Michelle, I'll second Jesse on always needing a heater. Its better to have it on hand, than need it and one not be available to you.
 
M

M&CReef

New Member
Thanks for the advice.
I guess I'll go get a heater. I'd rather be safe than sorry.
I know that once I get my levels SG levels right I'll want to get some LR. After I add them to the tank, it's my understanding the next step would be to add some snails and hermit crabs. Does this sound right? Also, do I add the snails right away or do I wait a while until after the LR have been in awhile?

Michelle :roll:
 
J

Jennie

New Member
When you get your SG leveled out, then yes add your live rock, but hold off on anything else until your tank cycles out. Have you purchased your test kits yet?
 
EDGRAY

EDGRAY

New Member
Just a thing that wasnt mentioned to you Michelle the HYDROMETER dont tend to be accurate so i should say get a REFRACTOMETER or ask your LFS to test your SG with a refractometer so you know were really is your SG cause i depended on the Hydro for a while and always at around .024 and when i got y Refractometer SG was at .020 so dont trust them!

EDDY
 
TimSchmidt

TimSchmidt

New Member
M&CReef said:
I guess I'll go get a heater.
Michelle :roll:
Click to expand...
Try to avoid glass heaters. They are not bad, there is just a chance of a piece of LR or something breaking it and then you will have a problem. I like the stealth heaters. Decent price, plastic, and surpisingly acurate, plus there are no little LEDs in them to draw the eye to heater.
 
M

M&CReef

New Member
Jennie said:
When you get your SG leveled out, then yes add your live rock, but hold off on anything else until your tank cycles out. Have you purchased your test kits yet?
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Jennie,
I have my test kits. I know you said to let things cycle after I put the LR in, but how long does that usually take? Is it after I test and everything is fine? Does it take a few days or a few weeks? :eusthink
 
M

M&CReef

New Member
TimSchmidt said:
Few weeks. Some don't even run lights during this time (to help with algae blooms).
Click to expand...
Thanks Tim!!

It's my understanding that there is good and bad algae, right? But once algae starts isn't that a good time to start with cleaners? (snails, crabs, etc.) How can I tell what is good and what is bad?

Michelle :confused3:
 
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