NutriWater

[NavyNano212]

Hello everyone...
New to the Reef...almost two years with my 24G nano. I have learned much, some at an unfortunate high price. I am looking for any advice on how to keep my corals alive...more on that later.

My first question. I use nutriwater from naturesocean. Does anyone else and if so what do you think of it. I do not have the space for RO set up or storage...this seemed like a great product recommended to me by the guys at NWA on 38th street. However, I continue to lose corals. I have tons of coraline, grows everywhere. Little white feathers sprout up everywhere. I have lost a nice colony of green polyps, blue mushrooms, and now my awesome leather coral is turning white. It is frustrating. Thoughts or comments are welcomed! Thanks.

http://www.naturesocean.com/nutri_sea_water.htm

 

[NYreefNoob]

are you topping the tank off with this ? would be first question. if so i would check your salinity, can you use this for water changes yes.

 

[Killerdrgn]

Whats your lighting system? And what are your water parameters?

 

[inkblue]

 

[DonCisco]

NavyNano
I have had a 12G nano, for about 2 yrs also. I used to use the ready made water, but the problem with only using that is that if you use that water to make up for evaporation.... then you are rising your salinity and ion concentration in your tank. Which is BAD. The only thing you can use to make up for evaporation is water, RODI is the best, and in most cases the only thing you can use.
Check your water parameters, especially salinity, you might find that your salinity is really high, as you replace evaporate with ready made water, you increase the concentration of minerals, salt, etc. Remember that what evaporates is water vapor.... which is pure water. The salt, calcium, etc... stays in the tank.
I would run a full battery of tests, salinity, hardness, calcium, nitratates, nitrities, phosphates, etc.
Compare your readings with what the acceptable levels and try to adjust accordingly.
Another source of pain for us nano ppl is the lighting. I had the standard light on the cover of the nanotank. I ended up putting an HDI 150W and everything is thriving. So much so, that every couple of months I have to get rid of xenias, kenia trees, and anthellias. (they became a nuisance) Right now I have about 20 different kinds of corals in my nano, and all I do is fill up the tank with RODI water and do a 25% water change once every other month. I even have a 1 1/2 old red electric scallop

Best of luck and let me know how it turns out.

Francisco

 

[NavyNano212]

Thanks!

Thanks for the input everyone...
To answer a few questions: I do NOT top off the water with the Nutriwater, I have been using distilled water, but have discovered a filtered water which has even less particulate matter than distilled. It's called Zero water. It tests better than RO or DW. However, usually I use DW.
Fransisco, I like the idea of switching to the different lighting. I have wondered about that. While the nano is great for people who have little space, I feel it does have limitations. I will look into this, thanks!

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Navy I have used Natures Ocean water in the past with no adverse effects. I mostly use Catalina water from petco it is cheaper and you get 5 gallons instead of 4 for your money. I top off with distilled water as well. First things first when doing a water change I suggest testing the salinity of the seawater to make sure it is the right SG and after that adjust with distilled water accordingly. I change 5 gallons every 2 weeks, every other month or so I do 5 gallons every 3 weeks and dose mg, alk, and cal as needed which isn't that often.

I have the AP 24 as well and have upgraded the lighting to the 250w sunpod and love it. To compensate for the temp increase I have a reefkeeper 2 on my tank set to turn a fan on when the temp gets too high to lower the temp of the tank gradually. Also the RK2 turns off the lighting if the temp gets too high and keeps the fan on until temp drops to an acceptable range. If you have any more Q's feel free to ask me, I'm always around to lend a helping hand.

Oh and if you need to click on my tank thread in my signature for more info as well.

 

[NavyNano212]

DonCisco,

Can I purchase just the 150W bulbs or do I have to replace the entire canopy on the Nano?

 

[NavyNano212]

Some asked the type of lighting the Nano uses...

24 gallon Nano Cube Deluxe
36W Combo (10,000?K/Blue)

10,000?K Daylight - A crisp, ice blue daylight spectrum. Replicates sunlight at deeper ocean environments with stronger emissions in the blue spectrum. The best lamp for the well being of all photosynthetic corals and invertebrates.

The website also states(and this might have something to do with my corals dying), that the lights should be replaced every 14-16 months and they decline with age...mine are almost 24 months old! They are fluorescent, not the HDI(halide I believe). But the lighting could not explain why Leather(my leather coral) is turning white. My cal is at about 400-450.

Thanks!

 

[DonCisco]

You will need to use the sunpod lighthing system. The hood on the nanos is not going to stand to the heat of an HDI bulb.

 

[NYreefNoob]

are you topping the tank off with this ? would be first question. if so i would check your salinity, can you use this for water changes yes.

 

[danny]

nutri water

Navy I tried the nutri water & had an hair algae bloom.
I tried the Pecto brand - catalina seawater& I have no problems but as the box states check salinity it was high.

 

[NavyNano212]

You will need to use the sunpod lighthing system. The hood on the nanos is not going to stand to the heat of an HDI bulb.

So what are you using in your 12G nano? Did you replace the hood or just the bulbs? I am a bit confused now. You can purchase the HDI lighting for inside your hood, or so it says on Drs Foster & Smith. As far as the heat, the hood has two fans and I have a great chiller(made for nanos, uses an actual compressor, not heat exchange~), so I should be good there...am I missing the advice?

 

[NavyNano212]

are you topping the tank off with this ? would be first question. if so i would check your salinity, can you use this for water changes yes.

I use DW for topping off my tank. Salinity is good. Well, it is good based on the advice from other reefers...where do you suggest it sit in the tests?

 

[NavyNano212]

Navy I tried the nutri water & had an hair algae bloom.
I tried the Pecto brand - catalina seawater& I have no problems but as the box states check salinity it was high.

Thanks for your input. I have been using Nutri from the beginning, almost 2 years now. I stopped for about a month and saw a decline in my corals and coraline algae, so I switched back. I might try the Catalina from Petco. The Nutri seems to promote better water quality because it has "good" bacteria in it, while the Catalina says it is simply filtered seawater...is there a different in your opinion?

 

[danny]

nutri water

The only difference, petco based on the name catalina is probably Pacific Ocean seawater, I do not know where nutri-water comes from. The box says it has the bacteria because its natural seawater, it just seems my fish & corals are doing better & no algae bloom. My experience I like the petco brand & I filled my entire 30 gal with the catalina water & the nutri-water was just for water changes & within a couple of days hair algae all over the rocks & glass.

 

[Quang]

Like people have said, use those natural seawater products to do water changes, NOT as topoff!
Simple earth science, water evaporates leaving behind the salt. As you use the saltwater to replace the evaporated water, you're just making your water saltier instead of maintaining the salinity levels. I recommend you get a refractometer if you don't already own one, as they are more accurate than hydrometers.

As for your corals dying, what kind of corals were they? The corals you listed aren't difficult species.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

The only difference, petco based on the name catalina is probably Pacific Ocean seawater,

No, There are other differences.

Petco catalina water 5 gallon container
Natures ocean 4.4 gallon container

The price is also a big difference as well Catalina water is MUCH cheaper per unit.

 

[Mario]

No, There are other differences.

Petco catalina water 5 gallon container
Natures ocean 4.4 gallon container

The price is also a big difference as well Catalina water is MUCH cheaper per unit.

Hello, I dont know if this will help, but Petco no longer carries Catalina Water, DESPITE what the Cataline folks say when I called them.

The cost of the water at PETCO is $10.00 WITH tax AND using the PETCO card for a discount.

Drawback: Schlepping the containers to your trunk...

However, in the summer, I store them in my garage so the temp is 80 Degrees F. In the winter, I just open the top and put a heater in there for a few hours and bingo, water at 80 Degrees....

Regards
Mario

 

[danny]

catalina water

I just picked up 2 boxes on saturday, it has a petco sticker on the box but it states catalina water.