cal alk mag

[jose hernandez]

when is a good time to test your parameters i usually test first thing in the morning around 4am then afternoon around 4 but i noticed a difference in results

 

[Hydrored]

Should test the same time 24 hours later

 

[jose hernandez]

i try to but sometimes its either minutes earlier or later but not hours

 

[DivingTheWorld]

My lighting schedule runs from 10am - 10pm, so my Alkatronic tests 10am, 4pm, 10pm, 4am. If I'm manually testing Cal/Alk, I test at 10am.

 

[jose hernandez]

So it’s better to test with the lights on? I manually test I’m still undecided on getting a automatic tester like a trident or Alkatronic

 

[X-37B]

I test alk only in the morning.
Every 24 hours is fine.
I run a carx so its the same day or night.
I almost never check ca or mag as they are stable as long as alk is.

 

[jose hernandez]

I checked my cal this morning and it was 406 alk has been steady at 8.6 but gonna retest cal to make sure bcuz when I test during the the day I get a different number on all parameter

 

[DivingTheWorld]

Your Alk/Cal will fluctuate throughout the day which is why most people suggest you pick a time and test at that same time each day (or when you test). Lights on or off doesn’t matter for a testing time, but if you’re dosing the same amount throughout the day you will see higher Alk/Cal during lights off than lights on due to corals consuming more of both when the lights are on.

 

[jose hernandez]

Actually I saw lower calcium but just added a clam but don’t think it consumed so much cal beings it’s less than 4” I have another clam that is much bigger and cal has been around 460 with him in it

 

[jose hernandez]

I’m gonna start 2morrow and pik a certain time to test for the next week and see where I’m at as far as dosing I’ve been doing water changes not much corals in the tank

 

[X-37B]

Calcium should not move noticeably throughout the day.
Probably just test accuracy.
If you dose once a day then you will see alk useage later in the day.
When I setup my 120 I dosed 2 part in the morning and if I tested it a couple hours later it was .8-1 point higher.
It was back to my target in the morning. Thus that was my daily useage.

 

[blasterman]

In the evening after lights go out.

Most of the alk / calcium uptake occurs with lights on. By testing in the evening it gives me time to make an adjustment and have overnight to settle.