Chemistry Tests and Guides on Adjusting Properly

JDMosher · Jul 31, 2018

I'm still relatively new and learning along the way. I have had a 150 gallon tank for 8 or 9 months now. I have a 20 gallon 3 compartment sump, 2 4-inch (100 Micron) filter socks, A Reef Octopus classic 150-int protein skimmer and a Two Little Fishies Phosban Reactor 550. Also I pay someone $100.00 every 2 week to do a water change and clean/maintain my tank.

I sometimes dose with Sea-chem Reef Fusion 1 & 2 (11 ml) daily.

I currently don't have any test equipment or and its except a refractometer and PH strips.

Is there a guide to what I should be testing for, how often and best kits for testing?

Is there a guide for what the levels should be at and the best way to adjust them?

Just a background. Last week a brown slime appeared on my Duncans', Hammers' and Frogspawns'. I contacted my contracted person for help but apparently I can't depend on him in an emergency situation. I treated my tank with red slime killer (Included with tank) and slime is gone but a little to late. I lost all 6 hammers' and all 4 frogspawns'. My Multi colored bubble tip anemone looks sick but holding in there.

A side question: My contracted person who is supposed to take care of my tank has always recommended NOT to buy a UV filter and has talked me out of buying one multiple times that I have spoken to him about it. Shouldn't I have one given the fact that I obviously have a problem with Bacteria? Does the Bacteria alter the chemistry of the tank? Any thoughts?

Greenstreet.1 · Jul 31, 2018

I use salifert test kits ALK,MAG and CAL.

Dr. Reef · Jul 31, 2018

UV will kill anything passing through it good or bad. they can be beneficial in keeping somethings at bay but wont prevent it.
Regarding test kits. i gather you have some corals... you should never dose anything unless you can test for it.
I would get atleast the following test kits and try to keep parameters within the acceptable ranges.

Refractometer (1.021-1.026)
temp probe (76-82f)
nitrate (0-10ppm)
Phos (0-0.03)
Alk (7-11)
cal (420-480)
Mag (1100-1600)

JDMosher · Jul 31, 2018

Thank you So Very Much! This is just what I needed!

Greenstreet.1 said:
I use salifert test kits ALK,MAG and CAL.

Greenstreet.1 · Jul 31, 2018

JDMosher said:
Thank you So Very Much! This is just what I needed!

You are welcome happy that I can help.

JDMosher · Jul 31, 2018

Thank You! I have been reading a lot on here about UV Sterilizers etc. I understand they wont cure a problem but any help for my tank is welcomed by me. I have read posts about only running them during daylight hours because the good bacteria's hide during the daylight hours etc. I do have some corals left, about 8 different colors of various Zoa's, a leather that is still alive, a goneopora that is sick and some cabbage corals that are still ok. I have refrained from dosing all the time because of what you mentioned, I haven't been testing like I should be.

Again, Thank you! I value everyone's opinion and experience on taking care of my tank! I am looking into the best test kits so that I can start to maintain it properly.

Dr. Reef said:
UV will kill anything passing through it good or bad. they can be beneficial in keeping somethings at bay but wont prevent it.
Regarding test kits. i gather you have some corals... you should never dose anything unless you can test for it.
I would get atleast the following test kits and try to keep parameters within the acceptable ranges.

Refractometer (1.021-1.026)
temp probe (76-82f)
nitrate (0-10ppm)
Phos (0-0.03)
Alk (7-11)
cal (420-480)
Mag (1100-1600)

Dr. Reef · Jul 31, 2018

You are on the right track.
Red sea kits are great. So is salifert
Hanna checker for alk and ultra low phos is probably the best choice.
Good luck and happy reefing

Greenstreet.1 · Jul 31, 2018

Dr. Reef said:
You are on the right track.
Red sea kits are great. So is salifert
Hanna checker for alk and ultra low phos is probably the best choice.
Good luck and happy reefing

Only thing I would add to this is stay away from Red Sea MAG test.

Dr. Reef · Jul 31, 2018

Greenstreet.1 said:
Only thing I would add to this is stay away from Red Sea MAG test.

i never had a problem with them.. whats your experience?

Greenstreet.1 · Jul 31, 2018

All bad. Gave me 1400 for months when I was having some problems with my last setup could not figure what was wrong went and got a salifert mag test just to make sure and my mag was under 1100.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 31, 2018

This article should help understand why the levels are being recommended:

Optimal Parameters for a Coral Reef Aquarium: By Randy Holmes-Farley
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/o...-reef-aquarium-by-randy-holmes-farley.173563/

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 31, 2018

JDMosher said:
I sometimes dose with Sea-chem Reef Fusion 1 & 2 (11 ml) daily.

I currently don't have any test equipment or and its except a refractometer and PH strips.

Stop dosing until you measure alkalinity, especially. You may be making things less desirable rather than more desirable.

JDMosher · Aug 5, 2018

Dr. Reef said:
i never had a problem with them.. whats your experience?

So I got my first Salifert test (Phosphate) and tested my tank. It shows somewhere between .03 and .25, would this be enough to cause a hair algae bloom and my corals to die? I get the rest of my tests on Friday and will check all the other parameters. I thought Amazon Prime was supposed to be fast shipping especially since the red sea set is sold by Amazon. I soo want to check all my parameters right now.