Interpreting Text Results

[Dom]

Admittedly, I have been slacking off on my water testing. I've relied on the appearance of my tank to tell me if things were good. What I've learned is this; by the time water chemistry issues become visually apparent in the tank, deficiencies are well under way. Regular testing shows problems early and allows you to make corrections before they become visually apparent.

All this being said, below are my test results from today:

Nitrates = 20
Ammonia = 0
pH = 8.2
Phosphates = .25
KH = 107.4
Nitrites = 0
Calcium = 300
SG = 1.025

According to the testing cards, both KH and Calcium are low. I've also spotted an occasional white flake in the tank, which I believe is calcium precipitation?

So, clearly, I need to get my water chemistry under control.

If I understand correctly, low KH is what causes pH to drop.

Suggestions?

 

[jsker]

A good balence make it so much easier. Having alk at 8.7, to 9 ish would be ideal. Your ca sitting at around 420 and you mg at 1350. Having your parameters in line your Ph will be in line. At a 8.2 your ph is fine.

 

[redfishbluefish]

First off, you can not rely on pH to monitor alkalinity.

And yes, your alk and calc numbers are low. What do you usually use to maintain proper levels?

 

[Dom]

I usually rely on water changes. I use Instant Ocean Reef Chrystals and do a 20% water change weekly. It's only within the last 8-10 weeks that I am seeing a problem.

I'm looking for recommendations.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Start dosing! Once corals begin to grow, water changes alone will not keep up with alk and calc demand.

 

[Dom]

A good balence make it so much easier. Having alk at 8.7, to 9 ish would be ideal. Your ca sitting at around 420 and you mg at 1350. Having your parameters in line your Ph will be in line. At a 8.2 your ph is fine.

Start dosing! Once corals begin to grow, water changes alone will not keep up with alk and calc demand.

Yes; I understand that now. "Start dosing" has been the advice I've received. Based on my test results, WHAT should I start dosing with?

 

[redfishbluefish]

I would think the two reasonable things would be kalkwasser OR two part (or a combination of both.) I'm a two part user and use the DIY recipe from Dr. Randy Holmes Farley. It is the same as what BRS sells.

 

[jsker]

I would just start with the balling method and make like easy

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have 2 tanks. One uptakes minerals faster then the other. The 55g is actually slower than the 30g. 30g is stony corals. I manage to keep up on levels in the 30 gal with water changes alone(so far). I use red sea coral pro in that tank mainly as it more closely matches the tanks higher alk. little swing there.
Randy F generally recommends A B manual dosing especially to start, easy les potent generally. Kalk works well too, but will mess with the PH a little. In a smaller system kalk is fine too and pretty easy, but go slow.


Randy F uses instant ocean salt and Kalk.

both methods work.
The article
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/

 

[Dom]

I have 2 tanks. One uptakes minerals faster then the other. The 55g is actually slower than the 30g. 30g is stony corals. I manage to keep up on levels in the 30 gal with water changes alone(so far). I use red sea coral pro in that tank mainly as it more closely matches the tanks higher alk. little swing there.
Randy F generally recommends A B manual dosing especially to start, easy les potent generally. Kalk works well too, but will mess with the PH a little. In a smaller system kalk is fine too and pretty easy, but go slow.


But based on what I read in the link you've provided, dosing with Kalk may be ineffective because my KH is also low, causing calcium to precipitate in the tank, making it unabsorable to coral. Is that correct?

 

[Sabellafella]

I usually rely on water changes. I use Instant Ocean Reef Chrystals and do a 20% water change weekly. It's only within the last 8-10 weeks that I am seeing a problem.

I'm looking for recommendations.

20 % weekly and your calcium is below 360? I would test your saltmix first before anything or get a second test kit/opinion. Also do you test for mag?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

quite possible. Im no Randy F though.
Thus depending on your tank and where its at a A B may be a better choice.

20 % weekly and your calcium is below 360? I would test your saltmix first before anything or get a second test kit/opinion. Also do you test for mag?

And Yea. in a small tank, it makes the test suspect.

 

[jedimasterben]

20 % weekly and your calcium is below 360? I would test your saltmix first before anything or get a second test kit/opinion. Also do you test for mag?

Water changes are not efficient for dosing. Let's take a 50 gallon volume and a 10 gallon change (which is 20%). Calcium before change is 300 and your salt mix has 400ppm calcium. After the first change calcium will only rise to 320ppm, which is likely to get used up by even a mixed reef in a week's time and you're back to square one. https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/EffectOfWaterChanges.php

 

[Sabellafella]

Water changes are not efficient for dosing. Let's take a 50 gallon volume and a 10 gallon change (which is 20%). Calcium before change is 300 and your salt mix has 400ppm calcium. After the first change calcium will only rise to 320ppm, which is likely to get used up by even a mixed reef in a week's time and you're back to square one. https://www.hamzasreef.com/Contents/Calculators/EffectOfWaterChanges.php

Lol sorry what i ment was corals stop calcifing below 360. So i assume it would be his saltmix/test kit

 

[Sabellafella]

I could understand if he wasnt doing water changes weekly and im no scientist but i would also assume it would atleast be somewere near 360. @Dom i would look into 2 part to adjust your levels were you want them to be. Then use something like kalk in your topoff, if you dont want to spend money on a dosing pump. Also i dont know if i passed this up but what are you using to measure sg?

 

[Dom]

I could understand if he wasnt doing water changes weekly and im no scientist but i would also assume it would atleast be somewere near 360. @Dom i would look into 2 part to adjust your levels were you want them to be. Then use something like kalk in your topoff, if you dont want to spend money on a dosing pump. Also i dont know if i passed this up but what are you using to measure sg?

I test SG with a refractometer

Okay... so some comparative test results to discuss...

I tested yesterday, before the lights came on and then did a water change. Today (24 hours later) I've tested again.

Date Lighting SG Nitrates Ammonia pH Phosphates KH Nitrites Calcium

Yesterday 05/07/16 Off 1.025 20.000 0.000 8.200 0.250 107.400 0.000 300.000

Today 05/08/16 Off 1.024 10.000 0.000 8.200 0.250 125.300 0.000 300.000


Water changes cut nitrates in half but did not reduce phosphates. And while KH has come up, Calcium remains unchanged. So, I can't rely on the calcium in the salt mix to keep my levels normal. Kalkwasser seems to be the answer to me.

Thoughts?

 

[Sabellafella]

I test SG with a refractometer

Okay... so some comparative test results to discuss...

I tested yesterday, before the lights came on and then did a water change. Today (24 hours later) I've tested again.

Date Lighting SG Nitrates Ammonia pH Phosphates KH Nitrites Calcium

Yesterday 05/07/16 Off 1.025 20.000 0.000 8.200 0.250 107.400 0.000 300.000

Today 05/08/16 Off 1.024 10.000 0.000 8.200 0.250 125.300 0.000 300.000


Water changes cut nitrates in half but did not reduce phosphates. And while KH has come up, Calcium remains unchanged. So, I can't rely on the calcium in the salt mix to keep my levels normal. Kalkwasser seems to be the answer to me.

Thoughts?

Kalk sounds great, i would test the saltmix maybe? If everything including your nitrates changed, the calc shouldve atleast moved up a bit.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Kalk sounds great, i would test the saltmix maybe? If everything including your nitrates changed, the calc shouldve atleast moved up a bit.

According to some quick almost reliable web search, IO Reef Crystals should be 420 Cal.
Your test numbers should should have moved.
WC being neither here nor there as a means of efficient mineral replenishment at this point.
The test numbers should have moved with the addition of fresh batch.

Standard IO is 400

http://www.instantocean.com/Instant-Answers/Instant-Ocean-FAQs/Sea-Salt.aspx