Is my water good for lps rn

[JoeReefz]

Just started a Acan garden and wanted to know if my water was good enough

 

[VintageReefer]

If this is accurate I would say no

Alk - I don’t know what this value translates to in terms of dKh

Phosphate should be around .02-.05

Mg is low

Ammonia and Nitrite should be 0

Nitrate is a gray area but I would say it’s on the high side and should be less than 10.

 

[Jekyl]

That test is still done using API I'm pretty sure. Before spending a bunch of money on coral I would spend it on tests. Hanna or salifert are usually the go to.

 

[Uncle99]

Alk high, at 236, I thinks that’s about 12.x DKH, some do run that high but is on the higher edge.

Phosphate is a no at .8ppm, your looking more like.1ppm to .2ppm in a mixed, and .05-.1ppm in stick dominant systems.

Check that number again, seems very high in comparison to the 17ppm nitrate.

 

[JoeReefz]

If this is accurate I would say no

Alk - I don’t know what this value translates to in terms of dKh

Phosphate should be around .02-.05

Mg is low

Ammonia and Nitrite should be 0

Nitrate is a gray area but I would say it’s on the high side and should be less than 10.

The store gave me a filter pad that will supposedly remove phosphate so we’ll see how that goes

 

[VintageReefer]

The store gave me a filter pad that will supposedly remove phosphate so we’ll see how that goes

Gave you or sold you

 

[Uncle99]

.8ppm phosphate is not easy to achieve. You need to add a lot of phosphate in terms of food to achieve that. I tried the pad, did nothing at all for me.

GFO works but at .8ppm, going to cost a fortune.

Using an LC at that level would be more cost effective.

You sure about that .8ppm?
I would have expected a lower phosphate with 17ppm nitrate as a rough guide.
I’d get a second opinion.

0.08ppm would be more realistic.

 

[VintageReefer]

That’s why I asked “gave you or sold you”

The phosphate absorbing pad media doesn’t work and will do nothing for a .8 level. If the LFS is reading a .8 for you and:

1) not giving you steps to follow at home to improve husbandry and improve numbers
2) not questioning their test results and using a second testing method to confirm
3) selling you phosphate pads that don’t work, and will do nothing for a .8

I SERIOUSLY question their knowledge or their integrity. This seems like a situation where they carry a lot of products on the shelf and the products all make claims on them but the LFS has zero experience using them, zero background knowledge on maintaining water parameters, and is only thinking in terms of “I get this for 4.99 and sell for 19.99 and make 75% margin on it”

They aren’t telling you to go home and do some big water changes because they don’t make money on that. They aren’t questioning their tester because it’s simple to use and less work and money than doing individual tests from better more accurate brands. They sold you phosphate pads which might absorb a minute amount of phosphate but will not help your situation. They really sound inexperienced to me

 

[legionofdoon]

If this is accurate I would say no

Alk - I don’t know what this value translates to in terms of dKh

Phosphate should be around .02-.05

Mg is low

Ammonia and Nitrite should be 0

Nitrate is a gray area but I would say it’s on the high side and should be less than 10.

If he has nitrites his nitrate is value should be invalid. My tank is off the charts for nitrate and nitrite but everything looks good. No hair algae and good polyp extension on my torch,zoas and Duncans.

 

[legionofdoon]

Though if his alk is 12 that's probably the biggest problem.

 

[JoeReefz]

Gave you or sold you

Sold

 

[VintageReefer]

If he has nitrites his nitrate is value should be invalid. My tank is off the charts for nitrate and nitrite but everything looks good. No hair algae and good polyp extension on my torch,zoas and Duncans.

I don’t believe the test results are accurate or valid. Maybe one or two things but a lot has me ???

I don’t believe the LFS has a clue either

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

How old is your tank? Can we see a tank pic?

 

[Cell]

Who says phosphate pads don't work? Definitely double check the PO4 measurement before intervening. High nutrients are preferred if you are running high alk but .8 is way too high and seemingly not an accurate measurement.

 

[VintageReefer]

Who says phosphate pads don't work? Definitely double check the PO4 measurement before intervening. High nutrients are preferred if you are running high alk but .8 is way too high and seemingly not an accurate measurement.

I’ve used them in multiple tanks both salt and freshwater with no effect