Kh test
- Thread starter Jose padilla
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No. It's actually on the higher end.
Jose padilla
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It was at 8 a few days ago but it is currently testing at 10 im planning on doing a water change soon
Double check the test then. The alk / Dkh should go down morning up unless you are using an alk suppliment or ph buffer.
If your using a buffer, might want to stop unless it's a fish only and not a reef.
Jose padilla
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Well i recently did switch my media filters and carbon so idk if that affected my levels but will it affect my corals if it is high?
Only if your nutints are very low. The media change should not effect it.
I would suspect a test error. It does happen.
Jose padilla
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Okay so i redid my kh test twice and i did make an error i got 9dkh both times i did it so my levels are currently
Calcium-440ppm
Kh-9dkh
Phosphate-.25ppm
Nitrates-160ppm
Nitrates are very high but im working on lowering them by using removers and going to do a water change soon im not sure if thats why my polyps are closed
Sounds like your in the range. Or a good one any way.
Pretty sure that wouldn't stop polyps from opening.
Def step up the WC for a while, it may get rid of other Matt stuff.
Do you have a thread about the polyps not opening ?
Jose padilla
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I dont but ill start one tommorow to take pictures and post photos and levels see who can help me
Cool. Tag me there. I'll take a stab at it.
Jose padilla
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Thank you!
Shaddow_wolf169
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Tag me as well
Shaddow_wolf169
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Do you have a really good skimmer? If you do set it on a wetter skim and look into sugar dosing drop nitrates efficiently and rather quick
Jose padilla
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I dont have a skimmer in my tank im not sure if i need one because its a 20g nuvo with a built in sump in the back
chipmunkofdoom2
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Are you sure the nitrate test result is accurate? How did you test? Did you follow the directions precisely? If the result is correct, it's very high. Are you using RO/DI or tap water? Using unfiltered tap water could be one of the reasons your nitrates are high.
I would not recommend any of the nitrate remover media. They just don't work that well, or they require a specialized reactor. Because your tank is so small, it would be very easy to get the nitrates under control with a few 25% water changes a few days apart. A week or two of 25% changes every other day will have your nitrates under control. Personally, I would go this route.
If weekly or biweekly water changes are not enough to maintain a low level of nitrates, you'll have to look into why it's so difficult to keep them low. But that's another problem for another time.
I would not recommend any of the nitrate remover media. They just don't work that well, or they require a specialized reactor. Because your tank is so small, it would be very easy to get the nitrates under control with a few 25% water changes a few days apart. A week or two of 25% changes every other day will have your nitrates under control. Personally, I would go this route.
If weekly or biweekly water changes are not enough to maintain a low level of nitrates, you'll have to look into why it's so difficult to keep them low. But that's another problem for another time.
Jose padilla
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I do think its because i left my nitrate remover media in for too long so it started going back into my system and i do plan on doing a water change although my brother and his wife dont recommend that due to them saying it will affect my levels greatly and yes i am using RO/DI water and ive done multiple tests and have followed exact instructions
chipmunkofdoom2
Always Making Something
Why would your brother and sister-in-law recommend against water changes? The whole point of a water change is to affect your tank's levels. You want to remove waste (such as nitrates) and you want to add in new minerals. The only way in which water changes would be a problem is if the newly mixed water is vastly different from your aquarium's water, or if you perform a very large change. Most salt mixes have Ca close to 440 and carbonate alkalinity close to 9 dKh, so water changes wouldn't change your levels that much. Especially if you only do a 25% water change every other day.
Back when I was having serious algae problems, I went ballistic and did 50% water changes every single day for 2 weeks straight. I never had a single problem.
Jose padilla
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I dont know but theyre saying its because its a nano althought i dont see why it would affect it
Shaddow_wolf169
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Make sure you clean out you all in one really good not sure of you set up. I have seen others that have compartments with doors that poop gets stuck in.
glb
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It will change the parameters but in a good way. With a tank that small, a few large water changes will get the nitrates under control. I've had a nano for years. Water changes only make things better. Good luck!
