Leather Coral Nitrates?

[Tinnerito]

Sounds good, and take a photo of the kit and test card showing nitrates. It will help

Edit we don't need you to retest, just photos of the kit and card

These are what I use most of the time, and yeah it turns out I was reading it at 5ppm, not 0.25ppm. I think its because most of the time I'll be testing for ammonia, and I am used to the second color level being 0.25. But thanks so much for the help though! I think I will buy a nitrate based fertilizer from my local(not so local) reef shop this weekend to get those numbers a bit higher before trying again.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

These are what I use most of the time, and yeah it turns out I was reading it at 5ppm, not 0.25ppm. I think its because most of the time I'll be testing for ammonia, and I am used to the second color level being 0.25. But thanks so much for the help though! I think I will buy a nitrate based fertilizer from my local(not so local) reef shop this weekend to get those numbers a bit higher before trying again.

How are you measuring salinity?

 

[Tinnerito]

How are you measuring salinity?

I'm using this thing. It measures salinity by ppt. I just put some sea water under the slide, and shine a light through to see.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I'm using this thing. It measures salinity by ppt. I just put some sea water under the slide, and shine a light through to see.

How are you calibrating it?

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hello! My first leather coral has officially died, and has melted away. However I would like to use this opportunity for improvement. I've read that leather corals need a lot of nitrate, and at the time I was under the impression that the amount of nitrate ideal for a typical reef aquarium would be safe for leather corals, however I was wrong, and they need a lot more. I scoured the internet but couldn't find the info for such a simple question, hence I came here. What should my nitrate be for leather corals? It currently is about 0.25, and I am still working to raise those numbers. Thanks in advance!

I'd class 0.25ppm nitrate as very low.

Leathers I'd run somewhere around 25-50ppm

 

[eliaslikesfish]

what are you running for filtration? if you’re using any chemical media you might try removing that for a while to get your nitrates up.

 

[Tinnerito]

I'd class 0.25ppm nitrate as very low.

Leathers I'd run somewhere around 25-50ppm

50?! I couldn't even imagine. :O

 

[Tinnerito]

what are you running for filtration? if you’re using any chemical media you might try removing that for a while to get your nitrates up.

I run an EHEIM canister filter with biological, chemical, and mechanical filtration. I suppose I can try removing the carbon layer for a bit and see what that does. Thanks for the info!

 

[Tinnerito]

How are you calibrating it?

Well according to instruction, it should show accurate results as long as I clean it regularly, and that there is no air in the space that the water is being incased in.

 

[eliaslikesfish]

Well according to instruction, it should show accurate results as long as I clean it regularly, and that there is no air in the space that the water is being incased in.

this is true, as long as it is calibrated first. i have the same one, yours came with a little screwdriver right? grab some calibration solution from amazon and retest after you calibrated. there are some vids on youtube to help guide the calibration process as well. happy reefing

 

[Tinnerito]

this is true, as long as it is calibrated first. i have the same one, yours came with a little screwdriver right? grab some calibration solution from amazon and retest after you calibrated. there are some vids on youtube to help guide the calibration process as well. happy reefing

I get it now. I watched a video on how to calibrate it, but when I finished, The test for my reef tank showed a salinity of 60 ppt, which can't be right. I was told to calibrate it to 35 ppt with another fluid. What do you do to calibrate it?

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Refractometer Calibration Solution

Keep your refractometer readings accurate! A refractometer is easily one of the most important tools to have if you own a saltwater tank. Without a refractometer, we would be guessing at how much salt is in the water, and more than likely would not be correct! Even if you have a refractometer...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[gbroadbridge]

this is true, as long as it is calibrated first. i have the same one, yours came with a little screwdriver right? grab some calibration solution from amazon and retest after you calibrated. there are some vids on youtube to help guide the calibration process as well. happy reefing

Don't buy calibration solution.

Make your own and that way you know it is correct.

 

[eliaslikesfish]

Don't buy calibration solution.

Make your own and that way you know it is correct.

would if i had time, getting solution has worked perfectly fine for me though. in the year I’ve had this refractometer I think I’ve recalibrated it once