need help. Have an emergency!

[mcbdz]

My 240gal has been fallow for about 3 months so I haven't really been checking it too much. I have been feeding it some due to having my shrimp, crabs and snails in it . I is about time to put fish back in it and so did all my checks that I have tests for today. I lost a couple snails this week so have gotten worried. Have done 10% water changes with IO reef crystals weekly.
Temp-78.4
Amm- 0
No2-0
NO3- 0 was a little surprised it wasn't up
pH- 8.2
Then I get KH-3 What the heck!!!
Need help on fixing this. Don't want to make it even worse.

 

[mcbdz]

no corals thank goodness

 

[GainesvilleReef]

What is your salinity?

 

[Silver14SS]

Is that 3 meq/L or dKH?
How are you testing it?

 

[tripdad]

Are you saying 3 dKH?

 

[mcbdz]

OK, I am hoping my test kit is bad. Haven't used it in a couple mnths so, DH is in town and going to have him pick up one on his way home. Checked my fresh mixed water and got 1.5, ro/di water was reading 1.5 and tap water was reading 3. had some bottled water and it was testing 1.5. So I am doing it way wrong or it is messed up. Lets hope it is the kit.

 

[GainesvilleReef]

What test kit are you using?

 

[mcbdz]

I have the Red Sea Marine care multi test kit. Everything else is in normal limits as listed above. It is the dKH. added 5ml of water to be tested in vial. then added 1 drop of solution listed KH. top on and shook for 10 seconds. Then added 1 drop at a time and shook til color changed to green then one more made it yellow. at green was when I recorded it. 6 drops makes it 3dKH or 1.07Mep/L.

 

[Nanoreefer4ever]

If your test show 3 in meg/l that is around 9dkh which is good. Get hanna alk checker. Nitrate is also not.good at zero

 

[GainesvilleReef]

You are using the wrong scale. Your dkh is 6 or 2.14 meq/L

 

[GainesvilleReef]

5 ml is for the 1 dkh resolution.

 

[mcbdz]

You are using the wrong scale. Your dkh is 6 or 2.14 meq/L

OK, That makes me feel a tiny bit better but still really low right? Not as critical?

 

[Nanoreefer4ever]

OK, That makes me feel a tiny bit better but still really low right? Not as critical?

7 to 9 are good numbers pick one and stick with it. Stability

 

[GainesvilleReef]

It may be close to 7. Do the test with 10ml to get a 0.5 dkH resolution. You should slowy bring it above 7. But there is no need to panic.

 

[mcbdz]

If your test show 3 in meg/l that is around 9dkh which is good. Get hanna alk checker. Nitrate is also not.good at zero

I know nitrates are suppose to be up a little. My refugium is sucking them all out I guess. I need to take out a lot of Cheato but planning on adding my fish load in this weekend that have been on QT While tank have been fallow so, will see how that goes first. No corals to worry about right now but would like to grow a little green algea ( Said no one ever. LOL)instead of the brown one. Have a foxface and bi-color blenny that love to clean.

 

[GainesvilleReef]

Reduce the lighting time in the refugium and let the tank algae have a better chance at the nutrients.

 

[GainesvilleReef]

Also, with cheato in the refugium. You will probably always read zero with that test kit. The Red Sea Nitrate Pro test kit is better to use on low nutrient systems.

 

[mcbdz]

It may be close to 7. Do the test with 10ml to get a 0.5 dkH resolution. You should slowy bring it above 7. But there is no need to panic.

I just retested using 10ml. Now I feel really stupid and so glad to have a place like this to let me know. It actually tested 7.5dKH. 15drops to green. YAY!
Sorry for freaking out! LOL I seriously need to get a digital. HAHA! And that is what I get for slacking on my testing. Still not sure why I lost a couple snails this week unless they just starved. There is the light film that gets on the glass and sand I see them cleaning all the time. Guessing my not be enough.

 

[mcbdz]

THANK you everyone that jumped in to help! So glad it was my error.

 

[mcbdz]

What is your salinity?

Sorry I never answered this one. 1.026