Red Sea Alk Test Kit

[excellensephotos]

When the syringe reads 0.3ml on the Alk Test kit from Red Sea what is the value? I get confused when reading it backwards if anyone can help that would be great thanks a bunch. Maybe a photo with some pointers on it also to help others out if they need to learn to read it also.

 

[windemerejack]

You should look at chart at 0.70 for your reading.
The chart is what you have used so 0.3 left in syringe means you have used 0.7.

 

[excellensephotos]

You should look at chart at 0.70 for your reading.
The chart is what you have used so 0.3 left in syringe means you have used 0.7.

Thanks I appreciate it.

 

[excellensephotos]

Thanks I appreciate it.

To get it to 12dkh what would you recommend it's 9.8dKH? For faster clam growth and a mixed reef. They say dosing too fast can wreck the tank. So would it be easier to use a dosing pump?

 

[homer1475]

Dosing to 12DKH can wreck a tank too, unless you have the nutrient level to support accelerated growth.


You'll find most seasoned reefers keep their tanks around natural sea water levels of around 7DKH. A good middle of the road value is around 8.5.

 

[excellensephotos]

Dosing to 12DKH can wreck a tank too, unless you have the nutrient level to support accelerated growth.


You'll find most seasoned reefers keep their tanks around natural sea water levels of around 7DKH. A good middle of the road value is around 8.5.

So is 9.8 too high? My Calcium levels are also way out of range how can I get it at the recommended level and what is the recommended level for a mixed reef? Thanks

 

[homer1475]

If you listen to Red Sea 12DKH for accelerated growth. But again you have to have the nutrient level to support it. Otherwise what end up happening is what we call "burnt tips" in SPS. The skeleton grows, but their is no nutrients to support tissue growth. So you get large white tips with no tissue(they look literally like someone burnt them).

What are your current levels?

What we typically reccomend for a newbie starting out.....

7 to 11 DKH
400 - 450 CAL
1300 MAG
Nutrient levels(nitrate and phosphate) can be anywhere as long as they are detectable on our hobby grade kits, and not 0's.

 

[excellensephotos]

0.25 Nitrate
0 Ammonia
0 Nitrite
PH 8.5
DKH 9.8
MAG 1500
CAL 550
Will a water change lower the cal and mag levels with a 25% water change?

 

[homer1475]

Depends on how high your NSW is? What brand of salt are you using? Have you tested the levels in a new batch?

 

[homer1475]

Your levels aren't super elevated(other then maybe calcium).

What test kits are you using?

Ammonia being .25 I'm guessing API which we all know gives a false positive for ammonia(.25) in SW.

 

[excellensephotos]

Depends on how high your NSW is? What brand of salt are you using? Have you tested the levels in a new batch?

I'm using Instant Ocean Reef Crystals

Depends on how high your NSW is? What brand of salt are you using? Have you tested the levels in a new batch?

I was asking because I see so many people using GFO and Red Sea NoPox and all this stuff but what levels are they trying to maintain? There's people dosing po4 and nitrate while others are trying to remove it. Which is a more viable solution for a mixed reef low nutrient levels or high nutrient levels. Is this debatable or is it 100 percent proven in the mixed reef environment?

 

[excellensephotos]

Your levels aren't super elevated(other then maybe calcium).

What test kits are you using?

Ammonia being .25 I'm guessing API which we all know gives a false positive for ammonia(.25) in SW.

I used the Red Sea Master Kit

 

[homer1475]

Its highly subjective as we all run our tanks differently.