Serious help needed

[sc50964]

I'm taking a sample of water to my LFS in a little while. Also, I didn't know test kits had an expiration date an do don't see the expiration date on them, I just see that they're from 2006. So I'll be getting a new test kit at my LFS also

The older API ones made around that time had their expiration dates printed in a kind of ink that would come off very easily. They are cheap for a reason and I'm very sure they have long expired by now.

Phosphate don't get reduced by simple water changes. Rocks and sand would absorb them and leach them back to the water as time goes on. If you aren't running anything to specifically combat phosphate, you will need to look into that.

You are also missing a magnesium and kh test kits. IME, API is okay with ph, kh, Ca, No2, No3, and Nh3 as long as you make sure they aren't expired. Salifert is what I use for phosphate and magnesium. I also have an iodine test kit from Red Sea but don't find that parameter to be as hard to maintain.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The nitrite is not a concern. It is not toxic in seawater the way it is in fresh water. Don't worry about it, whether it is real or testing error. 1 ppm is not a problem.

The 100 ppm nitrate is a concern, and worth lowering, but it is not a panic. Water changes can help, as can other methods. I'd aim for a few ppm nitrate as optimal.

I describe the pros and cons of many methods of nitrate reduction here:

Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium - REEFEDITION
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/nitrate-in-the-reef-aquarium

I agree that getting an alkalinity kit is a top priority. Way more important than nitrite.

Phosphate, if real, is definitely worth lowering.

This has more:

Phosphate In The Reef Aquarium
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/?p=3184

 

[fishfinn]

Thanks everyone, my LFS was closed (just my luck) but I'll get my water tested and a new test kit tomorrow

 

[Bunnee911]

Got a petco handy?

 

[Surfandturf]

So I am no expert, but one thing struck me as I read your post. You said that you introduced natural sea water into your tank. Is that something that you have always done or is this the first time? Also, how often do you test your tank water? I find it hard to believe that it is a bad kit if you test weekly and last week's parameters were normal and after the "introduction" of natural sea water the test kit is bad. If this is something you plan to do regularly, I would test the waters before introducing it. I would test for everything lol. I tested the water that I use for water changes each time before putting it in. I check salinity as well of course. I have been keeping nanos for years now and I know how fast parameters can change in a small tank. A large tank like yours would either take time to develop or its because you introduced something. I would make some salt water or buy some from petco if that's all you have. Check the salinity because I bought some from there and it was 1.029!

 

[fishfinn]

So I am no expert, but one thing struck me as I read your post. You said that you introduced natural sea water into your tank. Is that something that you have always done or is this the first time? Also, how often do you test your tank water? I find it hard to believe that it is a bad kit if you test weekly and last week's parameters were normal and after the "introduction" of natural sea water the test kit is bad. If this is something you plan to do regularly, I would test the waters before introducing it. I would test for everything lol. I tested the water that I use for water changes each time before putting it in. I check salinity as well of course. I have been keeping nanos for years now and I know how fast parameters can change in a small tank. A large tank like yours would either take time to develop or its because you introduced something. I would make some salt water or buy some from petco if that's all you have. Check the salinity because I bought some from there and it was 1.029!

Ive been using natural seawater since the beginning of this tank and everything checks out, ill be honest and i haven't tested my water in like a month because i was away and then i never noticed anything bad going on with the tank so i thought all was well, I'm bringing my water sample to my lfs today and if it all checks out and is ok then ill get a new test kit, but if it really is that bad then ill get a new test kit anyway, and do an 80g water change

 

[Surfandturf]

Ive been using natural seawater since the beginning of this tank and everything checks out, ill be honest and i haven't tested my water in like a month because i was away and then i never noticed anything bad going on with the tank so i thought all was well, I'm bringing my water sample to my lfs today and if it all checks out and is ok then ill get a new test kit, but if it really is that bad then ill get a new test kit anyway, and do an 80g water change

I really hope it works out for you. I am sure that it will even itself out eventually. So with the natural sea water; how far away from shore are you when you collect it? From everything that I have read, the shore is one of the worst places to collect because that is where a majority of the dead stuff and pollution comes from. Have you ever gotten any cool hitchhikers from the water you brought in?

 

[fishfinn]

I really hope it works out for you. I am sure that it will even itself out eventually. So with the natural sea water; how far away from shore are you when you collect it? From everything that I have read, the shore is one of the worst places to collect because that is where a majority of the dead stuff and pollution comes from. Have you ever gotten any cool hitchhikers from the water you brought in?

I get the water from the inlet near me, when the tide comes in, its saltwater straight from the ocean. no cool hitchhikers yet, unless you count a seal popping up and looking at me like a mate every now and then