tank progress what do you guys think

reefnewb1982 · May 29, 2014

update

Added the light built a stand out of pvc and steel rods reinforcing the inside what do you think

Reefing Madness · May 29, 2014

reefnewb1982 · May 29, 2014

Hey madness how you doin bud glad you like the stand ordering the other light soon when I get back from NEW mexico. .question madness do you know where I can get some good test kits for a cheap price

reefnewb1982 · May 29, 2014

Guy at lfs was pushing red sea on me for testing but 60 bucks I was like yeah but nah ill take the coral pro salt

Reefing Madness · May 30, 2014

BAH. The salt is good, but when the tank matures you end up dosing anyways. I just use Instant Ocean, and dose whats needed, when needed.
But Red Sea is a good test kit. I use API for the norms, like Nitrates, ALK, CAL and Phosphates, with phosphate test kit, I just have Softies, and if the test color doesn't change at all when I add the part 2, Im good. Then salifert for MAG.

Pete polyp · May 30, 2014

I will agree with everything madness just posted. Red sea kits are good, but $60 seems a bit high depending on the kit. The reef foundation kit (or whatever its called) which has the big 3 kits normally run about $45. I have found that the red sea phosphate kit to be complete junk though. I had used mostly salifert, and I have switched to using API for CA. For some reason I had issues with salifert giving a false reading. The API kit and elos both test the exact same, where as salifert will test much higher. I have compared the results with the red sea kit and they're all pretty close with results. Test kits are kind of expensive, and all 3 red sea kits for $45 is very reasonable.

reefnewb1982 · May 30, 2014

Ok cool ive been using api for all the standard tests calcium, phosphate, alk, nitrite nitrate and high ph..he said those were "garbage" and I should get the red sea kit ...goin further my main concern was the loss of my monti and the neon green star polyp frag started whitening out on a corner ***

Pete polyp · May 30, 2014

I will never trust any phosphate kit. I don't care if its Hanna or any other kit. They will not show the results of bound up phosphate. I read my tank for phosphates with algae growth. How often the glass has to be cleaned is a good indicator for me. When I have to start wiping it everyday I know they're starting to creep up and I have about 2 weeks before I will start to see a little gha.

reefnewb1982 · May 30, 2014

Thanks polyp as far as the algae growth its not bad its like maybe cleaning the glass once a week and even then when I do its not bad still cant figure out the reason my monti died and my green star is bleaching

Pete polyp · May 30, 2014

What are your parameters? how long have you had the corals? Have you changed anything recently?

From what I understand the calcium and alkalinity levels in the red sea salts are extremely high. I use instant ocean and dose what's needed to sustain the parameters I choose to have.

reefnewb1982 · May 30, 2014

I tested yesterday
cal about 540-560
Alk 12dkh
ammonia states 0 but using api so could be anywhere from 0-10
Ph 8.0 - 8.2
nitrate 0 once again according to api
As well as nitrite states 0

reefnewb1982 · May 30, 2014

The green star I got about a week ago ive had coral in for about 3months

Pete polyp · May 30, 2014

Maybe try bringing the calcium and alkalinity down. The calcium is EXTREMELY high. The alkalinity is at the top of what is considered the acceptable range. You may want to shoot for around 420 CA and 8-9 alk.

It also seems like your water may be too clean and they're starving. I little bit of phosphates (0.03-0.05) and a little bit of nitrates (0.5-2) might really help.

I believe the combination of low nutrients and high alkalinity to be a good suspect for the problems.