Water Analysis

[ReeferJay86]

I got my Salifert master reef kit in today. I just did a water change on my DT tank and will test to see what are my results. Once I return from work, in a couple of weeks, I will retest to see how much has changed. All in all, with my work schedule, my wife is the only one here for feedings and to make sure the ATO is full. I will post all my findings 2 weeks from now then a month. I am new to the saltwater hobby but not new to the fish hobby. I’m just interested in my findings compared to anyone else. Not every tank reacts the same or ran with the same dosing/no dosing.

feel like a mad scientist

 

[Neoalchemist]

You just went from being in up to your ankles to being in up to your waist.
Corals, dosing ,and automation are about when you in up to your neck.
Specialized corals and fish like sps and butterfly fish are when your in over your head.

 

[ReeferJay86]

You just went from being in up to your ankles to being in up to your waist.
Corals, dosing ,and automation are about when you in up to your neck.
Specialized corals and fish like sps and butterfly fish are when your in over your head.

Haha, I’m sure there is a lot to learn, but I like the challenge it brings and the results that will come with it. I know not to chase numbers, just like in the fresh water hobby. Consistency is key.

 

[andrewey]

How old is your tank? The age of the tank and the stock might have an impact on how frequently you wish to test as well as whether you are trying to get a "ballpark" or whether you are making dosing decisions based on the information you receive.

Just so you are aware, two weeks between testing may be sufficient for certain parameters, but may not give you the information you need for others. Your magnesium level will drop at a predictably slow rate and you may or may not register much of a change. On the other hand, if your tank had many calcifying organisms or a lot of abiotic precipitation, your alkalinity values may not give you much information to determine whether your water changes/dosing are keeping up with demand. Your pH may be impacted based on when in the day you perform your tests. Two weeks seems like a reasonable timeframe to judge large trends in nitrate and phosphate.

 

[Neoalchemist]

I totally think its one of the funest parts of the hobby , developing good testing procedures.

 

[ReeferJay86]

The tank is a IM 30L at 4 months old. I had a couple of clowns but they developed brook. Stock is now 2 blue legged hermits, 2 red cortez hermits, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 RFA and 1 goniastrea. I have some fish in my QT tank. Also, in QT, I have another RFA and a green slimmer. Tank is running fallow for 76 days and already 3 weeks in. I am dosing Red Sea AB+ for the corals and also have Ionic #1#2 on hand when needed. I know my tank is still a little immature but with the feedings through the weeks I’m gone, I would like to see what changes it has gone through. Plus, I like the chemistry side that goes into this hobby.