Water parameters on track?

[saltnewb]

Finally got some test kits for kH, Phosphate and Calcium. Let's hope my numbers aren't scary.

Nitrate - 40ppm (I know it's high, but I did a small water change this past Monday and its dropped from 80ppm, so an improvement on that and another water change this weekend.)

Phosphate - 2ppm

kH - 286.4ppm

Calcium - 460ppm

I initially started the tank with tap water with conditioner, but have since bought a RO system and with each water change I'm putting in RO water. Not topping off at this point because I know I need the water changes so I change some every 5 days or so, next one tomorrow.

Livestock is 2 clowns, some zoas, snails and hermit crabs. Am I on the right track?

 

[bubbaque]

I would start doing some water changes a lot more often. Your alkalinity, nitrate and po4 seem sky high. I would redo the test and make sure you performed them correctly.

You should probably get your nitrate under 10 and po4 under.05 ppm and alk of around 8 dkh

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Check it.
standard params
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/o...-reef-aquarium-by-randy-holmes-farley.173563/
cal alk
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/11/chemistry

fwiw, it also a good idea to retest questionable numbers. esp an ati Po test.

 

[ahiggins]

Finally got some test kits for kH, Phosphate and Calcium. Let's hope my numbers aren't scary.

Nitrate - 40ppm (I know it's high, but I did a small water change this past Monday and its dropped from 80ppm, so an improvement on that and another water change this weekend.)

Phosphate - 2ppm

kH - 286.4ppm


I initially started the tank with tap water with conditioner, but have since bought a RO system and with each water change I'm putting in RO water. Not topping off at this point because I know I need the water changes so I change some every 5 days or so, next one tomorrow.

Livestock is 2 clowns, some zoas, snails and hermit crabs. Am I on the right track?

As stated above, phosphates are super high. My system ran with 30-50 nitrates for about 2 months before I figured out the culprit. Its not overly detrimental if you only have fish. Phosphates that high will definitely fuel algae growth. My guess is that your conditioner didnt do the job right. I started out my tank with conditioned tap water as well.
Be careful not topping off. If you add (example) 1.025 new water to 1.026 current water (ie some water has evaporated leaving salt concentrate) you will be running higher specific gravity over time.
I would still do top offs with your new RODI water, you will actually end up diluting the nitrates with top off water as well, however slight and you dont need to worry about the rise in salinity. just my 2 cents.

 

[saltnewb]

Thanks for the reminder. Salinity is reading between 1.023 and 1.024 on the hydrometer.

 

[Ty Hamatake]

+1 on testing again and starting to top off. Those numbers are pretty high and definitely worth anot her test. Maybe even take some water to your LFS to get a second opinion with a different kit. As far as topping off goes, stability in a reef tank is key. Salinity can be super easy to maintain and there aren't many reasons not to.

 

[saltnewb]

Don't time right now, but will tomorrow. I just bought the test kit today, right before I tested, and shook the bottles more than my children. I'll plan on taking a sample to my lfs this weekend for sure for a confirmation

 

[saltnewb]

I also ordered a tds meter and should be hear today or tomorrow. From the city water info, tds is between 300-800 out of the tap, I'm sure that doesn't help

 

[Ty Hamatake]

I also ordered a tds meter and should be hear today or tomorrow. From the city water info, tds is between 300-800 out of the tap, I'm sure that doesn't help

That is insanely high! What RO unit do you have?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

That is insanely high! What RO unit do you have?

I also ordered a tds meter and should be hear today or tomorrow. From the city water info, tds is between 300-800 out of the tap, I'm sure that doesn't help

must live near me.

 

[saltnewb]

The RO unit is just a cheapy one from Lowes.

Live in Phoenix where the water comes out in gravel form.

 

[Ty Hamatake]

must live near me.

How is that even legal? I thought my water was high in the mid 100's!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

How is that even legal? I thought my water was high in the mid 100's!

the more I learn about what they put in water to make it "clean" the less I understand about how people are even alive.

my tap tds right this second is 356.

 

[Ty Hamatake]

the more I learn about what they put in water to make it "clean" the less I understand about how people are even alive.

my tap tds right this second is 356.

Wow.

 

[saltnewb]

Tap TDS is 860 and out of the RO it's 45

 

[saltnewb]

So if I get a more than 3 stage RO in the future, should be better, right?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Tap TDS is 860 and out of the RO it's 45

So if I get a more than 3 stage RO in the future, should be better, right?

yes. mine according to the rodi units meter is ro before the di stage. after the di stage is 0

 

[saltnewb]

Cool. Would it be safe to assume that the other parameters will drop dramatically knowing now what the TDS is and that I filled my tank with tap water prior and will be using nothing but RO as I progress?

My RO is slow so I'm starting to fill 2 five gallon buckets now to be ready for water change tomorrow. It's a 29g bow front tank.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

uhh, no and yes???
Here, the chloramines kill bacteria, thus a weak bio filter. Bad Bio filter = low to no No and Po processing.
Ive seen folks who use tap, bottles etc some have good luck many dont. one commonality is higher numbers,sometimes chronic low ammonia and nitrites. Ie a stalled cycle.
IME its about 30 days till you see good stuff happen.

what is in the TDS is the hard question to answer.

 

[saltnewb]

I will post an update after the WC and some time for everything to settle tomorrow then.