Water testing

Shawn_epicurious · Mar 22, 2020

I posted some pics below from the water tests I just did. I did the last tests 1 week ago. I changed my feeding routine to increase food and this test was done before a water change. (Should I skip a water change this week? I am trying to increase the nitrates and phosphates from what they were last week. (Comments on each below)

it feels like it is working... not sure.

my salinity is 1.025, down from 1.026 last week.

Below is the KH... it took 8 full drops to get that color.

The color below is a little darker than last week. It looked like a big zero last week.

I’d like to say this color is a little darker... would you read this as above zero?

lapin · Mar 22, 2020

Well you have some of both. And it looks like you have increased them somewhat. You could skip the water change or do a smaller one and see.

Shawn_epicurious · Mar 22, 2020

lapin said:
Well you have some of both. And it looks like you have increased them somewhat. You could skip the water change or do a smaller one and see.

I have been doing weekly 10% water changes. it feels like I should skip this one.

Thank you Lapin!

Uncle99 · Mar 22, 2020

Salinity should not have decreased unless you add RODI.
It is important to keep salinity on point at all times as it affects the other parameters.
API tests are not that accurate, but nitrates in the 2-10ppm is very good.
Sometimes looking to reach some specific number can be frustrating, see what the tank is comfortable with.
I would do nothing, but I would keep the 10% going on a regular basis so we travel towards stability.

Shawn_epicurious · Mar 22, 2020

Uncle99 said:
Salinity should not have decreased unless you add RODI.
It is important to keep salinity on point at all times as it affects the other parameters.
API tests are not that accurate, but nitrates in the 2-10ppm is very good.
Sometimes looking to reach some specific number can be frustrating, see what the tank is comfortable with.
I would do nothing, but I would keep the 10% going on a regular basis so we travel towards stability.

Yes, my tank is self adding RODI as needed. I have been balancing by doing some manual top-offs... still getting a feel for it.