Wits end with testing...

[justjes45]

Ok, my numbers are crazy-
I have a 40 gal Nuvo Cube
Mixed reef

I use mostly Hanna Testers.

Today— and for the past three weeks, my numbers are..
Temp- 78.8
Salinity 1.019
Ph 7.9-8.1
Calcium 600. !?!?
dKH 15.9
Phosphate 15.8

I have done weekly water changes-
I have stopped dosing everything.
I was afraid the Kalkwasser/ polylab was over dosing/ doubling up....

Maybe my test kits are ALL off?? Doubtful.

The vials haven’t been cleaned correctly? Very slim chance....

Fish are fine,
Corals are open, not “growing” but not suffering.....

I just want nice numbers....

Any advice?

 

[Highgrade]

Hello,

Sorry to hear you're having trouble. I've had two IM40s and both were easy tanks to maintain with just water changes , no dosing.

What salt do you use and how often/how much of a water change are you doing?

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

What salt are you using? What are you using to measure salinity?

 

[bobby.w.hodges]

Your numbers don't make sense.
Salinity is way too low, phosphate at 15 ppm?, dkh at 15?

How old is the tank?
Do you use ro/di water?
My test kits don't go up too that level of phosphate, how's you get that number?

 

[SDK]

If it was me, step one would be find a local LFS or reef keeper to verify those numbers. Everything except your temp and PH are so out of line that I can't imagine your corals are all fine if they are correct. Why are you keeping your SG so low?

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

My thought is that whatever device is measuring salinity is not properly calibrated, if the salinity is through the roof that would explain the Ca, and dKH levels being so elevated.

 

[dantimdad]

Ok, my numbers are crazy-
I have a 40 gal Nuvo Cube
Mixed reef

I use mostly Hanna Testers.

Today— and for the past three weeks, my numbers are..
Temp- 78.8
Salinity 1.019
Ph 7.9-8.1
Calcium 600. !?!?
dKH 15.9
Phosphate 15.8

I have done weekly water changes-
I have stopped dosing everything.
I was afraid the Kalkwasser/ polylab was over dosing/ doubling up....

Maybe my test kits are ALL off?? Doubtful.

The vials haven’t been cleaned correctly? Very slim chance....

Fish are fine,
Corals are open, not “growing” but not suffering.....

I just want nice numbers....

Any advice?

Yes, I have advice. STOP!

Look at your tanks inhabitants. You already have noted they don't look bad.

Just don't test or do a water change for a while.

Patience here is key.

I can't stress this enough.

 

[justjes45]

Thank you everybody for your advice.

Are use Neomarine salt.
I have been trying to do a water change of 4 gallons once a week. In my 40 gal tank-
I figured this be the best way to get my numbers to naturally balance out. No matter what I do, I cannot seem to raise the salinity at all.

I have been using the salt for a couple
Of years now I never had an issue.

I have RO water, I just changed my filters. Although I must say in the last week and a half I am amazed at how quickly the filter on the far left turn bright orange.

[emoji2372]

 

[Highgrade]

Thank you everybody for your advice.

Are use Neomarine salt.
I have been trying to do a water change of 4 gallons once a week. In my 40 gal tank-
I figured this be the best way to get my numbers to naturally balance out. No matter what I do, I cannot seem to raise the salinity at all.

I have been using the salt for a couple
Of years now I never had an issue.

I have RO water, I just changed my filters. Although I must say in the last week and a half I am amazed at how quickly the filter on the far left turn bright orange.

[emoji2372]

What are you using to test salinity?

 

[SeaDweller]

Thank you everybody for your advice.

Are use Neomarine salt.
I have been trying to do a water change of 4 gallons once a week. In my 40 gal tank-
I figured this be the best way to get my numbers to naturally balance out. No matter what I do, I cannot seem to raise the salinity at all.

I have been using the salt for a couple
Of years now I never had an issue.

I have RO water, I just changed my filters. Although I must say in the last week and a half I am amazed at how quickly the filter on the far left turn bright orange.

[emoji2372]

How old is your membrane?

 

[SDK]

What are you using to test salinity?

This! Salinity not going up is a red flag for testing error. The old swing arm hydrometers were notorious for getting things stuck in the arm that stopped them at a certain point

I trust nothing but a refractometer that is calibrated to 1.026 quarterly...

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

Thank you everybody for your advice.

Are use Neomarine salt.
I have been trying to do a water change of 4 gallons once a week. In my 40 gal tank-
I figured this be the best way to get my numbers to naturally balance out. No matter what I do, I cannot seem to raise the salinity at all.

I have been using the salt for a couple
Of years now I never had an issue.

I have RO water, I just changed my filters. Although I must say in the last week and a half I am amazed at how quickly the filter on the far left turn bright orange.

[emoji2372]

What device are you using to measure salinity?

If you're using a swing arm hydrometer chances are that it is shot.

If you're using a refractometer, put a drop of RO on there, it should read 1.000.

I would take your water to a LFS and start by having them check your salinity (if the LFS is using a swing arm hyrdrometer, go to a different LFS, any reputable LFS is at least using a refractometer).