Advanced Water Testing Equipment

[rigleautomotive]

It is a step in the right direction but in the future let me suggest some vho actinics on a good ballast.This will do wonders in that respect and I no of nothing better to bring out the florescent pigments in the coral

 

[nkd5024]

I have been told by a few people that either T5's or VHO actinic bulbs would be a better option for color as well as heat output. I just had an old fixture lying around a figured I'd try out them first before spending $200 or so on T5's or VHOs.

You would recommend VHO's over T5's?

By the way my stuff came on friday and I have been dosing a ml/4 gallons of tank water for the past two days and than a ml/2 gallons today. The alkalinity has gone up but not as high as it should have according to the instructions on the bottle.

Since I mainly have frags and they don't grow very fast, if my alk and calcium don't go down very much each day it is alright if I dose every couple days as needed or should I just dose really small amounts each day?

Nick D.

 

[rigleautomotive]

I have been told by a few people that either T5's or VHO actinic bulbs would be a better option for color as well as heat output. I just had an old fixture lying around a figured I'd try out them first before spending $200 or so on T5's or VHOs.

You would recommend VHO's over T5's?

By the way my stuff came on friday and I have been dosing a ml/4 gallons of tank water for the past two days and than a ml/2 gallons today. The alkalinity has gone up but not as high as it should have according to the instructions on the bottle.

Since I mainly have frags and they don't grow very fast, if my alk and calcium don't go down very much each day it is alright if I dose every couple days as needed or should I just dose really small amounts each day?

Nick D.

VHO is definitely a slight advantage over T5 IMO
Dose daily and pay close attention to alk cause eventually it will start going up when you reach a better ionic balance with the big 3

 

[nkd5024]

Dan,

I have been testing each day now for the 6 days I have been dosing the 2-part and it seems that my alkalinity is finally starting to raise. I think since my magnesium was a little on the low side at the start, it took a while for the magnesium in the 2-part to build up enough to allow more calcium and alkalinity to be dissolved in my water.

As of right now my parameters are as follows,
S.G. - 1.025
pH - 8.1
Alk - 8 dkh
Ca - 450
Mg - 1350

I got the phosphate and alkalinity Hanna checkers for my birthday! They should be here tomorrow along with my salifert Nitrate test. So now I have salifert tests for every parameter except Po4 and Alk.

If my Ca, Alk, and Mg don't get used up very fast I don't have to continue dosing every day correct? I only have a few frags and a couple larger LPS colonies so I can't imagine they would use that much.

Also, would it be a good idea to get magnesium dosing solution as well or do you think that now it's balanced it should stay that way because theres a small amount in the Ca solution?

Thanks Dan,
Nick

 

[rigleautomotive]

Dan,

I have been testing each day now for the 6 days I have been dosing the 2-part and it seems that my alkalinity is finally starting to raise. I think since my magnesium was a little on the low side at the start, it took a while for the magnesium in the 2-part to build up enough to allow more calcium and alkalinity to be dissolved in my water.

As of right now my parameters are as follows,
S.G. - 1.025
pH - 8.1
Alk - 8 dkh
Ca - 450
Mg - 1350

I got the phosphate and alkalinity Hanna checkers for my birthday! They should be here tomorrow along with my salifert Nitrate test. So now I have salifert tests for every parameter except Po4 and Alk.

If my Ca, Alk, and Mg don't get used up very fast I don't have to continue dosing every day correct? I only have a few frags and a couple larger LPS colonies so I can't imagine they would use that much.

Also, would it be a good idea to get magnesium dosing solution as well or do you think that now it's balanced it should stay that way because theres a small amount in the Ca solution?

Thanks Dan,
Nick

Nick your numbers are spot on now so keep doing what you have been doing and monitor alk frequently.You can ignore the other two(mg and cal) with your current regimen of dosing with ESV.It is a nicely balanced mix and your big three should stay in balance.Your tank will consume alk so it is highly unlikely you would not need to dose anything(unless you are doing daily water changes with sea water with elevated levels of cal,alk and mg) given the fact that algaes and encrusting Coralines alone consume a great deal of carbonates.Add a few coral that are growing and not just stagnant from depressed levels and there will be more consumption


You will find the Hanna checkers very usefuls tool.Knowing your phos level in a quick, relatively accurate way for under $50 is a good thing.And the alk checker is really a nice luxury and I would not live without one after the test drive

 

[nkd5024]

Dan,

Here are my updated parameters,

S.G. - 1.025
pH - 8.1
Nitrate - undetectable (salifert)
Phosphate - 0.02ppm (Hanna Checker)
Alkalinity - 9.3dkh (Hanna) 9.0dkh (salifert)
Calcium - 450ppm (salifert)
Magnesium - 1350ppm (salifert)

Everything seems very good, now if only I could get my temperature swings under control. haha

The checkers are very nice and easy to use I was very impressed.

So from what you said about adding coral that are growing and not stagnant from depressed levels are you saying that I should add a couple new frags now that my levels are finally decent or that it will just take time for the ones I have to start growing since they are stagnant currently from the not so great water before hand?

I was wondering what your tank temperate ranges from night to day?
And what you feel is an acceptable temperature swing difference?
I am going from 76F at night to 80F in the day although I got a heater to run only at night to hopefully fix that up.

Nick

 

[rigleautomotive]

Dan,

Here are my updated parameters,

S.G. - 1.025
pH - 8.1
Nitrate - undetectable (salifert)
Phosphate - 0.02ppm (Hanna Checker)
Alkalinity - 9.3dkh (Hanna) 9.0dkh (salifert)
Calcium - 450ppm (salifert)
Magnesium - 1350ppm (salifert)

Everything seems very good, now if only I could get my temperature swings under control. haha

The checkers are very nice and easy to use I was very impressed.

So from what you said about adding coral that are growing and not stagnant from depressed levels are you saying that I should add a couple new frags now that my levels are finally decent or that it will just take time for the ones I have to start growing since they are stagnant currently from the not so great water before hand?

I was wondering what your tank temperate ranges from night to day?
And what you feel is an acceptable temperature swing difference?
I am going from 76F at night to 80F in the day although I got a heater to run only at night to hopefully fix that up.

Nick

Very good.you are much more in touch with your important params now and I am sure in the up coming months you will see a big improvement if you can provide stability.The stagnant acros will sometimes start to regrow but it takes a long while.Sometimes trimming the tips will kick start them if all else fails.

FYI,Your tank is on the low nutrient side so do not be afraid to feed some flakes a few times a day

Suggestion on the temp.Raise it up to 79 and try to keep it between 79 and 81.No reason to shoot for that 76 when it is causing a larger shift because of the difference between the ambient room temp and tank temp.This will be less of a swing and easier to maintain.I run mine from 79 to 82 with multiple fans and a A/C in the fish room

 

[nkd5024]

Dan,

I have to thank you on recommending the B-ionic it works very well and causes no cloudiness after a few second, I am very impressed.

I know I am on the low nutrient side which is probably because I only have a yellow tailed damsel in there and I feed very lightly. What is a good range to keep nitrate at? I was under the impression that the less nitrates the better. Phosphate should be between 0.03 and 0.1? Is that about right?

I always tried to keep the tank around 78 but I am now reading that lower 80's is actually ideal. I added a heater to run at night only to keep the temperature from plummeting at night. It seems to run from 78 at night to 82 during to day. I really need to get a fan to keep it from reaching temps above 82F. Right now I am using the large fan thats part of the k2 viper mh light and it works VERY well at keeping the heat away from the 2 MH pendants I have over the tank.

I don't really have many acros so when ever I feel safe adding some lets hope they grow right off the bat. What do you feed your SPS corals with? I was reading that they don't actually eat much of the phytoplankton foods that I usually feed every so often.

I think if I can keep the parameters stable for a month or two straight without any problems i'll try to add some new pieces, I just don't want to rush things as it never works for me.

Nick D.

 

[rigleautomotive]

Dan,

I have to thank you on recommending the B-ionic it works very well and causes no cloudiness after a few second, I am very impressed.

I know I am on the low nutrient side which is probably because I only have a yellow tailed damsel in there and I feed very lightly. What is a good range to keep nitrate at? I was under the impression that the less nitrates the better. Phosphate should be between 0.03 and 0.1? Is that about right?

I always tried to keep the tank around 78 but I am now reading that lower 80's is actually ideal. I added a heater to run at night only to keep the temperature from plummeting at night. It seems to run from 78 at night to 82 during to day. I really need to get a fan to keep it from reaching temps above 82F. Right now I am using the large fan thats part of the k2 viper mh light and it works VERY well at keeping the heat away from the 2 MH pendants I have over the tank.

I don't really have many acros so when ever I feel safe adding some lets hope they grow right off the bat. What do you feed your SPS corals with? I was reading that they don't actually eat much of the phytoplankton foods that I usually feed every so often.

I think if I can keep the parameters stable for a month or two straight without any problems i'll try to add some new pieces, I just don't want to rush things as it never works for me.

Nick D.

Your welcome.Its a no nonsense product and if done correctly will provide excellent alk,mg and cal control

I do not measure nitrates but last I checked they were .05
phosphate I like in the .01 to .03 range on the hanna checker for best colors in SPS
I feed everything.a huge variety and often.flakes,mysis,cylopeeze,brine.nori,oyster feast