Check your test kits!

NCNBilly

NCNBilly

Black thumb reefer
Premium Member
I had my closed loop pump die this morning - not totally unexpected, it was an old Iwaki md5 that I got used, so i'm guessing it lasted about 10 years total. I replaced with a 2nd Koralia 4 and shut off my closed loop for now - can't beat 2400GPH for 16w of juice.

Anyway, I digress... I was thinking all this week: why do I have zero-ish nitrates and still seem to get algae and diatoms? I decided that my old Salifert kit probably needed to be replaced, so I got a new one when picking up the Koralia.

OMG :eek2: My 'zero' nitrates are actually 50+. I'm not one to jump into a reading, but that actually confirms what I'm seeing in the tank - I'm surprised its not MUCH worse, actually.

I've started dosing Vodka which seems the most viable solution to get this tank under control. It goes to show what a few months of neglect can leave you with...
 
Careful with the vodka - I'm one to know. I almost wasted my tank because of it. Take it slow and follow the instructions.
 
Bill, I'd get that number verified. My test kits are old so I'm not the guy to do it. But with the volume and frequency of your WC's along with your chaeto and good skimming, I would have no idea how in the world you've got 50ppm of Nitrates... unless something leaching it in.

I never had any Salifert kits, but are you comparing the color from the top-down or side of the vial? From reading this, looks like it's setup that if you view it from the side, you divide the color chart # by 10... so in other words you'd have 5ppm, not 50.
http://paulsreef.blogspot.com/2008/11/reducing-nitrates.html
 
Yes. Should be 1ml of water, one scoop of "A" and one scoop of "B". Shake for 30 seconds and let stand for 3 minutes.
tom
 
Yeah, I'm viewing top down. Anyone have a newish kit they can verify my numbers? The expiry date on my old kit was 8/2007, and showed NO color change.

The new kit turned color before I even started mixing. I went way too long without a change, and it's likely I hit 100+. Doing 25G water changes, weekly (today is number 7 since I started getting things corrected) out of 120G is only going to net around a 20% reduction each time. With water changes alone, it will take me another two months to get down to acceptable ranges.

My skimmer wasn't working much during that time either, and I generally let the tank go. I'm surprised it wasn't much worse. When I saw my Acans start to deflate, I got a wakeup call and have since repented my evil ways.
 
I think we all go through that stage at some point Billy(I know I did the same thing last summer), just have to get back on track and realize all the time and effort($$) you put into the hobby. That is usually enough of an attitude adjustment to get you going again. Have a good one, hey I do have a pretty recent kit, maybe I can come up sometime soon(maybe after Christmas), I'll bring my test along if I come up.
Matt
 
Hi Bill....We forgive you for your sins.....LOL..... hey if you don't mind making the trip i can run some test 4 you? I have a new sera, and elos kit's I should be around today. Patrick
 
Cool, thanks guys - I'm off from the 25th to Jan 5th (Sorry Joel, you'll have to entertain yourself at work without me).

Just did a 25G water change. By my calculations I should see about a 21% drop, meaning I'll have around 40ppm which gets me out of the real danger zone, but certainly not optimal.

I'm tempted to separate my frag tank from the system and put all my SPS corals in there when the new bulb gets here...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13988339#post13988339 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NCNBilly
I'm off from the 25th to Jan 5th (Sorry Joel, you'll have to entertain yourself at work without me).
Click to expand...
yeah, like there's ever a shortage of entertainment there :rolleye1:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13988927#post13988927 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jandree22
yeah, like there's ever a shortage of entertainment there :rolleye1:
Click to expand...

...at your expense. :rollface:
 
Think I'm going to build a denitrator over the holiday, since I know a guy that did a fantastic How-to at our local reef club meeting.
 
I heard about that guy, He has one of the sick'ist set up's in the area? it's like 6000 gals right? I also heard he's a great host! :-)
 
Sulfur will be here tomorrow... :)

Nitrates are hovering about 50ppm, the caps are a bit washed out, but the acros are doing ok as is the digitata, but the tips are a tad burned.

I think it's leaching from the rock - I'll know tonight if it's creeped up. I'm going to continue the vodka dosing until the reactor is on line (hopefully Friday, unless I stay up all night tomorrow building it).

As I said to Joel this morning, I never saw much 'trates after my crash in February. I guess I was in such a state that it didn't really occur to me that the kit was bad. I've probably got a few hundred ppm locked up in the rock at this point, so a reactor really is the only option for a long term fix. I'm scared to think how much vodka it would take to bring the levels down...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14004112#post14004112 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jandree22
Reactor, shmeactor... just buy another 100lbs of fresh Fiji rock lol :D
Click to expand...

If only it were that easy...I don't think I can fit another 100lbs of rock anywhere.
 
Speaking of 'checking your test kits', thanks Bill. Tested my Refractometer with the calibration fluid and it was off. Pre-adjustment my tank was showing 35ppt (1.0265), post-adjustment it was showing 30.5ppt (1.023). Not too bad, but couldn't have been helping my low'ish calcium levels. I'll set the fluid back on your desk Mon morning (unless you need it back sooner.)




Merry Christmas everyone!

 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14010599#post14010599 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jandree22
Speaking of 'checking your test kits', thanks Bill. Tested my Refractometer with the calibration fluid and it was off. Pre-adjustment my tank was showing 35ppt (1.0265), post-adjustment it was showing 30.5ppt (1.023). Not too bad, but couldn't have been helping my low'ish calcium levels. I'll set the fluid back on your desk Mon morning (unless you need it back sooner.)
Click to expand...

I won't be back in until the 5th, but I don't think I'll need it before then. Reactor is built, just waiting for the media. UPS says its in HBG as of 12am but isnt going to be delivered until Monday...

In the meantime, I lost most of the SPS from the meeting and two astreas that I just got. Nitrates are hovering around 50 despite water changes, so I'm sure its in the rock and substrate. This ****es me off, big time...

Within a month, the tank should be clear of nitrates so hopefully by the time the Feb meeting rolls around I won't have to be embarrassed by the state of my tank.

M0nk is coming over next Saturday, but I'm not sure I'll let him around to the display area. :)
 
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