Dosing again: This look right?

[Jmunk]

So I tested all my parameters on the 24th. (Right after a water change using IO)

MAG: 1300
CALC: 400
ALK: 9.1

I tested today (26th)

MAG: 1290-1300
CALC: 370
ALK: 8.4

Does this look right? I plan on testing again in two days and then after a week just to be sure about all the measurements.

My tank is mixed, lot of softies, LPS, one clam, two montis, two birdsnest type corals.

 

[shifty51008]

I would bump up the alk and cal a little bit on the dosers but looks good

 

[Jmunk]

I would bump up the alk and cal a little bit on the dosers but looks good

Oh no, I haven't started dosing yet, just gathering the numbers to see where I'm at/what I need to dose.

Those numbers look normal without dosing?

 

[shifty51008]

Ohhh ok. Then yeah those numbers look fine.

 

[Reef Frog]

For a fairly Mature 90, those consumption rates look about normal. You show consumption of about 15ppm calcium & .35 dKH alkalinity per day. I'm about 12 ppm & 1 dKH per day for comparison in a packed & growing 65g.

I would not set your dosing pumps based on just one consumption test however. Check it after 2 days. Then a day. Then 3 or 4 days. Then average the results. Make sure to do the tests at the same time each day. This will account for small daily variations and small testing differences. Also be sure to calibrate any doser you buy. Have fun.

 

[Jmunk]

For a fairly Mature 90, those consumption rates look about normal. You show consumption of about 15ppm calcium & .35 dKH alkalinity per day. I'm about 12 ppm & 1 dKH per day for comparison in a packed & growing 65g.

I would not set your dosing pumps based on just one consumption test however. Check it after 2 days. Then a day. Then 3 or 4 days. Then average the results. Make sure to do the tests at the same time each day. This will account for small daily variations and small testing differences. Also be sure to calibrate any doser you buy. Have fun.

Awesome. Thanks for the info dude!

 

[chilli_reef]

I'd shoot for 500-550 calcium and 10.5-11.0 alk.
Keep your mag stabile at 12-1250 and your in.

 

[Jmunk]

I'd shoot for 500-550 calcium and 10.5-11.0 alk.
Keep your mag stabile at 12-1250 and your in.

That seems like extremely high numbers for alk and calcium, or am I wrong?

 

[Reef Frog]

Awesome. Thanks for the info dude!

You're welcome, my pleasure.

I forgot to suggest to keep testing once in a while after implementing dosing pumps. They can drift a little over time and may need to be fine tuned to stay stable.

Personally I think the levels preciously suggested are a little high, although some run higher numbers to get maximum growth. But IME that can be problematic. I think closer to natural sea water is best. I like ALK at 7.5-8.5 and don't want it exceeding 9. Ca at about 420 but it can be higher. Magnesium 1300. Your starting parameters were just about there. For long term coral happiness, stability is actually more important than a specific set of numbers.

 

[Jmunk]

Update:

Tested today, and this was pretty much the reason I stopped dosing before: inconsistent test results.

I used two tests today, at the same time I usually do, both for alk.

I used a hanna checker, and the red sea.

Hanna gives me:

102 = ~5.7 dkh. I tested this three times, the exact same every single time.

Red Sea gave me:

~7dkh. And I tested this one three times as well, spot on every time.

I now have no idea which test I'm supposed to dose off of. The only thing I can think of is that I bought new reagant for the hanna, and it got delivered yesterday but was left out in the freezing temps until I got home to pick up the package. Could that have affected the readings?

 

[Jmunk]

Anyone?

 

[TangingOut]

Well since the range to target for a reef tank is 8-11dkh, get it to 8 on your hanna checker and dose according to that tester. If it happens to be bad reagent, then you'll only be at 9.3dkh. The key is having stable parameters as long as you're in the target range.

 

[chilli_reef]

That seems like extremely high numbers for alk and calcium, or am I wrong?

Nope.

 

[Jmunk]

Well since the range to target for a reef tank is 8-11dkh, get it to 8 on your hanna checker and dose according to that tester. If it happens to be bad reagent, then you'll only be at 9.3dkh. The key is having stable parameters as long as you're in the target range.

But that's just taking the safe route of assuming the hanna checker is right.

What could be causing both tests to read completely different? I'd like to know which one I should dose off of instead of just taking the lower one, know what I mean?

 

[TangingOut]

I'm suggesting dosing off the lower one, because like I said, if it's a bad batch off reagent and the Red Sea kit is more accurate then you're still in a good range. You can always have someone else or an LFS test for you as well. Good luck.

 

[Jmunk]

I'm suggesting dosing off the lower one, because like I said, if it's a bad batch off reagent and the Red Sea kit is more accurate then you're still in a good range. You can always have someone else or an LFS test for you as well. Good luck.

True.

Would the numbers make sense though, in that timeframe?

from the 24th - 29th my alk went from 9.1 - 7.0. Is that possible/feasible?

 

[TangingOut]

That's totally possible depending on your stony coral load and coraline algae.

I have a packed mixed reef with about 100 gal total volume, but not much coraline and I have to dose 75ml of BRS 2part. Reverse calculations says that my tank is using a little more than 1dkh per day.

 

[Jmunk]

That's totally possible depending on your stony coral load and coraline algae.

I have a packed mixed reef with about 100 gal total volume, but not much coraline and I have to dose 75ml of BRS 2part. Reverse calculations says that my tank is using a little more than 1dkh per day.

Ok yeah, I have four SPS corals and a clam; rest is LPS and softies. I guess it could be possible? I really don't think the hanna checker is right though with it saying I went from 9.1 - 5.7

 

[tsav]

Are you ripping the packets open or cutting with scissors? Ripping it would make frills and trap some of the regent likely resulting in an inaccurate test result.

 

[Reef Frog]

It could be insightful to fool around with Randy's calculator and add the exact amount of alk supplement suggested to bump up kH 1 point (i.e. from 7 to 8) and see how the two different tests display the before & after numbers.

If you could get your hands on a verified calibration sample, that could eliminate ambiguity. Getting a reading from a good 3rd test like Salifert could help clear things up -too they don't cost much. Also, getting an experienced person to run one of your tests, if possible, can help tease out any human error.

It seems like there are difficulties or confusion on the technique or procedures associated with some of the Hanna tests I've read about. Not sure what, but there is talk of fingerprints, getting all the powder out of the packet etc. Not sure if that's a possibility in your case.

If a fresh Red Sea kit & a Salifert kit were in general agreement, I'd go with those numbers. A few the tenths of a point margin of error are to be expected in any hobby grade test kit and shouldn't be a worry.