Lightsluvr's 340G Upgrade

[Lightsluvr]

48 hours

48 hours

The CA reactor has been runnung for 48 hours. Effluent pH runs from 6.5 to 6.9, so I should eventually be getting some good CA and ALK numbers...

I continue to monitor ALK, CA and MG daily. More on that later...

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

Who ya gonna believe? Part Deux

Who ya gonna believe? Part Deux

As outlined above, I am closely monitoring my ALK, CA and MG readings, as I have just added a CA Reactor to my system.

Previously I expressed my frustration with test kits. As an example, here are the results of readings taken this morning:

ELOS KITS: ALK - 8.0 __ CA - 450 __ MG - 1100

SALIFERT KITS: ALK - 8.6 __ CA - 360 __ MG - 900

So again I ask...who ya gonna believe?

LL

 

[Hookup]

Man, i know your pain...

Tested my ALK on Salifert(6.7) and Faunamarin (5.5). two times back to back and got identical results.
Then we tested each kit against their own control solution... both were SPOT ON 100% accurate.

We even went so far as to test one companies control solutions against the other guys kits... The same delta (1.2/1.3 dkh) appeared either way.

We then tested a second system, again a 1.2/1.3 delta appeared...


How are we supposed to make any sense of this stuff!


Lately, I've been considering taste-testing my water... probably about as accurate...ummm... tastes like more Mg is needed..

 

[GlassReef]

Over the years I've just given up trying to get an accurate reading. I go with test kits which have proven themselves to deliver "reasonable" results - Salifert, Elos, LaMotte - and consider the results I get as "indicative" of what my values really are. I try to stay in the middle of acceptable rages. That way I can be reasonably sure that I'm on safe territory.

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15716709#post15716709 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hookup
Man, i know your pain...

How are we supposed to make any sense of this stuff!

Lately, I've been considering taste-testing my water... probably about as accurate...ummm... tastes like more Mg is needed..

I like it. Maybe someone should box up some "taste test kits" for aquariums, put several small bottles of RO/DI and snake oil in there "to cleanse the palette" between tests. And of course sell them for $25 a pop...

Sheesh. Glad to know I'm not the Lone Ranger!

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15717043#post15717043 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GlassReef
Over the years I've just given up trying to get an accurate reading. I go with test kits which have proven themselves to deliver "reasonable" results - Salifert, Elos, LaMotte - and consider the results I get as "indicative" of what my values really are. I try to stay in the middle of acceptable rages. That way I can be reasonably sure that I'm on safe territory.

I think you're correct, Tom.

I guess the answer is to use three kits for each desired test, add the results, and divide by three... what a PITA.

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

Testing 1, 2 3.

Testing 1, 2 3.

OK, I took Tom's advice, took a deep breath and relaxed...

Here are the results of readings taken this morning:

ELOS KITS: ALK - 7.5 __ CA - 400 __ MG - 1100

SALIFERT KITS: ALK - 8.8 __ CA - 380 __ MG - 1020

I have ordered Magnesium Chloride from BRS and it should be here Monday. I'm going to do the supplementation of 8to1 with Epsom Salts and boost my MG levels gradually next week to see if that helps my CA numbers get back to their normal 450 level.

LL

 

[DanW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15717043#post15717043 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GlassReef
Over the years I've just given up trying to get an accurate reading. I go with test kits which have proven themselves to deliver "reasonable" results - Salifert, Elos, LaMotte - and consider the results I get as "indicative" of what my values really are. I try to stay in the middle of acceptable rages. That way I can be reasonably sure that I'm on safe territory.

I totally agree, as long as you stay in the acceptable range you should be good. One thing that was recommended to me is when you're nearing using up the current test kit, test with a new kit and compare the results. That way you can see if the new kit is way off before you start to rely on its results.

 

[stealle]

Re: Testing 1, 2 3.

Re: Testing 1, 2 3.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15721619#post15721619 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lightsluvr
OK, I took Tom's advice, took a deep breath and relaxed...

Here are the results of readings taken this morning:

ELOS KITS: ALK - 7.5 __ CA - 400 __ MG - 1100

SALIFERT KITS: ALK - 8.8 __ CA - 380 __ MG - 1020

I have ordered Magnesium Chloride from BRS and it should be here Monday. I'm going to do the supplementation of 8to1 with Epsom Salts and boost my MG levels gradually next week to see if that helps my CA numbers get back to their normal 450 level.

LL

Those numbers look pretty close... except for the ALK. I could see a .5 difference, but 1.3 difference would leave a person puzzled.

 

[stealle]

Are there any studies showing what kits are the most accurate compared to laboratory grade equipment? I'msure the results would be split among a variety of brands... i.e. Salifert for Ca, Elos for Mg, LaMotte for Alk. Which is fine. It would just be nice to know.

 

[Lightsluvr]

Re: Re: Testing 1, 2 3.

Re: Re: Testing 1, 2 3.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15721768#post15721768 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stealle
Those numbers look pretty close... except for the ALK. I could see a .5 difference, but 1.3 difference would leave a person puzzled.

Tell me about it!

LL

 

[Hookup]

That's odd... I recently tested ALK Salifert vs Faunamarin (I was troubleshooting my alk issue with faunamarin they wanted their kit used).

I also found a 1.2/1.3 dkh difference, with Salifert having the higher numbers...

Now there's someone else with salifert testing 1.3 higher... that's making me think twice..

I'm going to see if I can get my hands on an ELOS ALK test kit and run some more tests...

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15721780#post15721780 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stealle
Are there any studies showing what kits are the most accurate compared to laboratory grade equipment? I'msure the results would be split among a variety of brands... i.e. Salifert for Ca, Elos for Mg, LaMotte for Alk. Which is fine. It would just be nice to know.

That is an excellent question...and a great topic for the Reef Cemistry forum on RC.

I may just go over there and pose the question, unless you beat me to it...

With respect to the three manufacturer's kits I have used, I feel most confident with Salifert, because their results are more precise. For example, the ELOS kit results jump in 100ppm increments for MG, 50ppm for CA and .5 KH per drop. (!) Salifert clearly beats ELOS in this regard. At this time, I am using ELOS just to double-check my Salifert results...

LL

 

[Hookup]

The faunamarin also does .5 jumps +/- 0.5 dkh seems too high..

Tim

 

[elosusa]

Just so it does not get confused. The current versions Elos CA kit is 10ppm, Mg is 50ppm.

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15724329#post15724329 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elosusa
Just so it does not get confused. The current versions Elos CA kit is 10ppm, Mg is 50ppm.

Great news! The reason I went with ELOS in the first place was because I liked the distinct color change... (I am challenged when it comes to subtle color changes.)

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

Todays' project...

Todays' project...

Today is water change day. After I change the filter socks, cleaner the skimmer and change out 55G, I have another project scheduled.

A few weeks ago, I was cleaning our storage shed, and found some items from the days we had a Koi pond in our back yard. One of the items discovered was an 25W AQUA UV Sterilizer! I plugged it in just to make sure the ballast was still working, and sure enough, the bulb fired up. (No, I didn't look directly at it!) Last week I ordered a replacement 25W bulb from Marine Depot, and it arrived on Thursday.

I'm going to use the overflow from frag tank to feed the Sterilizer. Seems like a good idea at the time. Of course, the frag tank is plumbed into the DT filtration system.

The frag tank is fed by a Mag-7 which is in the 100G Rubbermaid sump, After pumping water through the frag tank, it will overflow through the UV and back into the opposite end of the same sump.

I plumbed the frag tank this way because if I ever need to temporarily use it as a QT or hospital tank, I can move the Mag-7 and the overflow from the Rubbermaid sump into 10G tank to isolate it from the main system.

Just one way to do it... I'll post pictures later.

 

[GlassReef]

Speaking of UV - I found the info at Emperor Aquatics very helpful. In addition to this chart: Chart - they have other interesting articles pertaining to the use of UV light in marine aquariums. Check it out.

 

[Lightsluvr]

UV Information

UV Information

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15726628#post15726628 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GlassReef
Speaking of UV - I found the info at Emperor Aquatics very helpful. In addition to this chart: Chart - they have other interesting articles pertaining to the use of UV light in marine aquariums. Check it out.

Wow. That's a great website. I read until I got a headache...

Thanks for providing that link, Tom.

LL

 

[Lightsluvr]

Installing a UV

Installing a UV

It had been close to ten years ago we had a Koi pond at a previous residence...this piece of hardware was a carryover from those days, a 25W Aqua UV Sterilizer.:

I was certain the bulb had long outlasted its expected life, so ordered a new one online after finding none in any of the nearby LFS. Here unscrewing the sterilizer reveals the quartz sleeve that encases the bulb:

The whole enchilada:

The new bulb in place and ready to reassemble the sterilizer:

LL