Pooky's 300

[pookstreet]

Hi Kenny, have you thought of having your water tested by an outside lab? I stumbled across this link where they test your water for just about everything.
natureef . com/h2otest.htm
The page is sort of vague but there's an email address at the bottom where you could ask them questions.
I haven't used them myself but I've seen a few threads of others who have.

I saw another site called Aquarium Water Testing . com that might be worth checking out.

Ken, I already use AWT for reference purposed and sometimes, I really question their results. Just a quick example, my last water sample sent to them came back with pretty much everything in check. Their results indicated that the phosphate was tested at 0.03 ppm. The same day I sent the water samples out, I tested it using the Hanna photometer and phosphate was at 0.34. A few days after the results came back, I checked again and it was 0.30. I even asked Dan to check at the same time with his own set of Hanna meter and reagent. Dan's also read 0.30. So who should I believe???

If natureef is anything like AWT, then it probably isn't worth the effort. But I'll take a look and see what exactly they analyze for. Thanks for the link.

 

[mpoletti]

Ken, I already use AWT for reference purposed and sometimes, I really question their results. Just a quick example, my last water sample sent to them came back with pretty much everything in check. Their results indicated that the phosphate was tested at 0.03 ppm. The same day I sent the water samples out, I tested it using the Hanna photometer and phosphate was at 0.34. A few days after the results came back, I checked again and it was 0.30. I even asked Dan to check at the same time with his own set of Hanna meter and reagent. Dan's also read 0.30. So who should I believe???

If natureef is anything like AWT, then it probably isn't worth the effort. But I'll take a look and see what exactly they analyze for. Thanks for the link.

I'd believe the hanna

I recently heard a new trick about the hanna cuvets, store them in RO water so you don't take the chance of scratching them (thanks Brian). I just bought 4 new cuvets, more reagent and some caps. I'm ready for some testing

 

[pookstreet]

Me too. There is no way we could've had 3 consecutive wrong reading with 2 different Hannas.

What do you mean store them in RO? I put RO water in them before putting them away until next time. Are you saying to submerge the glass cuvets in the RO water? Did you get them from easymeters? I hadn't look yet, but how much are the cuvets and caps?

 

[aquariumclown]

Maybe put them in a fancy humidor.

 

[DanW]

..What do you mean store them in RO? I put RO water in them before putting them away until next time. Are you saying to submerge the glass cuvets in the RO water? Did you get them from easymeters? I hadn't look yet, but how much are the cuvets and caps?...

Same questions. I was going to order new cuvettes but MD doesn't carry them anymore so I'm looking for a new source.

 

[Dejavu]

Me too. There is no way we could've had 3 consecutive wrong reading with 2 different Hannas.

What do you mean store them in RO? I put RO water in them before putting them away until next time. Are you saying to submerge the glass cuvets in the RO water? Did you get them from easymeters? I hadn't look yet, but how much are the cuvets and caps?

Kenny trust your hanna. I have checked the results of my hanna against test that we do at my work. I work in a lab where all we do is test water. I could type for hrs about phosphate testing but I will not bore you .

You want to store your cuvets in RO/DI water after use. This prevents scratching. The water acts as a lubricate. I place mine in a tupperware container filled with RO/DI water until the next time I use it.

Before I use the cuvet for testing I raise it 3 x with tank water to clean out any excess RO/DI water. Cleaning the glass with kimwipes is the best way to prevent scratching too. Paper towel will scratch the glass. Alos I change the water out ~once a month, depending on how much I teat, which is about once a week.

 

[mpoletti]

Do what that guy does ^^^^^^ He works in a lab and his hanna actually goes lower than .05 :lol:

Kenny, yes I got my stuff from Easymeters.com. Very nice helpful staff.

 

[Dejavu]

Do what that guy does ^^^^^^ He works in a lab and his hanna actually goes lower than .05 :lol:

Kenny, yes I got my stuff from Easymeters.com. Very nice helpful staff.

That guy has know idea what he doing. You'd think he knew that a BS in chemistry doesn't pay well. :idea:

Barb at easymeters has alway been good to me.

 

[Goodwin9]

Same questions. I was going to order new cuvettes but MD doesn't carry them anymore so I'm looking for a new source.

Here are replacements, http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15512

 

[pookstreet]

Kenny trust your hanna. I have checked the results of my hanna against test that we do at my work. I work in a lab where all we do is test water. I could type for hrs about phosphate testing but I will not bore you .

You want to store your cuvets in RO/DI water after use. This prevents scratching. The water acts as a lubricate. I place mine in a tupperware container filled with RO/DI water until the next time I use it.

Before I use the cuvet for testing I raise it 3 x with tank water to clean out any excess RO/DI water. Cleaning the glass with kimwipes is the best way to prevent scratching too. Paper towel will scratch the glass. Alos I change the water out ~once a month, depending on how much I teat, which is about once a week.

Thanks Brian. Now I gotta go and get Kimwipes :rolleye1: God, chemistry classes were SOOOO long ago. I feel old :hammer: Anyone know where I can buy Kimwipes? Or does someone want to mail a box to me

 

[aquariumclown]

Thanks Brian. Now I gotta go and get Kimwipes :rolleye1: God, chemistry classes were SOOOO long ago. I feel old :hammer: Anyone know where I can buy Kimwipes? Or does someone want to mail a box to me

Man, I don't see why this has to be so complicated, lol. I use a $20 Salifert test and i get consistent readings all the time, I also tested it against Hanna light meter and it's consistent with the reading of .03 and below. I had my phosphates at .5 before and I could use liquid phosphate remover to bring the values down when I measure afterwards. It's very consistent and accurate for me.

 

[aquariumclown]

Kenny, sorry about your cbb. I love that fish.

 

[pookstreet]

Well, I am too lazy to do drops of this and syringe that so I use the Hanna. If there is an option to test all the parameters like that, I would do it in a heartbeat

Yeah, I loved that fish too. In fact, I love all the fish in my tank. It just makes it that much harder to decide whether to get another Aussie CBB if even this one didn't make it. And they are not that easy to find either.

 

[aquariumclown]

Well, I am too lazy to do drops of this and syringe that so I use the Hanna. If there is an option to test all the parameters like that, I would do it in a heartbeat

Yeah, I loved that fish too. In fact, I love all the fish in my tank. It just makes it that much harder to decide whether to get another Aussie CBB if even this one didn't make it. And they are not that easy to find either.

I guess it's just a preference then.

Yea I know what you mean about the fish. I'm scared by my attempt to keep a powder blue 4 years back.

 

[pookstreet]

Yes, it is all personal preferences. I just prefer to be lazy :lol:


The first PBT almost wiped out my tank when it died. Only the male watanabei and the purple tang survived. Didn't stopped me from trying again a few months later. He's now fat and happy.

 

[pookstreet]

Some signs of hope and possible recovery??? Or is it too much to hope for??? I am being cautiously optimistic at this point.

Couple of small piece of the Steve Elias stag that got left on the rocks when the 8-9"+ colony was pulled. Looks to be new growth and I'll be tracking it's progress over time.

Green Slimer finally showing some signs of health and polyp extension after the large water change.

 

[DanW]

Kenny, great to see that the corals reacting well to the large WC. :dance: Hoping that it was enough to dilute whatever was in there and that the troubles are behind you.

 

[pookstreet]

I sure hope so, Dan. I'll just keep doing water changes until things fully recover. Maybe that's the only way to do this thing since I can nail all the past problems on anything specific. Running the system with as few additions as possible will help me focus on what needs to be done down the road.

 

[aquariumclown]

Looks good Kenny!

 

[pookstreet]

I am just keeping my fingers crossed that it's not premature to hope for the best at this point. Come on, baby!!!