Red Planet care

[Peter Eichler]

opps I meant to say All conventional testkits are useless for phosphate. Salifert included.

Ok, thought that might be what you meant which is why I held back with a response... I agree and just paying attention to algae growth on your glass or rocks is a better guage for phosphate issues.

While Skibum is probably taking things a little far, I will no longer be buying any Salifert kits. I was burned by them and two faulty alkalinity test kits. Beyond that their customer service in non-existant, which is even more troubling for me. I can excuse a bad batch or a mistake from a company, IF they resolve the problem reasonably well. I've actually found API to be very good test kits for the basics as long as you ditch their vials and awful lids.

 

[skibum9884]

I should say I was being a bit harsh. Many had problems with the Alkalinity tests (was there another one too?) and the customer service is pretty bad. But most of the test kits were most likely OK.

Remember they used to sponsor RC, and then disappeared? I'm just a big fan of Elos, Jesse's service is second to none.

The comment about phosphates is right on though. I've never had a test kit measure anything but 0, however have certainly had phosphate issues at times. It's just unreliable because it's been absorbed by algae/rocks before it can be tested.

 

[PapaKlix]

i have a specific gravity meter and its at 1.021 im actually going to hook up a ATO today so it doesnt fluctuate at all. ANd im going to go get the b-ionic today along with the test kits

between this and dosing calcium without a test kit, i'd be surprised if you can keep this thing from dying.

you have a lot of reading to do if you want to keep the frag alive, let alone thrive with good colors. you want to keep alk, Ca and Mag very stable. personally, i maintain these at 8.5, 420, 1,250-1,300. i use elos for calcium and magnesium and used their kit while i was dialing in my dosing pumps, but since i stabilized i use API because it's cheap and accurate to within 1 dKH.

 

[LoJack]

Best tip is never dose anything in to your tank that you can't test for. Dosing calcium without being able to monitor the level is a big problem.

There are a few articles on reefkeeping magazines website in the chemistry forum that are a perfect starting point for getting the info you need to stabalize things for SPS.

Fluctuations will be your biggest enemy.

Best of Luck, the Red Planet is a beautiful piece

 

[sirreal63]

Good advice and congrats on using the search function but did you realize this thread is over 3 years old?

 

[LoJack]

lol nope ... didn't even notice the date. I thought it was ironic that there was a new post about redplanet care right will I was trying to identify a piece haha.