reefboarder
Intelligent Donkey
I am wondering what others are using to test their params?
I currently use,
seachem reefstatus calcium
seachem reefstatus magnesium/carbonate/borate (three tests kits one box)
redsea ph/alkalinity (two tests one box)
Apex controller for ph and temp as well as the other great benefits of a controller.
I also use an API reef test for nitrate/nitrite, ammonia, ph
My concern is that both tests I have for alkalinity involve a certain amount of guestimation and I feel if I am going to test everyday I might as well know exactly what the alk is and not Oh well it took .2 ml for the color change on the seachem test so it means my total alk is 2.0 meq/l but based on this hokie redsea color comparator my alk is 2.2-2.5 meq/l.
So what is everyone else using? do you read in dkh or meq/l and should I be testing for borate alkalinity?
Based on reading the interpretation in the seachem instructions it says I should maintain a total alk of 4-5 meq/l with a borate component of 1.5-2.0 meq/l.
Does anyone run their alk that high and test for borate alk regularly?
My current up to the minute params are,
total alk 2.3-2.6 meq/l range
borate alk 1.0 meq/l
calc 420
magnesium 1250
po4 .05
ph 8.30
temp 76.5
sg 1.026
I did post this in the reef chemistry but the best answer I could get was,
" as long as dont get my test kit from wal-mart I'm ok right?)
" am I missing something here is it really necessary to be that precise"
" I have never even heard of borate we need a pro here"
I currently use,
seachem reefstatus calcium
seachem reefstatus magnesium/carbonate/borate (three tests kits one box)
redsea ph/alkalinity (two tests one box)
Apex controller for ph and temp as well as the other great benefits of a controller.
I also use an API reef test for nitrate/nitrite, ammonia, ph
My concern is that both tests I have for alkalinity involve a certain amount of guestimation and I feel if I am going to test everyday I might as well know exactly what the alk is and not Oh well it took .2 ml for the color change on the seachem test so it means my total alk is 2.0 meq/l but based on this hokie redsea color comparator my alk is 2.2-2.5 meq/l.
So what is everyone else using? do you read in dkh or meq/l and should I be testing for borate alkalinity?
Based on reading the interpretation in the seachem instructions it says I should maintain a total alk of 4-5 meq/l with a borate component of 1.5-2.0 meq/l.
Does anyone run their alk that high and test for borate alk regularly?
My current up to the minute params are,
total alk 2.3-2.6 meq/l range
borate alk 1.0 meq/l
calc 420
magnesium 1250
po4 .05
ph 8.30
temp 76.5
sg 1.026
I did post this in the reef chemistry but the best answer I could get was,
" as long as dont get my test kit from wal-mart I'm ok right?)
" am I missing something here is it really necessary to be that precise"
" I have never even heard of borate we need a pro here"