test results

[RedTurboMr2]

hi guys, i need a lil help. here's my results of new RO/DI water and results from the water in my tank.

RO/DI water "mixed with Instant Ocean 1.023"

CA = 280ppm
KH = 2.8meq-L / 7.8dKH
MG = 1000ppm
PH = 8.2
NH3/4 = 0.35ppm
NO2 = 0ppm
NO3 = 0ppm

Tank water

CA = 390ppm
KH = 2.8meq-L / 7.8dKH
MG = 1100ppm
PH = 8.0
NH3/4 = 0.10ppm
NO2 = 0ppm
NO3 = 2ppm

I need to raise a few of my levels. I keep reading in threads that i should do some water changes to bring up my magnesium, but my question is, how will water changes raise my mag if my RO/DI has a lower magnesium level than my tank. i'm currently dosing my tank with Reef Advantage Magnesium from Seachem. I'm also dosing my tank twice a week with Reef complete and Reef carbonate.

 

[disc1]

Your RODI water should be absolutely pure. It should read zero for all of those things.

Are you talking about the water after you make it up with salt mix? What salinity level are you mixing to?

 

[Habib]

The RO/DI is I assume with the salt mix already in it?

The calcium and magnesium results are so low that it is either a too low salinity, testing error or a not so good saltmix.

I would check salinity first.

 

[RedTurboMr2]

ah sorry, yea, its mixed. i'm using instant ocean. 1.023

 

[Habib]

ah sorry, yea, its mixed. i'm using instant ocean. 1.023

Salinity is on the low side. However, correcting this will still give a low reading on calcium and magnesium.

I think IO has higher values, and a lowe alkalinity.

How are you testing?

FWIW, other IO could chime in, knowing the normal values for that salt mix.

 

[RedTurboMr2]

PH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate were tested with API, and Calcium, Alk and Mag were tested with Red Sea. Salinity with a floating hydrometer, i'm gonna be purchasing a refractometer to see if i get different results.

edit: just placed an order for a refractometer "RHS-10ATC", will i need the fluid to calibrate it when i get it, or is the fluid only for after a few uses. It didn't come with any fluid.

 

[bertoni]

I would buy or make a calibration fluid. Here's a link to some DIY recipes:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-06/rhf/index.htm

Calibration with distilled water or RO/DI can be very inaccurate.

 

[RedTurboMr2]

cool, i'll look into that. what should the magnesium level be at with new RO/DI saltwater? I'm not sure what's causing these low numbers,

 

[bertoni]

IO should be something like 1300-1400 ppm at 1.0264 SG.

 

[RedTurboMr2]

hmm, i wonder if i had a bad batch of salt from the start, i'm not sure why, but i never tried testing the new mixed saltwater, i was always just checking my tank. I now know to check the new water also. I'm trying to look around to see if i can find different salt, but all i see is IO and bags of reef crystals. Looks like i'll probably get another bucket of IO, but i'm gonna make sure to test it right away.

I now have another question, i bought the AquaClear 110 and it comes with three filtering items "sponge, carbon, bio". Should i be using the bio? I've never had it in my previous filter "penguin", and now my aquarium is acting differently. I don't know if it's because of the bio, or from something else i did to the tank. I'm getting quite a bit of hair algae all over the glass and rock/sand. The colors of algae that i'm seeing is mostly green, then some brown, and finally a lil red slime algae. The things that i've changed in my tank were lights, filter and powerheads. I also stirred up the sand bed, so that i could re-arrange my rockwork. i've fighting this issue for a couple weeks now

 

[RedTurboMr2]

here's a link to my other thread, might be some clues for you sherlocks
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2120552

Thanks guys, i appreciate the help

 

[RedTurboMr2]

a lil update

i bought some new Instant Ocean salt and here's the results.....

Calcium = 390ppm
Alkalinity = 10dKH
Magnesium = 1260ppm
PH = 8.2
Ammonia = 0.25ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
Nitrate = 0ppm

And here's where my tank sits at now w/dosing CA, KH and MG

Calcium = 440ppm
Alkalinity = 9.2dKH
Magnesium = 1300ppm
PH = 8.2
Ammonia = 0ppm
Nitrite = 0ppm
Nitrate = 0ppm

I guess my last batch of salt was a bad batch, i never thought of testing the new salt before, but now i know to check it I'm happy that this batch is good, since there isn't many different brands where i live, all i see is IO and reef crystals "in small bags". I know that i can order some online, but there's usually an additional 20$ shipping charge cause of size.

As for the algae, i scrubbed it all off with a toothbrush, and it was ok for a couple days, but i now see it coming back I'm still waiting for my phosphate kit to come in, but i don't think that's the problem, since i'm feeding my clown and shrimp with a turkey baster, so i know that I ain't over feeding the tank. Could it be because of the shock i gave the tank by changing lights, filter, pumps all within a week? My snails are eating some of it, but on the back of the glass, there's a couple spots that's pretty long and they don't seem to want that. I'm taking out as much of it as i can, but some of it is in tight places.

 

[bertoni]

Those changes might have had some effect. I might try some GFO, though. personally.

 

[RedTurboMr2]

I'll look into that, thx