Back when I was a truck/auto mechanic, I would have "noobs" in my charge, and what I tried to teach them, above everything else, was the importance of getting down to the basics while diagnosing problems. The same kind of thinking followed me into this hobby. I can't tell you how many times I asked a noob here on RC what their perameters were while trying to solve their tank issues.
Well, it appears that I overlooked the basics in diagnosing my tank issues. I bought semi obscure test kits (Strontium, Magnesium, a $150. PO4 colorimeteretc) while thinking that the big three problems (Ammo, Trite and Trate) were below me considering the frequent, huge water changes I have been doing, and ample amount of live rock in my system.
Although I know full well the symptoms of elevated levels of Ammo, Trite and Trate, I had to be backed into a corner before I would pick up test kits to check mine. I found Ammonia to be very slightly elevated, store had no Trite kits, and Nitrate is at about 40 PPM.
Looks like I have finally identified my problem.
The point of this rambling post is that your time/experience in the hobby doesn't make you immune to the simple things. If you have a problem to diagnose, start at the beginning.
Well, it appears that I overlooked the basics in diagnosing my tank issues. I bought semi obscure test kits (Strontium, Magnesium, a $150. PO4 colorimeteretc) while thinking that the big three problems (Ammo, Trite and Trate) were below me considering the frequent, huge water changes I have been doing, and ample amount of live rock in my system.
Although I know full well the symptoms of elevated levels of Ammo, Trite and Trate, I had to be backed into a corner before I would pick up test kits to check mine. I found Ammonia to be very slightly elevated, store had no Trite kits, and Nitrate is at about 40 PPM.
Looks like I have finally identified my problem.
The point of this rambling post is that your time/experience in the hobby doesn't make you immune to the simple things. If you have a problem to diagnose, start at the beginning.
