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Post by doverdoug on Jun 5, 2014 17:32:13 GMT -5
My 37g has been up a year now and although everything is alive the polyp extentions are small and my frags look better in ops' tanks than my own. Ive been using reef crystals since day one and as I usually only mix 5 gallons of new water my big 3 always seem screwed up. I tested last sunday and it was Mg1800
Kh9.2
And I was scared to test calcium because it always says too high.
I have just a few stoney corals so there might not be much demand for the minerals and was thinking of switching to regular instant ocean and dosing once the numbers came down.
Any suggestions?
Im using red sea kits,
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Post by jasonandsarah on Jun 5, 2014 20:02:55 GMT -5
Reef crystals had always been spot on for me..... have you ever tried testing your newly mixed water to see what the parameters are before it hits the tank?
If your not dosing Idk how your mag is getting up to 1800? That's high. 9.2 dkh is fine I actually ruin mine higher but there's nothing wrong with it.
What is high for calcium?
If you want to switch to IO because you don't think you need as much additives the no reason not to. I use reef crystals and still have to dose daily to maintain my levels.every tanks different. I also use red sea to test cal, mag and dkh
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Post by Pokahpolice on Jun 6, 2014 7:35:06 GMT -5
What is your salinity? And what are you using to test with? Mix up a batch of new water and test it freshly mixed and let us know what you come up with.
1800 is high but not off the charts and these tests are very sensitive. It doesn't take much to be off by a couple hundred points. I often question my results. What I do to very the accuracy is test my parameters and then take a sample of the same water to my LFS and have them test it. Compare the two.
Its important to set up some controls that double check the accuracy of the test. By testing the freshly mixed water and having someone else test the same water you tested you can accomplish this.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Jun 6, 2014 7:58:23 GMT -5
I use red sea test kits just like he does and personally my test are always spot on. My mag only varies 10-20 ppm due to depletion in the system and not the test being off. 1800 mag is pretty high though considering they tell people to be careful at 1700 and normal is 1360-1400 for most people especially in a mixed reef.
Red sea test kits are very accurate imo. Always smart to get a second opinion though like Bruce said. Try to bring it to easy or something though because pet co uses api test and they're not gonna help you for accuracy.
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Post by doverdoug on Jun 6, 2014 8:53:53 GMT -5
I'm mixing some water now so I'll test it and post the results later. You asked what high calcium was Jason, the last time I tested it was 580 but I've seen it as high as 650 before!? There could definitely be some user error in there I should test more and definitely get someone else to test it also.
Salinity runs about 33 to 34 ppt.
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Post by Pokahpolice on Jun 6, 2014 9:26:36 GMT -5
You're right 1800 is really high..sorry brain fart, I was thinking 1600
Where are you getting these numbers from? Red Sea test kits (which is what I use as well) only go up to 1600mg and 500ca.
Are you dosing?
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Post by jasonandsarah on Jun 6, 2014 9:27:10 GMT -5
Yeah that's definitely high cal for 33 34 specific gravity.
Things I've read can affect your testing results are.... testing at different times of the day. You should try to test your tank about the same time of day when you can as parameters can fluctuate at night time and for various reasons.
Are you adding any kind of other supplements? Purple up or anything like that?
Can you list any and all things your dosing? Would help also.
I'm thinking admit getting my water sent out to a lab to be tested so I can know exactly what's in my water. I'd rather have it tested at a lab then go out and buy 15 different test kits. I want to know how much iron, copper and stuff like that is in my tank if any.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Jun 6, 2014 9:30:04 GMT -5
You're right 1800 is really high..sorry brain fart, I was thinking 1600 Where are you getting these numbers from? Red Sea test kits (which is what I use as well) only go up to 1600mg and 500ca. Are you dosing? Bruce they do say in the instructions if you use all the titrant without reaching the end color to refill the syringe. Never happened to me but it does say it. |
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Post by Pokahpolice on Jun 6, 2014 9:44:19 GMT -5
You are correct again...I never had that problem
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Post by jasonandsarah on Jun 6, 2014 10:32:08 GMT -5
Yeah I've never had that problem either. I have to dose daily so my only problem is usually when my levels get a little low. That's why I bought a doser. I just thoroughly read instructions and have a tendency to retain useless information.
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Post by doverdoug on Jun 7, 2014 6:00:53 GMT -5
I think I may be either doing the test wrong or not shaking up the bag of salt enough before I mix my water. Tested my mixed water and got this,
Kh 13.4
Ca 600
Mg 1980
Sal 34ppt
Think ill pick up a larger mixing tank so that I can mix full bags from now on. Also maybe pick up a new test kit.
As for additives in the dt I was soaking frozen salmon in kent microvert and seachems reef plus before feeding.
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Post by Pokahpolice on Jun 7, 2014 9:22:22 GMT -5
I would lean toward doing the test incorrectly. Bring a sample to someone to test for you and see what they get.
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Post by jasonandsarah on Jun 7, 2014 10:06:17 GMT -5
Do you still have the instructions that came with the red sea test kit? I know then like the back of my hand but still keep them out anytime I'm testing and skim through just to be sure I'm not mixing anything up. Every test is different.
I also wrote in permanent maker what ml of water goes in the vital on the cap and they're all labeled for cal, alk and mag
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Post by speedyron on Jun 7, 2014 18:08:31 GMT -5
let me come over and test with my kit tomorrow
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