today's water test results

[mrarturocampos]

Temp. 78.2
Ph 8.3
Salinity. 1.023
Calcium 480
Photo. 0
Nitrites. 0
Nitrate. 0
Ammon. 0
Alkalinity. 11
Mg. 1600

Hey guys, I've started testing my water religiously about 2 months ago, and these were my results today. I dose kalk+2 at night. My biggest problem has been keeping my ph and alk up, that's why I dose kalk+2. But now I think my calcium and mg are a bit high. I'm thinking about stopping the kalk+2 till the calcium and mg go down and dose aquavitro eight.four to maintain ph and alk up...any thoughts and/or suggestions are greatly appreciated it

[Zen Reef]

I wouldn't chase a number for ph. As long as its in range and more importantly, stable then you're fine. How much Kalk are you dosing?

You're alk and ph is in the higher range as it is. What are you wanting to get it to?

[mrarturocampos]

I'm only dosing 3/4 tsp in a drip at night. Well the ph and alk are where I want them to be, but I think the calcium and mg are high

[Reefnub]

Is this a reef tank or fish tank cuz yo salinity is low for reef tank.


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[mrarturocampos]

Reef, should it be at 1.025?

[Scutterborn]

I keep my reef at 1.025.

Your pH, Mg and Alk are both in the upper range already. Calcium looks good though.

One thing I've learned from this hobby is to not chase numbers. More people get into major issues when they are trying to get to a "Magic number".


- Ben -

[mrarturocampos]

Oh I see, I'll raise my alkalinity tomorrow. Now if I don't add anything my ph drops to 7.8 and alk to 9-10... do you consider those parameters still good?

[ramsey]

Oh I see, I'll raise my alkalinity tomorrow. Now if I don't add anything my ph drops to 7.8 and alk to 9-10... do you consider those parameters still good?

I wouldn't worry about your ph. I think 9-10dkh for alk is good it you're not carbon dosing. It you are, you probably want alk at about 7dkh. However, keeping alk stable is the key.

[mrarturocampos]

I don't dose carbon but I run carbon thru a reactor, is that what u mean?

[Zen Reef]

I think he means vodka dosing, biopellets, or other means of adding a carbon source to help elevate bacteria levels.

There are things to consider with your ph before making adjustments. First i would see what my ph is doing through the day. Start recording your ph before the lights come on (this should be the lowest your ph will get) and again right before your whites turn off for the day(this should be your highest). If the difference between the 2 numbers is below .2-.3 then you're fine. If there's a larger difference then it'll take more looking into. It's better to try to pinpoint the cause first rather then just using additives right off.

Do you run a fuge? If so, put the fuge on an opposite light cycle to the main tank. Is your flow breaking the water surface some for gas exchange? Is your tank in an open area of the home? Depleted oxygen levels in will also cause ph to drop. Opening a window helps.

[mrarturocampos]

Oh ok, I will test the ph throughout different times if the day, yes I run a fugue but I have the light on 24/7, my flow doesn't break the water surface and I think it's pretty open, it has a canopy but the top and back are open.. I don't think my ph drops below those number but I will find out.... Should I run a small air pump? Thanks everyone for the input

[rrasco]

I wouldn't worry about your ph. I think 9-10dkh for alk is good it you're not carbon dosing. If you are, you probably want alk at about 7dkh. However, keeping alk stable is the key.

Why is that Ramsey?

[alton]

Is this a SPS tank? And how are you keeping your nitrates at 0 or is this tank not stocked or stocked very lightly?

[ramsey]

Why is that Ramsey?

I don't know of any science behind it, so take it with a grain of salt. However, I've seen numerous posts on RC about RTN and bleaching with high alk and carbon dosing. If you search around in the SPS forum, you'll see what I mean. Natural sea water is 7dkh so that's what I shoot for (this is also what zeovit recommends). Again, I'm not sure about any science behind it.

[ramsey]

Oh ok, I will test the ph throughout different times if the day, yes I run a fugue but I have the light on 24/7, my flow doesn't break the water surface and I think it's pretty open, it has a canopy but the top and back are open.. I don't think my ph drops below those number but I will find out.... Should I run a small air pump? Thanks everyone for the input

I wouldn't recommend running lights on your fuge 24/7. Macros need "downtime" too. I'd do what psycho recommends and run it opposite of your display lights.

[Flyride95]

I completely agree with running your fuge light opposite from your display light. If you run it 24/7 you will end up with unwanted algae in your sump and your macro need a day/night cycle.

[rrasco]

Algae needs a respiration period, something like 18 hours on and 6 off is ideal. Time the off period with when your DT lights are on, to counter the pH swings as mentioned.


I don't know of any science behind it, so take it with a grain of salt. However, I've seen numerous posts on RC about RTN and bleaching with high alk and carbon dosing. If you search around in the SPS forum, you'll see what I mean. Natural sea water is 7dkh so that's what I shoot for (this is also what zeovit recommends). Again, I'm not sure about any science behind it.

Hmm, okay. Wasn't sure if it discouraged the bacteria at higher alks or something.

[mrarturocampos]

Oh ok i will do that as well....I do water changes every two weeks, I have a big clean up crew and a large skimmer....my tank is pretty stocked