Water condition testing

[evik]

What are the best and accurate tests of water condition. I'm using Red Sea's Marine Lab and it depends on color shades and I don't like it. Would you recommend something more accurate?

 

[NYreefNoob]

sulifert

 

[evik]

sulifert

Thank you, I goggle it and looks better. I was hoping for something digital. Raised in Europe and being computer programmer I like accuracy, I now I'm probably asking to much, but I just assumed with something so delicate like a reef we need accurate measurements.

 

[NYreefNoob]

most of the testing digital equiptment isnt worth it as well as having to be dialed in, hopefully this answer's your question on a controller also, depending on what corals you plan to get you might get a ph monitor or controller, but the ac jr controls lights ph temp ect. thats the one i have, but have the saliferts for testing

 

[Sean]

Electronic testing is great.
so are good chemical test kits

post #9 has a list of pinpoint monitors and controllers
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/aquatic-creations/35263-drop-ship-dry-goods.html

http://www.americanmarineusa.com/overview.html


there are also all in 1 controllers that test for ph,orp, and temp so with these you'll still need to test for other things like calcium, Alk, nitrate and so on.
http://www.aquadyne.com/Product.htm

 

[evik]

Thank you Sean :wink1:

Well, I did all the tests I have again, I'm trying to find what is going on in my tank.

NO2 0
NO3 40 low range
pH 8.6
Alk 0.08
Ca 460
PO4 0.05

Can you please help me to see what is wrong, or what else I should test.

 

[KathyC]

Is there a particular issue you are having with your tank? If so, it would help if you described your concern

Can you tell us what measurement you are reading for your Alk? ml's? meq/L?

 

[evik]

Hi Kathy, I started my 29 gal reef about 2 years ago and have only easy to keep corals like zoos, LPS, mushrooms,... since I have 196W PC. I'm doing 5 gal water change every week, so far everything was doing fine. Lately I noticed some zoos are shrinking, but other once multiply, even some mushrooms shrinks, some getting lighter, and they are in different areas. I got few new frags at the Swap and they doing just so, so. Maybe some pictures will help what I'm talking about. I will try to take some tomorrow.
Alkalinity test is in Milli equaivalents per liter.

 

[KathyC]

Ahhh..zoas..lol,they do some strange things often with no reason, though sometimes with reason. Some days my mushrooms are larger than others, sometimes by twice as much. Have yet to figure that out.
Pics would help

Is the Alk reading from the Red Sea kit? What does thier infomation say is 'normal'?

 

[evik]

Yes it's Red Sea's Marine Lab and the color shade of Alkalinity is in the middle of Low bracket. I was concern about that, and somebody recommended Aqua C Complete - balance calcium & alkalinity supplement, this is the first chemical I putting in aquarium, I'm against that, but was desperate for help. I though the low alkalinity was the reason. So far after three days no change, not even in alkalinity reading :scratchch

 

[KathyC]

There isn't anything wrong with using some additives, most especially a 2 part Alk/Ca type. Most of the folks here use ESV B-Ionic.

If your calcium numbers are fine and you only want to increase your Alk, only add the Alk supplement. Directions should be on the bottle that tell you how much to add daily to increase your reading by 'x' amount.
It's important that you test each day to see how much product it takes to get you to where you want your numbers to be.
From your description of yor tank, I doubt it's using a lot of alk up..what kind of salt are you using?

Due to the recent issues with the Salifert Alk test kits, a number of folks have been using the Lamotte test kit for that reading.
You might also want to get a Magnesium test kit as it plays a role in keeping your alk/ca numbers stable.

Will try and send you a link later on this, it's in my other computer.. (anyone else have the link handy on balanced readings?)

 

[evik]

Here are some picture of the problem condition in my aquarium. Mushrooms are shrinking, or discoloring, zoos doesn't open and getting smaller, but others are fine, just don't know. I just got new camera and don't know yet the good setting for better pictures, sorry.

 

[KathyC]

Is that poor thing a brain?? Whatever it is, it's in rough shape.
I find it odd that your cloves aren't dead..they are on the delicate side and usually melt when things are going wrong in a tank.

Any progress on getting the alk up yet?

You didn't say what kind of salt you are using.
It would be good to run your Ca/alk tests on a batch of your freshly made SW as your water changes may well be knocking your numbers back down as you try to increase them (did that make sense to you? lol)

I would agree that your corals are reacting to your parameters being out of whack. How much extra alk are you adding and are you doing it daily?

..and btw..looks like you're going to have a really nice tank there!!

 

[evik]

Thank you Kathy, I forgot to include a picture of whole tank.

You are probably right with the salt !!!!!!! I was always using Tropic Marine PRO and few months ago I acidentaly ordered Tropic Marine. And shame on me I didn't do proper testing. I'm alway testing just salinity and tempreture before water change. What do you test with new salt? Tommorrow I will test all the tests I have.

 

[KathyC]

Very nice tank..you have a lot going on in there!!!

Not shame on you..but always good to know what numbers you are getting straight out of the bucket. Not a bad idea to test each time you get a new bucket in case you need to make any adjustments
Seems each type of salt out there is low or high in something or other!

Some folks make the adjustments to their fresh SW before they add it to their tanks. I know of a number of people who run their phosban reactors on it too..wish I was that organized!
Nice thing is all they are adding is ..perfect water...the garbage never even hits the tank in the first place.
Good food for thought

Good for you for at least testing the salinity AND temp!!