Finally got my test kits, you tell me?

Passinetti2007 · Mar 14, 2007

Allrighty then. I finally got my salifert test kits so I'm posting my levels and you tell me what you think. I'm clueless to some of this and have no idea if it's good or bad and what I should do about it if it's bad.

My ph meter needs to be calibrated and I have no idea how but I took a reading of the ph to see how it worked so if it's super scary don't be alarmed it just needs to be adjusted but who knows maybe it is correct I have no clue.

PH: 7.3
Temp: 80.1
Salinity: 1.023
Nitrite: zero!!!
Nitrate: 10 ppm
Alkalinity: 10.6 dKH or 3.77 meq/L
Phosphates: .25 ppm
Calcium: 460 ppm

Thats all I'm testing right now because the cost was so high. Please let me know what I should do to adjust any of this.

Scooterman · Mar 14, 2007

I would suggest doing more frequent water changes until you can reduce your Nitrite & Phosphates, also what what your feeding to make sure it is eaten up quickly, don't see ammonia so I'm guessing you have something on that also. Calcium is a tad high but wouldn't fret, your not far off, the Wc's help balance things out. Few questions, being my reply is based on your results, what name brand test kits are you using, why is your calcium that high are you supplementing, what are you measuring salinity with, are you keeping corals, what salt brand are you using? These questions can actually help get you better responses on your levels. I would not do anything sudden or add stuff to try & make things better, stick to WC's, & take it slow you'll be better off in the long run.

Mr.pH · Mar 14, 2007

General procedure for pH meter calibration: http://www.ph-meter.info/pH-electrode-calibration

Consult you owners manual about details.

Passinetti2007 · Mar 14, 2007

Scooterman said:
I would suggest doing more frequent water changes until you can reduce your Nitrite & Phosphates, also what what your feeding to make sure it is eaten up quickly, don't see ammonia so I'm guessing you have something on that also. Calcium is a tad high but wouldn't fret, your not far off, the Wc's help balance things out. Few questions, being my reply is based on your results, what name brand test kits are you using, why is your calcium that high are you supplementing, what are you measuring salinity with, are you keeping corals, what salt brand are you using? These questions can actually help get you better responses on your levels. I would not do anything sudden or add stuff to try & make things better, stick to WC's, & take it slow you'll be better off in the long run.

I'm pretty sure you meant nitrAte because my nitrItes can't get any lower then zero. I'm not sure why my Cal is up so high I don't supplement. I only have 2 stony corals that can be kept without MH lighting, the rest are softies like xenia and zoos. I use oceanic for my brand of salt and I use a refracometer to measure salinity. I don't seem to over feed I'm more worried about under feeding then anything. I am concerned however, I noticed my last clown dead this morning. Perhaps he got stressed since I was in the tank for over an hour trying to get my new skimmer to work. Thats all I can think of. Any thoughts?

Passinetti2007 · Mar 14, 2007

thanks for the ph calibration. Can someone tell me if most LFS sell ph calibration buffer?

Scooterman · Mar 14, 2007

oceanic is known for that, check your PH at different times during the day, don't panic if it is slightly off, I would not buffer just yet until you know that it is continually low or lower. You might of had a spike of some sort, when playing with the skimmer did you spook it? How long have you had the fish? Keep & eye on your alk & can levels if you continue to use this salt mix, I've read several mixed opinions on it. Do your WC's to help clear up your NitrAtes LOL.

Passinetti2007 · Mar 14, 2007

so do you think my meter is ok I don't know what is a good pH and what isn't at this point. I thought I needed to buy some thing to test the calibration of the thing. If it's fine then I won't buy the buffer