Are These Parameters OK?

texhorns98 · 12/15/2008, 11:35 AM

PH-8.4
Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-20
Phos-0
Alk-12 (214ppm)
Cal-520

I only have a few LPS and some ricordia in there now. I would like to try my hand at an easy SPS soon. Am I OK with these levels?

DevilBoy · 12/15/2008, 11:46 AM

they dont look too bad.

bring the nitrates down if you can to around 5ppm.

your alk and ca are high. What salt you using? whats your salinity? are you dosing any ca or alk products?

what test kit you using?

IslandCrow · 12/15/2008, 11:50 AM

Agreed. I wouldn't start adding SPS until you can bring those nitrate levels down to what DevilBoy suggested. Same for alkalinity and calcium. . .probably a little higher than you want (or more importantly, need) to maintain. You may also want to keep an eye on your magnesium levels. If those get too low, you can start getting precipitation with high calcium/alkalinity levels.

texhorns98 · 12/15/2008, 12:02 PM

I'm using Reef Chem salt and my S.G is 1.024. The only supplements I dose are Reef Code A and B. Does it matter that I tested right after a water change? I'm using API tests and also used a Sera test to double check the calcium. My caclium is usually around 420 or so, but my alkalinity has always been 12 degrees.

Michael · 12/15/2008, 12:10 PM

alk is slightly high, then again not seriously, id be interested in your magnesium reading, as mentioned calcium is high, however nothing to get into a panic about, but still quite high, aim for mag 13-50-1400, alk 8-10 and calcium 400-440, there will be some disagreements on these levels but they are near good levels, and as devil boy mentioned, what salt you using

texhorns98 · 12/15/2008, 12:21 PM

Sorry, not Reef Chem salt. SeaChem Reef Salt is what I use.

Reverend Reefer · 12/15/2008, 02:21 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by texhorns98
I'm using Reef Chem salt and my S.G is 1.024. The only supplements I dose are Reef Code A and B. Does it matter that I tested right after a water change? I'm using API tests and also used a Sera test to double check the calcium. My caclium is usually around 420 or so, but my alkalinity has always been 12 degrees. [/QUOT

usually right after a water change my params are perfect. you must have a lot of nitrates if they're that high right after a water change?

Michael · 12/15/2008, 02:33 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Reverend Reefer

Quote:

Originally posted by texhorns98
I'm using Reef Chem salt and my S.G is 1.024. The only supplements I dose are Reef Code A and B. Does it matter that I tested right after a water change? I'm using API tests and also used a Sera test to double check the calcium. My caclium is usually around 420 or so, but my alkalinity has always been 12 degrees. [/QUOT

usually right after a water change my params are perfect. you must have a lot of nitrates if they're that high right after a water change?

water changes alone wont always reduce nitrates to 0, FWIW 20 isnt very high, many reefs run at these levels, yes 0 is the way to go but 20 isnt sky high, just higher than optimum levels

Reverend Reefer · 12/15/2008, 03:33 PM

ah! thanks for the info mike!

texhorns98 · 12/15/2008, 03:50 PM

Yeah, my nitrates are between 10-20 all the time. I'm sure my calcium might be elevated with a bunch of new water in there, right? If my alk is high, what can I do to keep it in check?

IslandCrow · 12/15/2008, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Yeah, my nitrates are between 10-20 all the time. I'm sure my calcium might be elevated with a bunch of new water in there, right? If my alk is high, what can I do to keep it in check?

To address the calcium and alkalinity levels, I'd just back off the part A&B. Don't do anything to bring them down. They'll do that all on their own. How are you deciding how much to dose? If you haven't been using it already, this is a very valuable tool: http://reef.diesyst.com/chemcalc/chem_calc3.html. And if you haven't read this already, it'll help keep your levels correct: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

CoRPS · 12/15/2008, 09:34 PM

Just a tip. Take your water to a LFS and have them test your nitrates. I apparently had a faulty API test kit that was telling me 20 for months and it was worrying me. Took it to two LFS and it came back at zero. Bought a new API test kit and it has been a consistent zero since.

DevilBoy · 12/15/2008, 10:37 PM

seachem reef salt is why your levels are high. seachem is high in ca to begin with. they also add either bromine or some other additive to give a false high alk reading.

texhorns98 · 12/16/2008, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DevilBoy
seachem reef salt is why your levels are high. seachem is high in ca to begin with. they also add either bromine or some other additive to give a false high alk reading.

Time to switch salts then? I have 2 API nitrate tests, actually. One cam with my saltwater master kit and one came with my reef master kit. I've avoided opening the 2nd one because of shelf life, but I'll go ahead and do it to check. I take water with me every time I go to the LFS and they are getting the same readings on nitrates as I am.

12/15/2008, 11:35 AM	#1
texhorns98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 732	Are These Parameters OK? PH-8.4 Ammonia-0 Nitrite-0 Nitrate-20 Phos-0 Alk-12 (214ppm) Cal-520 I only have a few LPS and some ricordia in there now. I would like to try my hand at an easy SPS soon. Am I OK with these levels?

12/15/2008, 11:50 AM	#3
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Agreed. I wouldn't start adding SPS until you can bring those nitrate levels down to what DevilBoy suggested. Same for alkalinity and calcium. . .probably a little higher than you want (or more importantly, need) to maintain. You may also want to keep an eye on your magnesium levels. If those get too low, you can start getting precipitation with high calcium/alkalinity levels. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

12/15/2008, 12:10 PM	#5
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	alk is slightly high, then again not seriously, id be interested in your magnesium reading, as mentioned calcium is high, however nothing to get into a panic about, but still quite high, aim for mag 13-50-1400, alk 8-10 and calcium 400-440, there will be some disagreements on these levels but they are near good levels, and as devil boy mentioned, what salt you using __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

12/15/2008, 02:21 PM	#7
Reverend Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 883	[QUOTE]Originally posted by texhorns98 I'm using Reef Chem salt and my S.G is 1.024. The only supplements I dose are Reef Code A and B. Does it matter that I tested right after a water change? I'm using API tests and also used a Sera test to double check the calcium. My caclium is usually around 420 or so, but my alkalinity has always been 12 degrees. [/QUOT usually right after a water change my params are perfect. you must have a lot of nitrates if they're that high right after a water change? __________________ - Rev. Tank: 65G glass 48" long tank; Sump/Fuge: 30G. Lighting: LEDs+single T5 strip. Maintenance: ATO Kalkwasser + 10% weekly WC, daily feedings LPS+Softies dominated.

12/15/2008, 03:33 PM	#9
Reverend Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 883	ah! thanks for the info mike! __________________ - Rev. Tank: 65G glass 48" long tank; Sump/Fuge: 30G. Lighting: LEDs+single T5 strip. Maintenance: ATO Kalkwasser + 10% weekly WC, daily feedings LPS+Softies dominated.

12/15/2008, 11:46 AM	#2
DevilBoy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wooster, Ohio Posts: 1,724	they dont look too bad. bring the nitrates down if you can to around 5ppm. your alk and ca are high. What salt you using? whats your salinity? are you dosing any ca or alk products? what test kit you using?

12/15/2008, 12:02 PM	#4
texhorns98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 732	I'm using Reef Chem salt and my S.G is 1.024. The only supplements I dose are Reef Code A and B. Does it matter that I tested right after a water change? I'm using API tests and also used a Sera test to double check the calcium. My caclium is usually around 420 or so, but my alkalinity has always been 12 degrees.

12/15/2008, 12:21 PM	#6
texhorns98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 732	Sorry, not Reef Chem salt. SeaChem Reef Salt is what I use.

12/15/2008, 03:50 PM	#10
texhorns98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 732	Yeah, my nitrates are between 10-20 all the time. I'm sure my calcium might be elevated with a bunch of new water in there, right? If my alk is high, what can I do to keep it in check? Last edited by texhorns98; 12/15/2008 at 03:56 PM.

12/15/2008, 09:34 PM	#12
CoRPS Big Time Reefer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: P-RINE Posts: 2,887	Just a tip. Take your water to a LFS and have them test your nitrates. I apparently had a faulty API test kit that was telling me 20 for months and it was worrying me. Took it to two LFS and it came back at zero. Bought a new API test kit and it has been a consistent zero since.

12/15/2008, 10:37 PM	#13
DevilBoy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wooster, Ohio Posts: 1,724	seachem reef salt is why your levels are high. seachem is high in ca to begin with. they also add either bromine or some other additive to give a false high alk reading.