Questions

Pigpen80 · 02/15/2009, 10:28 AM

What is the best test kit for water parameters?

The wife picked up some salt from lfs, and it contained to test kits from red sea. It test ph alk am nitrates, nitrites.

What is a good line up of chemicals for a reef system?
I have iodine, calcium, coral buffer, stron/myb, and phytoplankton
to start.

phish guy · 02/15/2009, 10:34 AM

i used to use red sea kits, nice and easy though i wanted something a bit more precise, so changed over to Salifert.

as far as the doses go, i dose calcium, magnesium and buffer (kent coral builder) everynow and then i do put a drop or 2 of Lugols iodine in there, but i dont test for it so i dont dose it regularly. i try to only add what i test for.

saltkreep88 · 02/15/2009, 10:35 AM

Elos test kits are thought to be the best but u will pay for it. Salifert test kits are very reliable and not as hard on the pocket. From my experience Red Sea ph and alk tests are very unreliable, i would not not use them in something u have a lot of money invested in. The nitrate and nitrate might be ok? As for good supplements this depends on ur tanks needs, how stocked your tank is? I would look into dripping kalk, will cover your alk and calcium.

jon99 · 02/15/2009, 10:46 AM

Many people (myself included) use salifert test kits http://www.geocities.com/hans1976/Salifert.html For pH I'd recommend an electroni pH meter. You can find a decent used one for about $50.

Use the Red Sea test right now since you have them. I use to use those when I first started (it was all my LFS carried). They seemed ok.

As far as what you should be dosing, the main 3 are calcium, carbonate (alkalinity/buffer), and magnesium. Don't add anything that you are not testing with a test kit. Iodine is often not recommended because of the possibility of overdosing. Many people have awesome tanks and never add it. Stron/molyb is fine, but again test it before and after adding. Phyto is again not essential but may be helpul. However, most agree that if you use it, get the refrigerated LIVE phytoplankton. The store shelf stuff very likely does little if anything to feed your tank.
Here is a good read on what water parameters you should be contorling with chemicals etc....
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

kfisc · 02/15/2009, 10:55 AM

Salifert or Elos if you can afford it; tests are one of those things not to scrimp and save on. I and many others add nothing beyond a balanced two-part additive such as B-Ionic. I have no confidence in the overwhelming majority of additives and believe them to be simple profit centers for unscrupulus retailers.

Pigpen80 · 02/15/2009, 12:17 PM

PHISH huh? double meaning username?

I have a fluval 204 canister, cpr bak pak2r+, penguin 350 bio weel, and about 70 lbs of live rock.

I am taking out the fluval, maintainence sucks, and I have read they can help feed algea.

I have a scooter, clown gobie, 2chromis, and a bubble coral. Sand substrate, 12 small blue leg hermits, 2 marg snails, and 2 turbos.

The reason for the post to begin with is that I have continually have an algea prob.

phish guy · 02/15/2009, 01:02 PM

yeah, sadly i dont think im gonna make it to any of their shows. maybe at Bonnaroo but last time i went there its was annoying.

id stop dosing the stronium and remove the actual wheel from the penguin. after i did my hair algae plague got much more manageable. i would also recomend adding a hang on refugium. fuges help out alot, i know mine did. if you dont want to pay alot for one, a modded Aquaclear will do the trick.

drparker · 02/15/2009, 03:04 PM

Take the canister and bio-wheel out add other pumps to make for flow loss. What is your water source? Phosphate could also be feeding your algae problem. Look into getting an RO/DI filter if you don't have one.

As other have said I use both Elos and Salifert kits plus a pH meter. I run Alkalinity tests weekly and dose even parts of a 2-part calcium and alkalinity daily. Monthly I test calcium and magnesium. every two months I test for nitrates and phosphates just to make sure I'm not developing a problem. If anything is out of whack I test daily while dosing until it's back in the correct range. While figuring out how much calcium and alkalinity I needed to dose daily I check those every day.

Run your tests at the same time of day before dosing.

If you don't test for it don't add it.

Article on what chemicals must be supplemented

Pigpen80 · 02/15/2009, 06:56 PM

DR Parker, I am in the south burbs in chicago. (joliet area) what Stores you go to in the area? I am in sales too, and cover a wide territory. Hopefully some of the stores you suggest I can swing by while im out.

drparker · 02/15/2009, 11:05 PM

Welcome to RC Pigpen80! The Chicago Marine Aquarium Society has a sub forum here on RC CMAS. They are having a big frag swap on the 21st, you should check it out if you can, don't have to be a member just pay $5 cover at the door.

I regularly go to Sea Schor in Buffalo Grove near Dundee and Buffalo Grove RD. I also go to Beyond The Reef in Schaumburg on Golf in the shopping center with Rockler behind the big PetLand at Golf and Roselle.

02/15/2009, 10:28 AM	#1
Pigpen80 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Minooka, IL Posts: 293	Questions What is the best test kit for water parameters? The wife picked up some salt from lfs, and it contained to test kits from red sea. It test ph alk am nitrates, nitrites. What is a good line up of chemicals for a reef system? I have iodine, calcium, coral buffer, stron/myb, and phytoplankton to start.

02/15/2009, 10:34 AM	#2
phish guy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South NJ Posts: 1,003	i used to use red sea kits, nice and easy though i wanted something a bit more precise, so changed over to Salifert. as far as the doses go, i dose calcium, magnesium and buffer (kent coral builder) everynow and then i do put a drop or 2 of Lugols iodine in there, but i dont test for it so i dont dose it regularly. i try to only add what i test for. __________________ Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people. Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon Reef, Reeftech LEDs ( on their way out for reefbreeder Photons), Reef Octoput NWB250, Custom made Sump/Refufium, Mp40wES, Koralia's. SPS, LPS, Zoas/Palys

02/15/2009, 10:46 AM	#4
jon99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atl Ga Posts: 817	Many people (myself included) use salifert test kits http://www.geocities.com/hans1976/Salifert.html For pH I'd recommend an electroni pH meter. You can find a decent used one for about $50. Use the Red Sea test right now since you have them. I use to use those when I first started (it was all my LFS carried). They seemed ok. As far as what you should be dosing, the main 3 are calcium, carbonate (alkalinity/buffer), and magnesium. Don't add anything that you are not testing with a test kit. Iodine is often not recommended because of the possibility of overdosing. Many people have awesome tanks and never add it. Stron/molyb is fine, but again test it before and after adding. Phyto is again not essential but may be helpul. However, most agree that if you use it, get the refrigerated LIVE phytoplankton. The store shelf stuff very likely does little if anything to feed your tank. Here is a good read on what water parameters you should be contorling with chemicals etc.... http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php __________________ Current tank: 210 gallon mixed reef 2x250w radium, 1x400w radium, 2x vortech mp40, 2 seaswirls. 40 gallon frag tank 250w radium, vortech mp10, seaswirl. 55 gallon sump w/ remote DSB, turf scrubber, SR Current Tank Info: 210 in the works

02/15/2009, 12:17 PM	#6
Pigpen80 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Minooka, IL Posts: 293	thanks PHISH huh? double meaning username? I have a fluval 204 canister, cpr bak pak2r+, penguin 350 bio weel, and about 70 lbs of live rock. I am taking out the fluval, maintainence sucks, and I have read they can help feed algea. I have a scooter, clown gobie, 2chromis, and a bubble coral. Sand substrate, 12 small blue leg hermits, 2 marg snails, and 2 turbos. The reason for the post to begin with is that I have continually have an algea prob.

02/15/2009, 01:02 PM	#7
phish guy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South NJ Posts: 1,003	yeah, sadly i dont think im gonna make it to any of their shows. maybe at Bonnaroo but last time i went there its was annoying. id stop dosing the stronium and remove the actual wheel from the penguin. after i did my hair algae plague got much more manageable. i would also recomend adding a hang on refugium. fuges help out alot, i know mine did. if you dont want to pay alot for one, a modded Aquaclear will do the trick. __________________ Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people. Current Tank Info: 150 Gallon Reef, Reeftech LEDs ( on their way out for reefbreeder Photons), Reef Octoput NWB250, Custom made Sump/Refufium, Mp40wES, Koralia's. SPS, LPS, Zoas/Palys

02/15/2009, 10:35 AM	#3
saltkreep88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Southern NJ Posts: 127	Elos test kits are thought to be the best but u will pay for it. Salifert test kits are very reliable and not as hard on the pocket. From my experience Red Sea ph and alk tests are very unreliable, i would not not use them in something u have a lot of money invested in. The nitrate and nitrate might be ok? As for good supplements this depends on ur tanks needs, how stocked your tank is? I would look into dripping kalk, will cover your alk and calcium.

02/15/2009, 10:55 AM	#5
kfisc Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,020	Salifert or Elos if you can afford it; tests are one of those things not to scrimp and save on. I and many others add nothing beyond a balanced two-part additive such as B-Ionic. I have no confidence in the overwhelming majority of additives and believe them to be simple profit centers for unscrupulus retailers.

02/15/2009, 03:04 PM	#8
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	Take the canister and bio-wheel out add other pumps to make for flow loss. What is your water source? Phosphate could also be feeding your algae problem. Look into getting an RO/DI filter if you don't have one. As other have said I use both Elos and Salifert kits plus a pH meter. I run Alkalinity tests weekly and dose even parts of a 2-part calcium and alkalinity daily. Monthly I test calcium and magnesium. every two months I test for nitrates and phosphates just to make sure I'm not developing a problem. If anything is out of whack I test daily while dosing until it's back in the correct range. While figuring out how much calcium and alkalinity I needed to dose daily I check those every day. Run your tests at the same time of day before dosing. If you don't test for it don't add it. Article on what chemicals must be supplemented

02/15/2009, 06:56 PM	#9
Pigpen80 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Minooka, IL Posts: 293	DR Parker, I am in the south burbs in chicago. (joliet area) what Stores you go to in the area? I am in sales too, and cover a wide territory. Hopefully some of the stores you suggest I can swing by while im out.

02/15/2009, 11:05 PM	#10
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	Welcome to RC Pigpen80! The Chicago Marine Aquarium Society has a sub forum here on RC CMAS. They are having a big frag swap on the 21st, you should check it out if you can, don't have to be a member just pay $5 cover at the door. I regularly go to Sea Schor in Buffalo Grove near Dundee and Buffalo Grove RD. I also go to Beyond The Reef in Schaumburg on Golf in the shopping center with Rockler behind the big PetLand at Golf and Roselle.