Newbie Testkit Excitement!

[thebanker]

After reading all these vodka dosing threads, I figured I better know for sure what my nitrate and phosphate levels are before I dump Grey Goose into my pride and joy. (only the best for my babies)

So I got my Reef Master Test Kit today at lunch and I can't wait to get home and start testing! Hell yes! Look at those scientific bottles! Marvel at the color swatches! Joke about the crack vials! Feel the excitement!!!!

How does everyone do it?
Do you get water from the bottom of the tank or the top?
Holy crap I'm excited.

[Sisterlimonpot]

It doesn't matter where you grab the water from (it’s all going to test the same). Use a syringe, I try to keep the test tubes out of the water because the chemical residue can be bad for the tank, as far as vodka dosing, if you do decide dosing, you don't need the expensive stuff... as a matter of fact I think you will make quite a few people mad. Get the cheapest stuff you can buy and save the good stuff for yourself.

[scuba guy ron]

funny isnt it. I actually love testing. I keep a weekly journal so that I can see changes happen over time. I try to do my tests the same time every week just before the lights come on. I take the water being tested directly from the top of the tank. What i do is just get a throw away plastic cup and fill the viles from that cup. Always rinse your viles with tank water prior to testing to rid of any reminence of previous tests.

Have fun, and good luck!

[thebanker]

Originally posted by Sisterlimonpot
It doesn't matter where you grab the water from (it’s all going to test the same). Use a syringe, I try to keep the test tubes out of the water because the chemical residue can be bad for the tank, as far as vodka dosing, if you do decide dosing, you don't need the expensive stuff... as a matter of fact I think you will make quite a few people mad. Get the cheapest stuff you can buy and save the good stuff for yourself.

I didn't think about the syringe. I think I'm going to use whatever came with the kit, or a little plastic bottle to fill the vials.

And about the brand, I'm joking of course... but don't think I won't do it. If it makes other reef keepers mad, then I'll do it for sure.

[scuba guy ron]

keep us posted on your results

[JLAURIA751]

Here is something to consider alot of alcohol is distilled in copper kettles, vodka included. I know kettle one prides itself on distilling in small copper kettles. I think I would try to stay away from a vodka distilled using copper kettles.

[Sisterlimonpot]

I don't think that copper in vodka is a problem

[thebanker]

Originally posted by Sisterlimonpot
I don't think that copper in vodka is a problem

+1 on that... i think if anything trace amounts of copper would help prevent ich. (to a small degree)

[milkit]

this may be totally out of line, but from what I have read dosing vodka its not something that should be done by newbies as it can cause serious problems.

if your just now testing for nitrates and phosphates....maybe you should wait a bit longer to take a huge step like that?

[Sisterlimonpot]

Originally posted by milkit
this may be totally out of line, but from what I have read dosing vodka its not something that should be done by newbies as it can cause serious problems.

if your just now testing for nitrates and phosphates....maybe you should wait a bit longer to take a huge step like that?

Good point, I agree but not because YOU are a newbie but your TANK is and it has a lot of maturing and leveling off to do before you jump into it carbon dosing. However if in 6+ months down the road you're battling high N and P then vodka may be the answer.

i think if anything trace amounts of copper would help prevent ich. (to a small degree)

The problem with copper is that you don't want it in a reef tank because it will kill off your corals and inverts very quickly.

[thebanker]

Originally posted by milkit
this may be totally out of line, but from what I have read dosing vodka its not something that should be done by newbies as it can cause serious problems.

if your just now testing for nitrates and phosphates....maybe you should wait a bit longer to take a huge step like that?

Yeah you may be right. I'm going to wait a little longer... maybe. Now what am I going to do with this vodka? Drink it?

[thebanker]

The results are in!

PO4 - 0.25 ppm
NO3 - 10-20 ppm
Ca - 480 ppm
kH - 143.2 ppm

Ok, knowing this, and knowing that I began my tank in April and I'm battling (constantly) diatoms and green hair algae... should I dose vodka?

I'm running a 10,000k PC and Actinic PC for about 9 hours a day.

[badwrasse]

you mean your KH is 14.32 I hope ( dont know how you got the .32 though but ok)

have your done a water change?

I think I would learn good husbandry before jumping in to vodka dosing JMO

[Sisterlimonpot]

I went through all kinds of algae and diatom blooms in the beginning stages of my tank. It's normal and part of the tanks maturing process

[thebanker]

Originally posted by badwrasse
you mean your KH is 14.32 I hope ( dont know how you got the .32 though but ok)

have your done a water change?

I think I would learn good husbandry before jumping in to vodka dosing JMO

I do mean 143.2 ppm KH, not dKH. The dKH is 8. I'm going by the manual in the API kit.

I've water changes, every 2 weeks with NSW from day 1. I'm not a noob to proper aquarium husbandry. Also, I've had my water tested every 2 weeks at my local LFS, but I finally saddled up and bought my own kit.

I think, and hope, that the GHA blooms are over! Not to mention the diatoms. I'm thanking Great Poseidon that the mother#%$^@ red slime is gone.

[spw4949]

I would wait to start dosing vodka, your system is so new, just give it time to mature.................my .02

[thebanker]

I'm going to wait on the vodka dosing. So far the nutrient levels are fairly low, so the algae should naturally die off.

I have a SeaClone skimmer which I think kinda sucks, although it does the trick and starts pulling dark dry foam within24 hours after each cleaning. I know it's not "the best" - but is it the worst skimmer money can buy? I'm running it off a MaxiJet 1200.

I hear the AquaC remora and the Tunze skimmers are better... but they're more $$ than I can afford right now... pictures of my rig to come...

[milkit]

i read something the other day saying that a skimmer should never be "more than you can afford" because a good skimmer always ends up paying for itself, and I couldnt agree more

I found a DAS EX-1 skimmer used for $100 bucks ($300 new) and it is a beat. its rated up to 125g and would be a bad mofo on your tank. That $100 is totally worth all the corals/fish/etc youre goingto save in the long run, and cause you to spend less on algae remedies, etc. a $100 skimmer when you are going to be filling your tank with lots of $50 corals and and fish is chump change

id lurk in the sale forums and find a good one for cheap

[thebanker]

What is the best skimmer technology? Venturi, needle-wheel, or spray injection? I'm thinking spray is probably the best.

People usually like the Tunze or the AquaC's... i just wonder why someone would be selling a good one for cheap, and if so, will a used skimmer work nearly as well as a good one, what with the crusty mineral deposits and such...?

[KillerReef]

thebanker, I see you are in Orange County. How close to Garbage Grove are you? Marine Depot has pretty good prices on equipment and they are local. I got the Vertex IN-100 skimmer and it is great, built very well and under $200. Best part is they don't charge shipping over 175 and being so close, you get it the next day like it was overnighted. They also have will call if you don't want it shipped...
just my .02

[MrHarvard]

If anyone is looking to buy a skimmer you have got to get one of these......These skimmers are made by the owenr of a LFS in my area and everyone who has one can tell you that they are the best made hands down....I think its safe to say that in the next couple of years when word starts to travel they will be the only skimmer anyone is using. Here is a link to some happy customers who have purchased them. Its unreal the amount of skimate they pull out of a tank....

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1670044

[naubound]

I use reefcon pro to track my parameters it shows line charts, pie charts and bar graph you can keep track of all of your live stock and equipment as well. Really cool program. You can find older versions for free online. I believe I use reefcon pro 1.6