Question about water testing and chemicals

judith · 03/29/2006, 11:40 PM

Good evening everyone, long time lurker, first time poster.

I am just starting my first attempt at a reef tank (I only plan to try a few corals until I have more knowledge and experience) and have a very basic question.

Here goes. I am accustomed to testing for PH, Ammonia, Nitrite & Nitrate using the Saltwater Master Liquid Test Kit by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals and need some advice on the additional testing needed for pristine water conditions for a reef tank.

Could someone give me a list of additional tests I should do on a regular basis (beyond the 4 basic ones I do now) in order of importance? Are there any brands that are more accurate than others?

Also, I looked at a friend's Calcium and General Hardness test kits (can't remember the brand) and was surprised to find that you did not do them the same as I'm used to. What I mean by this is instead of adding a specific number of drops and then after time comparing the color to a chart, this brand has you add reagents 1 & 2, (with some mixing etc.) and then a drop of reagent #3 then shake, repeat, repeat, repeat, then multiply by 20 etc. until it turned from pink to purple. No chart. Nothing I'm used to.

So the question is, are many or all of the additional tests I'll need to do for a reef done this way, (counting drops, multiplying, etc.) or is it just this particular brand? I know this may sound silly but this is the beginners forum, and that is what I am as far as reef tanks. Any and all replies appreciated.

Also, I bought some LR from a LFS which was from an established tank that a customer had torn down, and the corraline algea is beautiful pink and purple and completely covers 4 small roundish pieces and the rest have some but not a lot on it which we bought for base of structure that we are building in front of the corner overflow in a brand new 75 gallon tank.

I would also like to know if anyone uses PurpleUp, what do
you think of it, and will it help the pieces with just small areas of algea on it turn red/purple quicker? We bought them to help cycle the tank which has 40 pounds of dry argonite covered with 40 pounds of live argonite, and we have built a small structure out of pvc pipe (no glue of course) to give us a little more volume for our small 30 pounds of LR. We will continue to buy more as the budget allows.

I know there are some extremely knowledgeable people in this forum, and for that, thank you in advance for sharing.

bertoni · 03/30/2006, 12:27 AM

To Reef Central

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

That article is a good place to start.

I would skip the Purple-Up, since it's basically uncontrolled dosing of a mix of elements. Keeping the basic water parameters under control should do the job.

Sk8r · 03/30/2006, 01:55 AM

I like the Salifert tests precisely because there's no color chart---never can tell colors, myself. You shoot the final solution into a test tube with a syringe, and you read the syringe for the exact level at which the solution you've been dropping drops into turns color in reaction. You get numbers, no question. Hint: you don't have to do 50 odd separate drops. If you have an idea of the ballpark point where it's going to react, just shoot a bit in to get close to that number, then start drop-by-dropping. You'll see a color 'flash' in the tube when it's about to turn. As---I know my tank isn't going to react on alk testing until it reaches about 5 to 4, so I just gloss the higher numbers. If I ever should be surprised by an early color 'flash' I'd re-run the test the slow way and be sure.
For a reef tank your most useful tests are salinity, temperature (use two thermometers, not the same kind), alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium. The last three are an inter-related group: dosing one can affect the others. You'll read a lot about that in the reef chemistry forum, and the article Bertoni points you to is worth reading whenever you have troubles. It's helpful to test a lot early on, and to keep a written journal so you know what your tank was yesterday and what you added. Test 24 hours after additives.

Rob Martin · 03/30/2006, 06:16 AM

Somebody posted a downloadable aquarists log on RC recently,already designed & ready to roll....well handy!

judith · 03/30/2006, 09:54 AM

Jonathan - Thank you for the quick reply, the welcome and the article which I will read ASAP. I'll not waste the money on the PurpleUp, thanks

Sk8r - Thanks for all the information and your opinion. I'm going to keep it in mind and get a test kit that contain them all if possible.

Lastly, Rob - Would you happen to know the location of this post as I would love to start out right with an appropriate log as I keep one for my seahorse and other small tanks.

I appreciate the feedback everyone, don't stop now. The more the merrier.

03/29/2006, 11:40 PM	#1
judith Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4	Question about water testing and chemicals Good evening everyone, long time lurker, first time poster. I am just starting my first attempt at a reef tank (I only plan to try a few corals until I have more knowledge and experience) and have a very basic question. Here goes. I am accustomed to testing for PH, Ammonia, Nitrite & Nitrate using the Saltwater Master Liquid Test Kit by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals and need some advice on the additional testing needed for pristine water conditions for a reef tank. Could someone give me a list of additional tests I should do on a regular basis (beyond the 4 basic ones I do now) in order of importance? Are there any brands that are more accurate than others? Also, I looked at a friend's Calcium and General Hardness test kits (can't remember the brand) and was surprised to find that you did not do them the same as I'm used to. What I mean by this is instead of adding a specific number of drops and then after time comparing the color to a chart, this brand has you add reagents 1 & 2, (with some mixing etc.) and then a drop of reagent #3 then shake, repeat, repeat, repeat, then multiply by 20 etc. until it turned from pink to purple. No chart. Nothing I'm used to. So the question is, are many or all of the additional tests I'll need to do for a reef done this way, (counting drops, multiplying, etc.) or is it just this particular brand? I know this may sound silly but this is the beginners forum, and that is what I am as far as reef tanks. Any and all replies appreciated. Also, I bought some LR from a LFS which was from an established tank that a customer had torn down, and the corraline algea is beautiful pink and purple and completely covers 4 small roundish pieces and the rest have some but not a lot on it which we bought for base of structure that we are building in front of the corner overflow in a brand new 75 gallon tank. I would also like to know if anyone uses PurpleUp, what do you think of it, and will it help the pieces with just small areas of algea on it turn red/purple quicker? We bought them to help cycle the tank which has 40 pounds of dry argonite covered with 40 pounds of live argonite, and we have built a small structure out of pvc pipe (no glue of course) to give us a little more volume for our small 30 pounds of LR. We will continue to buy more as the budget allows. I know there are some extremely knowledgeable people in this forum, and for that, thank you in advance for sharing.

03/30/2006, 12:27 AM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	*To Reef Central* http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php That article is a good place to start. I would skip the Purple-Up, since it's basically uncontrolled dosing of a mix of elements. Keeping the basic water parameters under control should do the job. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/30/2006, 06:16 AM	#4
Rob Martin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South East England Posts: 120	Somebody posted a downloadable aquarists log on RC recently,already designed & ready to roll....well handy! __________________ I'm a Prawn again Crustacean. Current Tank Info: 30kg live rock,coral gravel substrate.

03/30/2006, 01:55 AM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I like the Salifert tests precisely because there's no color chart---never can tell colors, myself. You shoot the final solution into a test tube with a syringe, and you read the syringe for the exact level at which the solution you've been dropping drops into turns color in reaction. You get numbers, no question. Hint: you don't have to do 50 odd separate drops. If you have an idea of the ballpark point where it's going to react, just shoot a bit in to get close to that number, then start drop-by-dropping. You'll see a color 'flash' in the tube when it's about to turn. As---I know my tank isn't going to react on alk testing until it reaches about 5 to 4, so I just gloss the higher numbers. If I ever should be surprised by an early color 'flash' I'd re-run the test the slow way and be sure. For a reef tank your most useful tests are salinity, temperature (use two thermometers, not the same kind), alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium. The last three are an inter-related group: dosing one can affect the others. You'll read a lot about that in the reef chemistry forum, and the article Bertoni points you to is worth reading whenever you have troubles. It's helpful to test a lot early on, and to keep a written journal so you know what your tank was yesterday and what you added. Test 24 hours after additives. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/30/2006, 09:54 AM	#5
judith Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4	Jonathan - Thank you for the quick reply, the welcome and the article which I will read ASAP. I'll not waste the money on the PurpleUp, thanks Sk8r - Thanks for all the information and your opinion. I'm going to keep it in mind and get a test kit that contain them all if possible. Lastly, Rob - Would you happen to know the location of this post as I would love to start out right with an appropriate log as I keep one for my seahorse and other small tanks. I appreciate the feedback everyone, don't stop now. The more the merrier.