Testing Results from the year.....

[Darryl_V]

Hey Guys...thought it might be neat and informative to share my testing results for the year.  Dont worry there wont be a lot since I only run 3 tests (alk,ca,mg) once per month.  NO3 and PO4 last tested over a year ago and I couldnt get the hanna PO4 to register anything and the NO3 was .2ppm.  I should do another PO4 test out of curiosity (if I can find the time).  Also I would do a NO3 test as well but my kit expired on that one and dont want to buy a new one.

I try to run the tests at the beginning of every month....also I bump the levels up after the tests so they start out good. I find it easier to run the dosers a little slow and bump it up at the end of the month...no worry of over dosing a little bit and having the numbers creep up which is harder to deal with.  Alk is only bumped in .5dkh amounts per day and ca 50ppm and mg 100ppm.  The numbers I bump to are 8dkh, ca 410ppm, mg 1250.....although mg I only bother to bump up every 3 months or so cuz it doesnt drop fast.

APRIL
ALK 7.5dkh
CA 350ppm
MG 1200ppm

Skipped may apparently

JUNE
ALK 6
CA 350
MG 1200

JULY
ALK 8
CA 350
MG 1200

AUG
ALK 7
CA 390
MG 1200

SEPT
7
385
1175

OCT
7
325
1100

NOV
5.5
370
1200

DEC
8
350
1320

JAN
7
320
1320

FEB
8
370
no mg test

MAR
8.5
350
1050

APRIL 2012
7
300
1200

 

[teebone110]

Consistent stable params are key, and it looks like this is one of the reasons why you keep such a successful reef. Even with the slight dip in DKH, the levels dropped slowly so it didn't have a dramatic effect on your tank. Its good practice to test monthly just in case things start going off target.

 

[Darryl_V]

Ya....at least monthly.  I know my tank pretty well and I wouldnt go longer personally.

That lower alk level was surprising (and didnt have a negative effect on the tank, wouldnt want it lower though).....but yes it doesnt drop fast, it happens slowly over the month.  I really end up adding a lot of calcium at the end of the month because I use IO and it's generally low in ca and high in alk..from what I remember anyway.

Looking at the numbers makes me think I can raise the dosing pumps a bit.....hard to mess with whats working though.

 

[ROGERWILCO357]

I thought that higher dkh at 10-12 was suppose to optimal even the water at dr.fosters tanks for their sps show their alk alot higher what are your thought ? closer to natural sea water parameters are best? or is just the flavor of the month to each likings as long as they are stable?

 

[Gietz]

Sea water Alk is suppose to be between 7 - 8. But some like it higher for faster growth.

 

[Darryl_V]

Sea water Alk is suppose to be between 7 - 8. But some like it higher for faster growth.

Nothing to back up the claim that higher dkh = faster growth.  Some used to think that a few years ago but you will find most people are keeping there alk lower these days and achieving great results.