Water Testing!

Montanareefer · 01-09-2004, 03:20 PM

Well I must confess I have not tested my water in ages! Not a good thing for a responsible reefer!

So I went to the LFS and of coarse they don't have all the tests I want so that was a bummer!

I bought the fastest Master kit (same manufacturer of Instant Ocean) but only has ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and PH.

So with what I was able to test the following readings showed up:

PH: 7.8 maybe a bit higher

Ammonia: 0.0

Nitrate- 10

Nitrite- 0.2

They did not have an any tests for calcium, alkalnity(sp) which I wanted badly.

Hard to believe a LFS that deals in reef stuff does not have all the required test kits.

Anybody want to send me a test each of calcium and alkalinity and I will send the money as I need to know whether to drip kalk or not.

Well at least I am back to testing what I should have done a long time ago!

EdgeKrusher · 01-09-2004, 03:35 PM

Have you though of ordering them through one of our sponsors? I have a very hard time finding CA and ALK tests here in the Twin Cities. I just ordered them through Marinedepot.com. That way I get exactly what I want. Just a thought.

Peace

EK

Montanareefer · 01-09-2004, 03:51 PM

Yeah EK may have to do that!

Scooterman · 01-09-2004, 03:54 PM

yea I just order online as much as it hurts, it is usually cheaper., So what Ya waiting for?

Montanareefer · 01-09-2004, 03:56 PM

Hey ScottA. Something to do with money shortage and no credit cards!

EdgeKrusher · 01-09-2004, 04:08 PM

Good point. I belive that most have PayPal accounts also. Not 100% on that though. Something to look into.

Gina · 01-09-2004, 04:12 PM

Montanareefer,
If you wish we could check our LFS where we got our test and see if they have CA and Alkalinity for saltwater. If they do we can get it for you and mail them to you. Let me know if you would like for us to check, we haven't been there for a couple of weeks so I imagine Mark will want to go tomorrow.

Gina

F355GTB · 01-09-2004, 04:16 PM

Johnny,
I could send you a Red Sea calcium test that I don't use. I bought a Salifert. The Red Sea seems to be about 25 ppm higher than the Salifert. PM me your address & I'll send it out tomorrow.

John

cleartank · 01-09-2004, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Montanareefer

So with what I was able to test the following readings showed up:

PH: 7.8 maybe a bit higher

Ammonia: 0.0

Nitrate- 10

Nitrite- 0.2

What's up with a Nitrite reading above 0.0? PH seems low?

Montanareefer · 01-09-2004, 11:25 PM

What's up with a Nitrite reading above 0.0? PH seems low?

It is the lowest reading on the test!

fidojoe · 01-10-2004, 12:19 AM

If you are talking about the aquarium pharm. test kits, they are junk! I had one, and found out that it was giving me false readings for the year I had it.

sharks · 01-10-2004, 12:36 AM

Montana,
To bad you opened the kit

I would have suggested Salifert over any other kit.
I would have also stressed NOT to get the master kit. You should never see Ammonia or Nitrite in an established reef. So you would have been better off getting the fastest REEF kit. If your LFS has the master they can get the reef kit. It has Ca, Alk, and phosphate( I believe)
And then just pick up the PH kit.

Any way if you go online go Salifert.
Get the PH, Alk, and Ca. The rest of the tests you probably won’t use. I bought all their kits and they are the only ones I use regularly.

Also like Joe said the fastest aren’t that reliable.
HIH
S

Montanareefer · 01-10-2004, 09:47 AM

Hey Sharks! Even though I totally agree with you unfortunately my LFS only had that master kit and I don't use credit cards and the way the mill where I work is so unstable money becomes an issue.

I would love to get a Salifert master kit but will have to wait until I get back to work on a more steady level.

Any way I have another hobbyist checking her LFS for some kits to send me! Thanks everyone for your input!

Gina · 01-10-2004, 09:51 AM

That we are Montanareefer!

Montanareefer · 01-10-2004, 09:54 AM

I will be keeping my fingers crossed Gina!

01-09-2004, 03:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Montanareefer Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,334 View Gallery Karma Komment	Water Testing! Well I must confess I have not tested my water in ages! Not a good thing for a responsible reefer! So I went to the LFS and of coarse they don't have all the tests I want so that was a bummer! I bought the fastest Master kit (same manufacturer of Instant Ocean) but only has ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and PH. So with what I was able to test the following readings showed up: PH: 7.8 maybe a bit higher Ammonia: 0.0 Nitrate- 10 Nitrite- 0.2 They did not have an any tests for calcium, alkalnity(sp) which I wanted badly. Hard to believe a LFS that deals in reef stuff does not have all the required test kits. Anybody want to send me a test each of calcium and alkalinity and I will send the money as I need to know whether to drip kalk or not. Well at least I am back to testing what I should have done a long time ago!

01-09-2004, 03:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
EdgeKrusher Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eden Prairie, MN Posts: 716 View Gallery Karma Komment	Have you though of ordering them through one of our sponsors? I have a very hard time finding CA and ALK tests here in the Twin Cities. I just ordered them through Marinedepot.com. That way I get exactly what I want. Just a thought. Peace EK __________________ ((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º> ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸>< ((((º>¸¸.·´¯`·.¸. `·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º>¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.

01-09-2004, 03:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
Scooterman Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Posts: 1,210 View Gallery Karma Komment	yea I just order online as much as it hurts, it is usually cheaper., So what Ya waiting for? __________________ Scott Ardoin (Ard-Dwan)

01-09-2004, 04:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
EdgeKrusher Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eden Prairie, MN Posts: 716 View Gallery Karma Komment	Good point. I belive that most have PayPal accounts also. Not 100% on that though. Something to look into. __________________ ((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º> ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸>< ((((º>¸¸.·´¯`·.¸. `·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º>¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.

01-09-2004, 04:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,829 View Gallery Karma Komment	Montanareefer, If you wish we could check our LFS where we got our test and see if they have CA and Alkalinity for saltwater. If they do we can get it for you and mail them to you. Let me know if you would like for us to check, we haven't been there for a couple of weeks so I imagine Mark will want to go tomorrow. Gina __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

01-09-2004, 03:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
Montanareefer Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,334 View Gallery Karma Komment	Yeah EK may have to do that!

01-09-2004, 03:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
Montanareefer Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,334 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hey ScottA. Something to do with money shortage and no credit cards!

01-09-2004, 04:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
F355GTB Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Eastern PA Posts: 61 View Gallery Karma Komment	Johnny, I could send you a Red Sea calcium test that I don't use. I bought a Salifert. The Red Sea seems to be about 25 ppm higher than the Salifert. PM me your address & I'll send it out tomorrow. John

01-09-2004, 11:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
Montanareefer Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,334 View Gallery Karma Komment	What's up with a Nitrite reading above 0.0? PH seems low? It is the lowest reading on the test!

01-10-2004, 12:19 AM	#11 (permalink)
fidojoe Fish Addict Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 1,581 View Gallery Karma Komment	If you are talking about the aquarium pharm. test kits, they are junk! I had one, and found out that it was giving me false readings for the year I had it. __________________ *Member "Crabs Are Evil" Society* My Tank: 90g AGA, 18g tall sump, CSS 220 w/ meshmod impeller, 4x54w Tek T5 retro w/ IC reflectors, Kalk reactor w/ aquamedic niveaumat system, a few SPS, LPS, zoos, and a few softies, 2 Ocellaris Clowns (hosted by both a RBTA and GBTA), Yellow Watchman, Potter's angel, Yellow Tang, Foxface, Midas Blenny, Purple Pseudo, huge brittle star, 2 tigertail cukes, fire shrimp, snails, and unfortunately two emerald crabs (the bubble algae got out of control).

01-10-2004, 12:36 AM	#12 (permalink)
sharks Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 843 View Gallery Karma Komment	Montana, To bad you opened the kit I would have suggested Salifert over any other kit. I would have also stressed NOT to get the master kit. You should never see Ammonia or Nitrite in an established reef. So you would have been better off getting the fastest REEF kit. If your LFS has the master they can get the reef kit. It has Ca, Alk, and phosphate( I believe) And then just pick up the PH kit. Any way if you go online go Salifert. Get the PH, Alk, and Ca. The rest of the tests you probably won’t use. I bought all their kits and they are the only ones I use regularly. Also like Joe said the fastest aren’t that reliable. HIH S __________________ The sea monkey has my money 220G fish only tank ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120G Reef 2 250W 65K MH’s. 2 VHO Actinics LifeReef filter/skimmer/20G REF 200LB Kaelini Rock . 2-3” DSB. Various, LPS, SPS, clams, leathers, and others Numerous fish ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> View my Photo Gallery><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º>

01-10-2004, 09:47 AM	#13 (permalink)
Montanareefer Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,334 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hey Sharks! Even though I totally agree with you unfortunately my LFS only had that master kit and I don't use credit cards and the way the mill where I work is so unstable money becomes an issue. I would love to get a Salifert master kit but will have to wait until I get back to work on a more steady level. Any way I have another hobbyist checking her LFS for some kits to send me! Thanks everyone for your input!

01-10-2004, 09:51 AM	#14 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,829 View Gallery Karma Komment	That we are Montanareefer! __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

01-10-2004, 09:54 AM	#15 (permalink)
Montanareefer Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,334 View Gallery Karma Komment	I will be keeping my fingers crossed Gina!

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