New Test Results? Now what?

[partobe]

Hi Everyone
I've been doing 6 gallon water changes each day over the past few day as instructed. Here are the new results. Do I need to continue with the water changes or let it ride?
Ph = 8.4
Nitrate = 20 or less
calcium = 500
Alk = I'm not sure how to read the Salifert alk test the syringe stopped between 0.5 and 0.6. I did the lower resolution.
Please let me know what you think?
Thanks
Patrick

[abigtroutt]

Your Alk is a little on the low end. You want it to be arround 0.38 but not above 0.24 or lower then 0.56

I say PH good
Nitrates good
Ca good ..I keep mine at 440

[partobe]

thanks Bill! How do I bring the alk up? I have supper buffer but it had it way too high last week thats why I did the water changes. I'm wondering now if I misread the test results last week. I really have no idea how to read that test results

[abigtroutt]

you testing with 4ml or 2ml?

[partobe]

I used the 2 ml

[three90s&125sump]

I would personally keep on with the water changes untill my nitrates were below 10.

[abigtroutt]

use the 4ml its alot easier! Then use the chart on the right side of the directions.

[partobe]

thanks abigtroutt and three90s ok will do

[partobe]

I retested it using the 4m instead of the 2ml this time the syringe stopped between the 0.2 and the 0.3. I still dint know what that means?

[abigtroutt]

what is the exact reading 0.2X to .3X

[partobe]

0.25 -0.30

[zxcv123]

http://www.hobbyoutletsales.com/Sali...Alkalinity.pdf

if it stoppped betweeen .3 and .2 then the dkh is around 12

is this in low resoulution mode

[abigtroutt]

that looks good 0.28 would give you a reading of 11.5 kh and 4.11 Alk

[zxcv123]

Originally Posted by abigtroutt

that looks good 0.28 would give you a reading of 11.5 kh and 4.11 Alk

yup its where you want it.

did you add the KH regant dropwise? If you didnt and squirted a whole bunch in and then it turned pink then it could be wrong.
You need to add it a drop at a time and swirl until the last drop makes it go pink/ orange

[partobe]

Thanks Bill and John thats the 4ml so then it's ok? What are good readings for alk?