Test Results are in.

VolitanFF · 03-02-2007, 09:28 PM

ok.. its 7 days since I got my live rock in my 125 gallon tank for curing.. I ran some tests tonight to see where things are..

Salinity: 1.025
ph: 8.0
alk: 5.53 meq/l
KH: 15.5 dkh
nitrate: 10
nitrite: 0.25
Ammonia: 0.50
Ca: 380
Temp: 80

not sure what to think of this.. first time using salifert tests on the ph,alk and ca.

the rest of the tests were done with the Aqau Pharm test kits.

TheReefer12 · 03-02-2007, 09:50 PM

Looks like you have some die off. That is a good sign that your tank is cycling. Remember, don't rush things.

VolitanFF · 03-02-2007, 10:15 PM

ok.. a little mistake on some of the first results.. but the next results are still confusing..

ok.. I retested the alk and KH

here is results from a Red Sea Test kit

alk 2.3 meq/L
PH 8.0

Salifert

alk 3.93meq/L
KH 11.0 dkh

which one do I believe???

and do you think this is bad?

I had my wife run calculator on the first attempt.. not sure she did it right.. I read the instructions carefully and restested twice with the salifert test and came up with the results I have now.. this atleast looks a little more where it should be now also..

VolitanFF · 03-02-2007, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheReefer12

Looks like you have some die off. That is a good sign that your tank is cycling. Remember, don't rush things.

yes I was happy to see a full reading all the way to nitrates..

no doubt has a way to go before its finished.. I will let it run its course and then let it become stable before I place anything in it.. I am going to keep the fish bio-load low in this tank I am thinking.. I want to keep alot of different corals in it in time. mostly Softies and LPS.. not sure I wanna try to battle the SPS out with the Softies and LPS.. doesnt sound very successful from I what I read..

Loverotties · 03-02-2007, 10:34 PM

Skimmer going crazy?

VolitanFF · 03-03-2007, 12:54 AM

yeah the skimmer is pulling alot of skimmate right now

russbriscoe · 03-03-2007, 05:52 AM

AWESOME!!! I cant wait to set up my new tank. I am at a stand still right now. I believe my new 500gal sump will be in this week and then it is off to the home depot for PVC and glue. I hope to have my live rock in my sump room by the third week in april.

VolitanFF · 03-03-2007, 10:55 AM

russbriscoe - holy wow.. sounds like you are gonna have a nice huge setup

PVC pipe is cheap.. its all the valves and fittings that will add up to 100.00 dollars before ya know it.. I plumbed everything on my 125 in pvc.. no flexible tubing on anything. My last setup I had it all plumbed with that see through tubing and any light that shines into it will start to grow algae in it.. and that restricts the flow.. I figure with white pvc nothing should grow in it?

are you going to cook your live rock? I decided to sorta kinda cook mine right in my tank .. I have no sand in the tank now.. and I have alot of flow in the tank right now to help blast any of the dead stuff off the rock.. I have three seio 1100 GPH, Mag 7 and a Cap 2200 sitting in the tank right now moving water around. along with my Mag 12 return pump, but I have that throttled back a little bit for slower flow in the sump to let the skimmer eat more of the water up before it gets returned to the display.

I could yammer on and on about this stuff.. I am re-addicted to this hobby.. I was out of it for a few years and have gotten back into it big time..

russbriscoe · 03-03-2007, 11:59 AM

Last time I did not cook my rock, but I only had it up about a year before I moved. I may cook it this time. The only problem I have with that is the waiting. I want to get a tank up and running NOW!!! Maybe I will get a nano to settle that reefbug I have and then I can move my nano into my sons room after I get mine running. How long does it take to cook the rock? and dont you have to wash it off all the time? It seems like a lot of work.