- Joined
- Apr 13, 2016
- Messages
- 373
- Reaction score
- 122
I started my tank in mid september. It is a reefer 250 with a refugium and sump so total gallons is about 75. I used IO salt as my beginning salt mix (plannin to change to reef crystals after I start running out) I cycled with no light for about a month. After that I did a water change ( 20%)and added my first livestock, 2 fish and one torch coral. I let things settle until next day and I read my parameters. (Using hanna nitrate, pH and phosphate readers with saliferts calk and alk test kits)
10/29 (1st reading added torch and two fish)
pH: 8.0
Alkalinity: 7.3
Nitrate: 29.4
Phosphate: 0.0
Salinity: 1.025
Calcium: 410
Everything has been looking great and chaeto is growing and no algae in my display (it almost looks too clean which kind of worries me) I was not planning to do a water change as my goal is to do monthly water changes.
Read parameters today and got the following:
11/4
pH: 8.4
Alkalinity: 6.4
Nitrate: 35.6
Phosphate: 0.05
Salinity: 1.026
Calcium: 410
I expected the nitrate and phosphate to go up with fish and more frequent feedings but was not expecting the sudden rise in pH and the drop in Alk. Not sure whats going on. Both readings of parameters were done in the morning about 9am. No lights are on at this time (this includes refugium and display lights) should I be concerned? Calcium is reading normal as before and I did the test twice for Alk just to make sure and got the same reading. Planning on increasing light intensity on the fuge as well as the photo period to keep NO3 and PO4 at bay. Any suggestions on what may be happening to pH and Alk?
10/29 (1st reading added torch and two fish)
pH: 8.0
Alkalinity: 7.3
Nitrate: 29.4
Phosphate: 0.0
Salinity: 1.025
Calcium: 410
Everything has been looking great and chaeto is growing and no algae in my display (it almost looks too clean which kind of worries me) I was not planning to do a water change as my goal is to do monthly water changes.
Read parameters today and got the following:
11/4
pH: 8.4
Alkalinity: 6.4
Nitrate: 35.6
Phosphate: 0.05
Salinity: 1.026
Calcium: 410
I expected the nitrate and phosphate to go up with fish and more frequent feedings but was not expecting the sudden rise in pH and the drop in Alk. Not sure whats going on. Both readings of parameters were done in the morning about 9am. No lights are on at this time (this includes refugium and display lights) should I be concerned? Calcium is reading normal as before and I did the test twice for Alk just to make sure and got the same reading. Planning on increasing light intensity on the fuge as well as the photo period to keep NO3 and PO4 at bay. Any suggestions on what may be happening to pH and Alk?