my new baby... AKA The Café

LRT

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Ok, I just tested. Please remember, these are the API, so they won’t be accurate.

Phosphate: 0.25ppm
Nitrate: 0.that’s a guess, it’s so hard to tell: 2EC4674F-B410-4790-8FFD-9088169B4992.jpeg
James my wife is able to somehow make api test kits work and match the other kits. You must follow directions to the T. Mix for allotted time. Add when directed to and mix again and wait for allotted time. Be very careful not to get seepage from under the cap. Shake chemical bottles as directed as well. So there's a ton of waiting and shaking going on doing that Nitrate test.
That being said your system is absoloutely not devoid of nitrates. Look at all that green on those rocks:D
This is also where its super critical for you to clean them up so you have an accurate actual number your looking at when your taking those tests.
Remember most of your nutrients are sitting in on the surface of your rock and sand bed;)

Clean that rock and then test again after a day or 2 of feeding thats going to give you your numbers your looking for:D
 

James_O

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James my wife is able to somehow make api test kits work and match the other kits. You must follow directions to the T. Mix for allotted time. Add when directed to and mix again and wait for allotted time. Be very careful not to get seepage from under the cap. Shake chemical bottles as directed as well. So there's a ton of waiting and shaking going on doing that Nitrate test.
That being said your system is absoloutely not devoid of nitrates. Look at all that green on those rocks:D
This is also where its super critical for you to clean them up so you have an accurate actual number your looking at when your taking those tests.
Remember most of your nutrients are sitting in on the surface of your rock and sand bed;)
If I have time today, I’ll take out another big rock to clean it off.
 

James_O

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My last spam for a while, I promise. ;)

The Duncan is probably my favorite to take pictures of:
684DC65F-AFE0-4B39-8175-75B3A643665A.jpeg

I didn’t even realize it was growing a really small head on the side!
2C9BF7BC-A4C0-4006-A3DF-654C2D8A316C.jpeg

The palys somehow managed to catch like 4 whole mysis shrimp ;Bored
3F6C938B-9ABA-4C06-A45D-36A2C1AF4110.jpeg

One last thing. Found this big shed skin from some sort of amphipod:
9BA7C094-5AE2-4A6A-A382-762E95BD7BBF.jpeg
119EDB98-0EFB-4DA9-AEC6-32410A15CB86.jpeg
 

najer

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I just tested calcium as well. (Some asked for it yesterday?)

This is another reason why I hate salifert:
9972BAD6-CFCA-4EC0-8B02-1C3E2426622F.jpeg
Which do I go after! The end of the black plug like it says in the instructions? Or the liquid level itself?

I went with the end of the plug, just because that’s exactly what it said to do. I came out with this: (410ppm)
7EC28E61-5CF1-4C0B-AA5D-C937F9113AD9.jpeg

Everyone will fall about laughing at me answering a testing question, when you draw the last reagent into the syringe draw it to the base of the plunger at one ml, ignore the "air bubble" as it will not alter the result, to read your fluid used level hold the syringe vertical against the chart and read the flat fluid level.
 

Jaden9933

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Man I was just looking back on my nano freshwater tanks and I kinda miss them. :(
5FDC122F-F5E9-444E-89D1-4A5F95EAA07F.jpeg
I miss mine daily I’m pretty good with freshwater! I have a 10gal freshwater tank in my sisters room, but I neglect it a bit since I never see it and have the reef tank now.
 

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elorablue

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Everyone will fall about laughing at me answering a testing question, when you draw the last reagent into the syringe draw it to the base of the plunger at one ml, ignore the "air bubble" as it will not alter the result, to read your fluid used level hold the syringe vertical against the chart and read the flat fluid level.
The problem I have with this is whenever I draw in to the 1ml line the amount of liquid in the syringe is always different. Some times it’s 8 or 8.5 or 9
Surely this different reagent quantity will affect the test? So I just draw until it’s 8.5 now and disregard the plunger.
but I’m probably doing it wrong
 

Jaden9933

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I just tested calcium as well. (Some asked for it yesterday?)

This is another reason why I hate salifert:
9972BAD6-CFCA-4EC0-8B02-1C3E2426622F.jpeg
Which do I go after! The end of the black plug like it says in the instructions? Or the liquid level itself?

I went with the end of the plug, just because that’s exactly what it said to do. I came out with this: (410ppm)
7EC28E61-5CF1-4C0B-AA5D-C937F9113AD9.jpeg
When doing the test, fill up the syringe, pull back a little extra after removing syringe from vial of liquid, then flip the opening toward the ceiling. Flick the plastic at the bottom until the air bubble moves to the top. Keeping the end pointed up, push until all air and one drop of liquid comes out of the syringe. Fill up the rest and repeat these steps until there are no air bubbles in the syringe, then proceed to do the test. You should only have to flick then fill one time if you get all the bubbles out the first time.
 
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Jaden9933

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The problem I have with this is whenever I draw in to the 1ml line the amount of liquid in the syringe is always different. Some times it’s 8 or 8.5 or 9
Surely this different reagent quantity will affect the test? So I just draw until it’s 8.5 now and disregard the plunger.
but I’m probably doing it wrong
I should do an Instagram live or just a video of doing all my testing for y’all! I’m obviously no expert, but I compared my tests to a Triton Labs N-ICP, and was very close to their numbers. I only use Red Sea tests as of now (not the best tests for nitrates and phosphates) but it is still way more accurate and easier to read than API
 

Reefing_addiction

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wonder what your bff's theory is.
Footgals? She thinks they need more light. Showed her this picture and she said I should move it up it looks like it is stretching. It’s probably sitting at 100 par. I’m not moving it up further
F04CD944-8FB6-48AC-9B34-C4A0992DF8E5.jpeg
 

Reefing_addiction

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I just tested calcium as well. (Some asked for it yesterday?)

This is another reason why I hate salifert:
9972BAD6-CFCA-4EC0-8B02-1C3E2426622F.jpeg
Which do I go after! The end of the black plug like it says in the instructions? Or the liquid level itself?

I went with the end of the plug, just because that’s exactly what it said to do. I came out with this: (410ppm)
7EC28E61-5CF1-4C0B-AA5D-C937F9113AD9.jpeg
Does that syringe have an attachment at the end?
 

sp1187

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Everyone will fall about laughing at me answering a testing question, when you draw the last reagent into the syringe draw it to the base of the plunger at one ml, ignore the "air bubble" as it will not alter the result, to read your fluid used level hold the syringe vertical against the chart and read the flat fluid level.
i just ordered a new test kit today. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 

James_O

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Sounds good to me
Awesome! I don’t plan to add anything else.


When doing the test, fill up the syringe, pull back a little extra after removing syringe from vial of liquid, then flip the opening toward the ceiling. Flick the plastic at the bottom until the air bubble moves to the top. Keeping the end pointed up, push until all air and one drop of liquid comes out of the syringe. Fill up the rest and repeat these steps until there are no air bubbles in the syringe, then proceed to do the test. You should only have to flick then fill one time if you get all the bubbles out the first time.
Gotcha, I’ll try that next time!!!
 

LRT

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I should do an Instagram live or just a video of doing all my testing for y’all! I’m obviously no expert, but I compared my tests to a Triton Labs N-ICP, and was very close to their numbers. I only use Red Sea tests as of now (not the best tests for nitrates and phosphates) but it is still way more accurate and easier to read than API
Id like to see this. Do me a favor and tag me if you get it done:D
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

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    Votes: 79 38.2%
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  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 26 12.6%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 31 15.0%
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