Water Test Results Vent / Rant and Q's

[Reefing Reefer]

I've heard of this happening quite a bit in the hobby; however, this is the first time I've experienced this myself, and I understand the frustration and confusion since we all strive for stability and consistency in this hobby.

I did my water test yesterday on my Hanna Marine Master Multiparameter Photometer. I've been using this tester for over 2 years and have had no issues. I recently added a magnetic stirrer to help with the nitrate/phosphate mixing, and the results have not changed much. So what I was doing was working. Results on 5/24 indicated high nitrate and low calcium (I usually don't test calcium because it's so inconsistent). The nitrate concerned me, and I have been seeing an increase in nuisance hair algae, but I've always struggled with this in this tank.

I had my local fish store test the water on their automatic tester, and the results were contradictory to my Hanna test. Both revealed low levels of calcium, but there were no traces of nitrates. I tested again today, and calcium was over 600, and nitrates were not .10!

Does anyone have any thoughts? The only thing I've been dosing is 5 mL of All For Reef via dosing pump once per day. The tank is a 20-gallon mixed reef, so what could this be due to? It has been running for 4 years now.

Results:
Hanna 5/24 LFS. Hanna 5/25
pH: 7.9 7.9. N/A
dKH 9.9 8.8 9.5
CA: <200 356 <600
NO3: 28.9 0 .1
PO4: .03 .10 .05

 

[Dan_P]

I've heard of this happening quite a bit in the hobby; however, this is the first time I've experienced this myself, and I understand the frustration and confusion since we all strive for stability and consistency in this hobby.

I did my water test yesterday on my Hanna Marine Master Multiparameter Photometer. I've been using this tester for over 2 years and have had no issues. I recently added a magnetic stirrer to help with the nitrate/phosphate mixing, and the results have not changed much. So what I was doing was working. Results on 5/24 indicated high nitrate and low calcium (I usually don't test calcium because it's so inconsistent). The nitrate concerned me, and I have been seeing an increase in nuisance hair algae, but I've always struggled with this in this tank.

I had my local fish store test the water on their automatic tester, and the results were contradictory to my Hanna test. Both revealed low levels of calcium, but there were no traces of nitrates. I tested again today, and calcium was over 600, and nitrates were not .10!

Does anyone have any thoughts? The only thing I've been dosing is 5 mL of All For Reef via dosing pump once per day. The tank is a 20-gallon mixed reef, so what could this be due to? It has been running for 4 years now.

Results:
Hanna 5/24 LFS. Hanna 5/25
pH: 7.9 7.9. N/A
dKH 9.9 8.8 9.5
CA: <200 356 <600
NO3: 28.9 0 .1
PO4: .03 .10 .05

Is it the calcium reading that is bothering you? I am assuming you made the calcium measurement with the Hanna tester which is has very strict requirements about the water used.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Try the Hanna calcium on new salt water. I expect the tank is neither as high or low as those values suggest.

 

[rtparty]

Trusting the Hanna calcium test is like trusting a fart after Taco Bell. Could work out. Could be a complete mess!

Is your LFS using an AquaSpin? I wouldn’t trust that either.

Dosing AFR and 10% weekly water changes is perfect for a 20g. Just test alkalinity and go from there. The rest is just noise

 

[Reefing Reefer]

Trusting the Hanna calcium test is like trusting a fart after Taco Bell. Could work out. Could be a complete mess!

Is your LFS using an AquaSpin? I wouldn’t trust that either.

Dosing AFR and 10% weekly water changes is perfect for a 20g. Just test alkalinity and go from there. The rest is just noise

Talk about putting it into perspective, Taco Bell - I'm dead! LOL

 

[Gone Reefin’]

Ignore if you are an expert with the Hanna calcium tester….but as stated above, that mini pipette is tricky. Watch the online video on how to use it properly, including both the depression and the suction. Basically, should be 2 drops plus the final push partial drop.