ALL LPS showing skeleton

Discussion in 'Coral Health' started by SeaGoddess, Apr 19, 2013.

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  1. SeaGoddess

    SeaGoddess Plankton

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    Yes, meq/L. the literatur with the test (redsea) says tht natural sea water is 2.5 is that info correct? Also, is this like the salinity where it needs to be raised slowly? The test literature doesn't say, but I don't really trust their info any way right now. Thanks for all your help :)
     
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  3. moondogg

    moondogg Astrea Snail

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    i Have Been Running A Biocube For A While And I Have Noticed The Carbon In The Filter Its So Minimal It Rinds Out Fast. I Would Suggest Using A Media Bag In The Back Filter. I UseChemi Pure Elite And It Stabalized My Phosphates. Also, I Took The Bio Balls Out. You Dint Need Them In A Reef Tank. The Media Bag Is Very Important Though.
     
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  4. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

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    Yes, definitely raise it slowly. Before you do that, double check your figures and make certain you are doing the test correctly. There should be an air gap between the stopper on the syringe and the liquid in the syringe.

    i.e. The rubber stopper should be at 1.0 and the liquid's meniscus should be at 0.8ish. The air gap compensates for what is in the tip.

    Lastly, if it is off, shoot for about 3.2 meq/l, as this is in between the 2.5-4.0 desired range. This gives you leeway in test errors and inaccuracies on the low and high end.
     
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  5. Astrick117

    Astrick117 Stylophora

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    Also, do you test for Magnesium? I've found that when my LPS starts to recede, its usually cause my Mag is low.

    With accidentally switching to Instant Ocean in stead of Reef Crystals (has higher levels of Mag, Cal, etc), it may have made your Mag drop.
     
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  6. SeaGoddess

    SeaGoddess Plankton

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    thanks moondogg. I'll get some of that. the phosphate sponge is getting expensive plus I don't like putting the toxic left overs in the garbage. At least carbon won't harm the environment :)
     
  7. SeaGoddess

    SeaGoddess Plankton

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    LOL funny, I've been tapping the air bubble OUT! I thought the measurements on the syringe already compensated for the tip :) I'll do another test first, then work onraising it up slowly if it still needs it. Thanks
     
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  9. SeaGoddess

    SeaGoddess Plankton

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    No,I don't have a magnesium test, but i was wondering about that. Guess I'll have to get one of those too. this is an expensive hobby! What is the range of magnesium I should be shooting for? I know it'll say on the test, but I'm learning that info is not always correct. thank you Astrick117 :)
     
  10. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

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    Open to page 10 in your white pamphlet that came with the kit. Also, on your chart, are you reading how much how much titrant is left in your syringe or how much you used?

    For example:

    You want to take what 1.0 and subtract it from the number you read on the syringe. So lets say you read 0.38 on the syringe, you have used 0.62, which is closer to 3.2 meq/l.

    If you were just comparing the chart with the number you read off of your syringe (0.38 in this case), then you will come up with 1.9 meq/l, which is wrong.
     
  11. Kevin_E

    Kevin_E Giant Squid

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    A good magnesium number is, by rule of thumb, roughly 3x your calcium number. Most will tell you that 1250-1350 is a good range, but as always, shoot for the middle instead of the extremes. A good salt mix and routine water changes should keep all of your numbers in the ideal range....until your tank is heavy in SPS growth and coraline.
     
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  12. SeaGoddess

    SeaGoddess Plankton

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    Ummmmm, I don't think we're using the same test kit. Mine is just an individual test kit (we're still talking about alkalinity here right?) for ALK and PH by redsea. There is no booklet with pages just a folded up square in the box. For the ALK test I take 10ml of tank water (using the syringe to measure only) and add it to this little test tube, then add 5 drops of the solution for the test and compare the color to this little color chart. What you're doing sounds way more advanced. Mine doesn't give me an exact reading either. basically if the water turns more blue than yellow, you're good (according to the test).