[iceman86]

Originally Posted by Myka

I would also suggest you get better test kits. You say that you're using Instant Ocean salt, but you make no mention of dosing calcium, alkalinity, or magnesium into your tank. If you are not dosing, then those number are certainly not accurate. If you aren't dosing, and you prefer to hold off dosing as long as possible, I would suggest you switch to H2Ocean salt as the numbers are better out of the bucket. Instant Ocean is low in calcium and magnesium out of the bucket which isn't a problem if you are dosing, but it is a problem if you want to avoid dosing.

My personal preference for test kits is as follows:

Calcium - Elos
Alkalinity - Elos or Hanna Checker
Magnesium - Salifert
Nitrate - Salifert
Phosphate - Merck or Hanna Checker

What are you using to test specific gravity? Have you checked temperature in the morning before lights go on, and in the afternoon at the end of the peak lighting? I'm wondering what the temperature swing is. I would also double check with a second thermometer. Pick up a TDS meter too - they are only about $20 max. What's holding you back from installing your RO/DI at home?

If reference to the high phosphate reading - IF (and that's a big IF) the number is accurate, then take a look at how much you are feeding the tank. Are you feeding any liquid foods? Do your fish all eat pellets? If so, switch to pellets and just feed frozen foods 1-2 feedings per week. First, confirm the phosphate level though. I don't think you mentioned what kind of skimmer you're using? It's also unusual for the phosphate to be so high and nitrate to be so low, so I'm guessing that one or both of these readings is inaccurate. Is there nuisance algae growing at all? Don't use too much GFO, small amounts changed more frequently works better in my experience, especially in tanks with high phosphate. A common amount I use on client tanks is around 1 tbsp per 30 gallons changed out every 2-3 weeks.

Solid advice right here!