Greg's 75g

[gregzz4]

Maybe the following is the reason why my corals are stalled ...

I've been using Elos kits for the 'Big 3' since Feb 2012
I've always tried my best to keep my tests as;
Alk 7.5-8.5
Ca 4-420
Mag 1350-1450

Because J&L is moving away from Elos and going with Salifert, I bought some kits to see what's up with my water
Tonight I tested a new bucket of IO from KE
Most of the tests are good;
New Saltwater
Alk Elos 11
Alk Sa 10.9
Ca Elos 410
Ca Sa 410
Mag Elos 1400
No Sa kit for mag yet

Here's where things get screwey

I tested my DT tonight with both kits, and re-tested only to get the same results

Alk Elos 8
Alk Sa 7.3
Ca Elos 400 (ya I know it's a bit low)
Ca Sa 400

How can the Elos kit read so close to the Salifert test on my New Salt Water (>.1), yet be so far off on my DT test ?
I tested both 2 times with the same results ...

Back when I started out, I tested my procedures against the J&L staff for my Elos stuff
And when I bought the new Salifert kits I used the bottle in the KH kit to confirm I'm using the product correctly

So, looks like I need to bump up my Alk some and maybe this will help my SPS ...
After all this time, and after e-mails with Elos about how to use their product, it looks like I still have low Alk

Dammed Elos
I tested my tank last week and Elos told my 8.5, but Salifert told me 7.7

I think I'm going to trust the Salifert tests from now on as they are more incremented

I was told by some experts, when I started this hobby, to use Elos

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

I tested my tank last week and Elos told my 8.5, but Salifert told me 7.7

Honestly, both values are fine. Bumping from 7.7 to 8.3 isn't going to make a difference.

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Honestly, both values are fine. Bumping from 7.7 to 8.3 isn't going to make a difference.

I agree with you, but, if my tank has been running @ 7.0-7.3, when I thought it was @ 7.7-8.0, it may explain why my corals are only 'spreading'

I am going to bump up my Alk using the Salifert test and see what happens
I'm sure my SPS will be happier as I now feel the Elos kits are giving me false readings

Only time will tell

[mrhasan]

I would trust salifert's reading. Despite having junk hardward (the syringe reading with fade away with use), I love how consistent they are with all the test. I never got any surprises till now from salifert (other than the quality of the 1ml syringe).

Alongside, I don't think 400ppm and 7.7dkh is problematic. That's the exact parameters of my tank. But I am starting zeovit so that's justified. I think its more about the balance of ca-co3 than the magnitude itself; as long as they are within the acceptable range.

Balanced Calcium and Alkalinity: (as per Randy Holmes-Farley)

360 ppm to 0 dKH
370 ppm to 1.4 dKH
380 ppm to 2.8 dKH
390 ppm to 4.2 dKH
400 ppm to 5.6 dKH
410 ppm to 7 dKH (natural seawater)
420 ppm to 8.4 dKH
430 ppm to 9.8 dKH
440 ppm to 11.2 dKH
450 ppm to 12.6 dKH
460 ppm to 14 dKH

When I used to run non-ULNS, I concentrated on keeping my parameters in the correct ratio (11.2dkh and 440ppm was my preference). HTH

[Madreefer]

Don't fiddle Greg. Your parameters are fine and your corals look great.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Madreefer

Don't fiddle Greg. Your parameters are fine and your corals look great.

Good advice. Leave it alone, the alk isn't going to make a difference. If I test alk, which is rare, I want somewhere around 7 or 8, which translates to anything from 6.5 to 9 is acceptable.

[gregzz4]

Thanks for the advice guys
I'll just carry on as I have been then

[hillegom]

Good thinking