WarDog's Tank Thread : Episodic Trial And Error

[WarDog]

Got my first coral from Gregzz4, Green Birdsnest, been in the tank for almost 24 hrs now and it's looking good with full PE.
I apologize for the photo quality. First two are with my Galaxy4, and third one is with my Nikon Coolpix L120, which I thought was a good camera up until I started taking photos under LED's.
Guess I'll have to invest in a better camera with a tripod down the road.

Anyhoo, took some tank water with me to Greg's as I don't have test kits for Cal and Mag (plan to pick up Sat) and we tested.

Alk : 6.7
Cal : 360
Mag : 1275 (we tested this 4 times and got a different reading each time, 1275 is the average... needless to say, there was some previous consumption of beer)

Greg gave me a tutorial on dosing and bringing my numbers up to acceptable levels, and provided me with baggies full of his pre-mixed chems to do just that.

4 hours later and I was on my way home, lol.

Thanks Greg, I appreciate your dedication to the hobby!

[twisty]

Very nice

What are the expected levels for all of the following?
Alk : ?
Cal : ?
Mag : ?

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by WarDog

Alk : 6.7
Cal : 360
Mag : 1275 (we tested this 4 times and got a different reading each time, 1275 is the average... needless to say, there was some previous consumption of beer)

Just to clarify, it wasn't previous beers; it was before, during and after beers
Imma gonna have to blame the beers, or your water ..

Just tested my DT twice and got 1350 both times
Tested my new water @ 1200, added 145mls mag and got 1350

Go figure

[WarDog]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Just tested my DT twice and got 1350 both times
Tested my new water @ 1200, added 145mls mag and got 1350

Go figure

That's because you did the math... and math never lies... unless beer is involved!

Started mixing new salt water, next to the tank, in preparation for my first W/C Saturday night after the frag meet.

Wife not happy, lol.

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by WarDog

That's because you did the math... and math never lies... unless beer is involved!

But that doesn't explain our differing test results

Originally Posted by WarDog

Started mixing new salt water, next to the tank, in preparation for my first W/C Saturday night after the frag meet.

Wife not happy, lol.

I'd be unhappy too if you had a tank of saltwater on my wood table

Make a few extra gallons as you'll need it for dipping the corals you bring home

[WarDog]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

But that doesn't explain our differing test results


I'd be unhappy too if you had a tank of saltwater on my wood table

Make a few extra gallons as you'll need it for dipping the corals you bring home

Your testing methods were meticulous, mine were reckless, nuff said.

Table is a POS, so no worries there, lol.

Not sure I'm bringing any corals home, think it's still too early. Maybe a LPS, as Rich has suggested, we'll see.

[gregzz4]

Good plan

Too many corals right now would probably starve/bleach etc. Hence the birdsnest experiment

Hope you're picking up some more test kits soon. Your birdsnest will appreciate it

LMK when you want to talk about dosing and bulk supplies

[WarDog]

Picked up 3 corals from the swap today. A blue/green hammer and 2 chalices that just don't photograph well at all.
Seems one of the chalices has a feather duster living in the centre of it, bonus.
Hammer is all upset after the dip!