Aquaforest probiotic method

[spedly]

Originally Posted by Myka

That's exactly what I was getting at when I asked how you were calibrating. I'm glad you found the issue.

Also, if your RO/DI isn't perfect, using it for the Hanna Calcium Checker will throw those numbers off too. I recommend using distilled water in the Calcium Checker.

Well I'm at a loss...

After discovering that my salinity was off I have spent the past couple of weeks getting it back up to normal levels. After a water change today, I calibrated my refractometer with the Pinpoint solution and measured the salinity in my tank at 1.025. Not the 1.026 I was hoping for but definitely within reason.

A couple of hours later I went to the grocery store to buy a jug of distilled water then used my Hanna checker to measure calcium and.....381. Hrmph. I feel like I'm back where I'm started. I'm still not seeing calcium levels others are seeing.

There are three variables that might be throwing stuff off:

- Pinpoint solution. Does this stuff expire? It's a couple of years old but was never opened until two weeks ago. Should it be shaken before use?

- Refractometer. Should I compare it at the LFS? Is it "spoiled" since I've only used RO/DI for calibration up to this point?

- Bad batch of salt mix? I'm at the end of the current bucket and will have to open a new bucket next week. Maybe wait and see what I measure from that before taking next steps?

I feel like I'm missing something obvious or maybe just have a bad batch of salt.

[Jordon]

Originally Posted by spedly

... - Refractometer. Should I compare it at the LFS? Is it "spoiled" since I've only used RO/DI for calibration up to this point?

Bingo! Although not spoiled, you can recalibrate it.

Give this a read and step away from the RO/DI!

Buy some calibration fluid stat!

[spedly]

Originally Posted by Jordon

Bingo! Although not spoiled, you can recalibrate it.

Give this a read and step away from the RO/DI!

Buy some calibration fluid stat!

Thanks Jordon. I should have been more clear. Up until two weeks ago I had only used RO/DI water for calibration. But I am using American Marine Pinpoint calibration fluid now. I'm measuring 1.025 salinity now (up from 1.021) but am still measuring lower than expected calcium levels.

[Jordon]

Originally Posted by spedly

Thanks Jordon. I should have been more clear. Up until two weeks ago I had only used RO/DI water for calibration. But I am using American Marine Pinpoint calibration fluid now. I'm measuring 1.025 salinity now (up from 1.021) but am still measuring lower than expected calcium levels.

Oh gotcha!

Have you tested both freshly mixed salt water and your tank? I'm at a loss why the Calcium would be so low. Have you tried a different test kit?

I have the Hanna Calcium checker, and always get results all over the place. I think unless the Distilled water is "lab grade" its contaminants can mess up the results.

[Myka]

I'd be trying a different test kit. I haven't seen a bucket that low in any of the three Aquaforest salts.

[intarsiabox]

I have a 40g mixed reef that I've had going for a year, it's sumpless with a Tunze 9004 skimmer and an Aquaclear 70 that I use for carbon and phosguard. I started using the AF reef salt a few weeks ago and all was good. I then stared using the Pro Bio S and NP Pro almost 2 weeks ago. I dose one drop of each one night and then 2 drops each the next. Since I started on this I've started to get a light fluffy algae on my rocks and tank glass, does this seem like a normal process when starting with this stuff? I've since taken out the Phosguard as I read not to use alumina based phosphate removers with AF products so I don't know if that is a cause. I'm hesitant to get the coral additives until this algae disappears. Phosphate levels are 0.03 or less when tested with a Hanna Ultra Low Phosphorus checker. Alk is around 7dkh and Calcium is a bit high at 468. Any thoughts?

[spedly]

Jordon/Myka, thanks for your replies and your patience. I think I'm going to have to get a new test kit. I stupidly threw out my Red Sea test kit when I got my Hanna checker. Myka, you mentioned that you use a Nyos test kit. I'll see if I can find one of those online.

[Potatohead]

Originally Posted by spedly

Well I'm at a loss...

After discovering that my salinity was off I have spent the past couple of weeks getting it back up to normal levels. After a water change today, I calibrated my refractometer with the Pinpoint solution and measured the salinity in my tank at 1.025. Not the 1.026 I was hoping for but definitely within reason.

A couple of hours later I went to the grocery store to buy a jug of distilled water then used my Hanna checker to measure calcium and.....381. Hrmph. I feel like I'm back where I'm started. I'm still not seeing calcium levels others are seeing.

There are three variables that might be throwing stuff off:

- Pinpoint solution. Does this stuff expire? It's a couple of years old but was never opened until two weeks ago. Should it be shaken before use?

- Refractometer. Should I compare it at the LFS? Is it "spoiled" since I've only used RO/DI for calibration up to this point?

- Bad batch of salt mix? I'm at the end of the current bucket and will have to open a new bucket next week. Maybe wait and see what I measure from that before taking next steps?

I feel like I'm missing something obvious or maybe just have a bad batch of salt.

I don't know if this helps, but I was reading a thread over on RC last night about this calibration solution being way off. The poster was doubting it, ended up making his own calibration solution with a recipe found online, and discovered the pinpoint stuff was actually at 38 ppt . If yours is also high this would explain why your calcium is low. I am using the AF reef salt and it mixes in the 410 - 415 range @ 1.026

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...ation+solution

[spedly]

You just can't make this up.

This is good information though. The container of fluid that I have is about two years old and I acknowledge that it could be off. I had already planned on ordering a new bottle of calibration fluid the next time I placed an order.

[Jordon]

Hey guys,

Just got all my supplies for the switch. I have a 20g mixed reef and was wondering what you guys recommend for my first water change with the Probiotic Reef salt.

Should i start slow at around 10% or should I do more initially?

My parameters are very close to the AF target valued i.e.:
@ 1.025
Alk: 7 dKH
Calcium: 410

What would you guys recommend?