Aquaforest probiotic method

[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.

[Jordon]

That's what we're here for!

LOL, I did the same thing when I got my Hanna checker. Got a little too excited to "easy" tests. Needless to say I bought a salifert test a few tests later!

[Myka]

Originally Posted by dcw1sfu

Nice improvements Myka. I have alot of trouble taking photos with my Samsung S5 so I dont usually bother any more.

Hey for your component 1+ 2+ 3+ the Alk seems to be sodium bicarbonate rather then Sodium Carbonate according to the dose/dkh rise. Am I right in assuming this? Its another reason I stick with my own mix as I like to use soda ash which ends up being about 1/2 the liquid dose of sodium bicarbonate. If I'm dosing 85mls right now id probably be dosing closer to 170mls of Component 1+ 2+ 3+ and it would end up being very pricey.

Originally Posted by 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.

I don't use Nyos. I use Salifert for calcium (I used to use Elos, but they are hard to find these days). I test alkalinity with both Hanna Checker and Salifert. I haven't used the Red Sea Pro kits for calcium and alkalinity yet, but I'd like to give them a shot. I love the RSP Nitrate kit, but their Mg kit is annoyingly complicated, so I prefer Salifert for Mg. Honestly, you can't go wrong sticking with Salifert for all your testing needs other than PO4.

Originally Posted by 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?

Doesn't sound like anything I have experienced or read about anyone else experiencing yet. Why is calcium so high? IMO that's not "a bit high", that's really high. If you're keeping alkalinity around 7.0 dKH, then calcium should be really close to 410 ppm. To put it in perspective, calcium level of 470 ppm has balanced alkalinity of 15.4 dKH.