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kellbells08421
Kelly
@kellbells08421 · 3 months ago

Things are thriving despite my worry over bottomed out nitrate levels! I got myself a Hanna Nitrate tester so I can more accurately see where things are at. I’m so far benchmark test with it is 1.29ppm. I have Brightwell Neonitro on hand just in case but refraining from using it yet till I monitor trends for a little while. Started increasing feedings and changing the filter sock once a week instead of twice in case things were ‘too clean’. But despite my worry, everything is happy and growing!

2
kellbells08421
Kelly
@kellbells08421 · 6 months ago

Question! I’ve been dosing R2R for a couple weeks now and got my alkalinity, mag and calcium pretty dialed in after some trial and error and daily testing. My PH has been running on the high side, about 8.6 average with sometimes Hanna blinking so might be a little more than that. Everything seems happy, would you do anything to lower it a little? Been doing some reading and maybe simply changing positioning of the wave maker and pumps to get more surface agitation or would adding a protein skimmer help?? Welcome to any suggestions! Thanks!

8
Brave_Cove_54
Julio
@Brave_Cove_54 · 9 months ago

Over the last month and a half I have lowered my phosphates from .78ppm to .28ppm

These are my parameters. Corals are doing overall better now that I lowered phosphates, but I’m struggling to keep calcium lower, and nitrates maybe just a little higher. Any recommendations?

I’ve been doing about 12-14% water changes weekly. Should I hold back and not do a water change???

8-4-25

Salinity: 1.026/ 35.3

Ph: 8.13

Magnesium: 1410 ppm

Calcium Hanna: 525

Nitrate: 2.3 ppm

Phosphate: .28 ppm

Alkalinity: 9.5

8 photos
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Sarah177
Sarah
@Sarah177 · 1 year ago

Good afternoon from my family to yours!!

Little question for the day: Should I add another fish to help increase nitrates and phosphates??

I scrubbed majority of the hair algea off a few days ago now, retested today and my numbers are still reading zero. I'm using the API tests for now, planning to buy hanna tests soon and also waiting for my order of reef roids to come in the mail. I turned off my skimmer a few days ago. Only filtration going on in my sump is the filter sock.

5
BrittsReef
Brittany
@BrittsReef · 1 year ago

Would someone be able to to give me some perameter advice? I am still waiting on my Hanna testers for calcium, nitrate and phosphate. I did use my new Salifert magnesium, PH and alkalinity tests, so I'm fairly sure they're accurate. I used API for nitrate and phosphate (I don't think it's at all accurate).

I have a 75 gallon reef tank with fish, inverts, a BTA, and zoas. I'm trying to get my levels stabilized and within the normal range. I did two large water changes last week that definitely helped, but stressed my tank out. I'm frustrated.

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