Help with water parameters

[danielm5]

I'm setting up an IM 15 tank, which is about 2 months today.
These were today water parameters:

• Ca 420 ppm, Alk 14 dKH, Sal 34 ppt, PH 7.4, NO3 0 ppm, PO4 0.25 ppm, T 79 F

Parameters of newly mixed water were:

• Ca 420 ppm, Alk 12 dKH, SG 1.026, PH 8.0

I measured the with API and may not be the more accurate results.

My main question is about PH, new water seems already a bit low at 8.0, and in the tank it decreases even more, 7.4 today at about 8pm. I'd like to hear opinions on these values and what to do about them (if anything!).

Second question is about nitrates being always 0.0. Is this expected?

Thank you!

 

[csturgis1989]

with new tanks you need to be patient and not react. I expect some testing errors since you are using api. Just do routine water changes and make sure your salinity is consistent .

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'm setting up an IM 15 tank, which is about 2 months today.
These were today water parameters:

• Ca 420 ppm, Alk 14 dKH, Sal 34 ppt, PH 7.4, NO3 0 ppm, PO4 0.25 ppm, T 79 F

Parameters of newly mixed water were:

• Ca 420 ppm, Alk 12 dKH, SG 1.026, PH 8.0

I measured the with API and may not be the more accurate results.

My main question is about PH, new water seems already a bit low at 8.0, and in the tank it decreases even more, 7.4 today at about 8pm. I'd like to hear opinions on these values and what to do about them (if anything!).

Second question is about nitrates being always 0.0. Is this expected?

Thank you!

Alk is quite high. Until you get corals that consume alk and CA, no need to dose or add these chemicals and sakt you are using appears to be high on alk. PH needs to come up which may be affected by high alk levels as alk works like a stimulant for Ph. Api can give false readings and I would suggest taking a water sample to a store that does NOT use Api kits and have them test your leveles and compare readings- then you'll know where your levels truly are at

 

[Rmckoy]

For the time I would focus solely on salinity , temp ,and nitrates
Alk , Cal , mag , phosphates are not as important until you add corals

Ph …. I never test it as it naturally fluctuates from day to night .

 

[Pistondog]

Ph may be low due to ambient co2 level.

 

[BigMonkeyBrain]

I'm setting up an IM 15 tank, which is about 2 months today.

These were today water parameters:

• Ca 420 ppm, Alk 14 dKH, Sal 34 ppt, PH 7.4, NO3 0 ppm, PO4 0.25 ppm, T 79 F

Parameters of newly mixed water were:

• Ca 420 ppm, Alk 12 dKH, SG 1.026, PH 8.0

I measured the with API and may not be the more accurate results.

My main question is about PH, new water seems already a bit low at 8.0, and in the tank it decreases even more, 7.4 today at about 8pm. I'd like to hear opinions on these values and what to do about them (if anything!).

Second question is about nitrates being always 0.0. Is this expected?

Thank you

There are many causes of low PH - I know nothing about your tank ? This article may help.

Low pH: Causes and Cures
'http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/'


Probably happens !

 

[danielm5]

I'm setting up an IM 15 tank, which is about 2 months today.

There are many causes of low PH - I know nothing about your tank ? This article may help.

Low pH: Causes and Cures
'http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/'


Probably happens !

I've read that article earlier. It did help, although, if my house has high CO2 there isn't much I can't do most days. Thank you for the link anyways!

 

[danielm5]

Alk is quite high. Until you get corals that consume alk and CA, no need to dose or add these chemicals and sakt you are using appears to be high on alk. PH needs to come up which may be affected by high alk levels as alk works like a stimulant for Ph. Api can give false readings and I would suggest taking a water sample to a store that does NOT use Api kits and have them test your leveles and compare readings- then you'll know where your levels truly are at

I know alk is high. I used to dose 2-part because I didn't understand its purpose and I was trying to raise PH with it. When I realized my error, I stopped dosing. Probably 50% of the water still remains from when I was dosing. Alk is coming down with small water changes since.

 

[BigMonkeyBrain]

Your second question: " Second question is about nitrates being always 0.0. Is this expected? "

Have you feed your tank fish food, dosed ammonia ? If so, you should have measurable Nitrates. Is your tank empty and clean of algae ?


Probably happens !

 

[danielm5]

Your second question: " Second question is about nitrates being always 0.0. Is this expected? "

Have you feed your tank fish food, dosed ammonia ? If so, you should have measurable Nitrates. Is your tank empty and clean of algae ?


Probably happens !

I did cycle my tank with fish food for about a month, and then I've got a couple of firefish which I feed frozen plankton and sometimes pellets every day. Sadly I've only one now because the other jumped out.

Anyone interested on seeing my tank head to my tank thread.

 

[BigMonkeyBrain]

I did cycle my tank with fish food for about a month, and then I've got a couple of firefish which I feed frozen plankton and sometimes pellets every day. Sadly I've only one now because the other jumped out.

Anyone interested on seeing my tank head to my tank thread.

I did look at your tank - nice - if you still have the algae I would think the algae are consuming the Nitrates.

Probably happens !