Monitor I guess. I’ve been having a lot of issues with them.
You’re not wrong. I’m afraid I’ll mess up if I try to mix my own saltwater. But I can try it. I’m going to be doing 15 gallons a week until I can get them down to 15-40 my coral beauty is still suffering.If you have high nitrates and are just looking for something to tell you that you are successfully reducing them, the dip stick/test strip type water tests can be useful and much more convenient. Once you get close to your target you can switch back to the more precise test kits like salifert or similar. For you, the best nitrate management is going to be consistent water changes. 15-20% every 2 weeks or 10% weekly if you can manage it.
I feel like we are beating a dead horse with you and water changes though. Did you ever figure out how to make your own saltwater so you don’t have to rely on rides to the fish store to buy saltwater?
Here are those test strips:
Don't be afraid to try. It's very simple, and much cheaper too.
Alright. I’ll look at a thread on how to do it and some YouTube videos. What products would you recommend?
Heater, bucket, flow pump (could be very cheap), salt, refractometer (you should already have).
Its really not difficult and I think you are building it up into something harder than it really is.
I’ve already got an extra pump and refractomator and a brute trash can I just need reef crystals.Its really not difficult and I think you are building it up into something harder than it really is.
Supplies:
Reef Crystals salt mix
Gallon measuring pitcher
https://a.co/d/0cBxjxmX
measuring cups (like you use for baking)
https://a.co/d/06Ik9jU5
20 gallon brute tote/trash-can for mixing
https://a.co/d/0gW7hrwb
Small powerhead
https://a.co/d/05dorx5C
Small aquarium heater
https://a.co/d/0aXMq1HI
Refractometer
https://a.co/d/03VBMT7D
Instructions to make 15 gallons of salt water:
1. Use the gallon measuring pitcher to add 15 gallons of RODI to the trash can. Mark the water level in the can with a sharpie marker so in future batches you can just fill it to the line and don’t have to measure.
2. Put the powerhead in the trash can and turn it on. This will start mixing the water.
3. Put the heater in the trash can and set to same temp as your tank.
4. Use the baking measuring cups to add 7.5 cups of reef crystals to the trash can. To make different size batches, it is 1/2 cup per gallon of water.
5. Walk away and let the salt mix for at least 4 hours. I typically just let it go overnight.
6. Calibrate the refractometer to zero with fresh RODI, then measure the saltwater you made.
7. Adjust salinity if needed. If too low, add 1/4 cup reef crystals and re-measure in 15 mins. If too high, add half gallon of fresh RODI. Measure again and continue adjustments until on target. (Typically reef crystals mix on target without adjustment, but be prepared just in case.)
8. Do your water change! To make this easier, you can attach a hose to the powerhead that you previously used for mixing and pump the water directly to your tank after emptying 15 gallons of old saltwater. Alternatively you can pump or scoop water into 5 gallon buckets and carry them to the tank.
