Are these readings any good?

[TheRealKenKen]

Alkalinity 15-16 5:28 pm

Calcium 16-17 320-340 5:32 pm

Ph 7.8-8.0 7:50pm

Ammonia 0 8:00 pm

Nitrate 5-10 looks more like 5
But I honestly can't tell at all it could even be 20 8:05 pm

Nitrite 2.0-5.0 I think 2 is the answer
8:08 pm

I'm using API test kits so it's extremely hard to tell on some of the readings more than others.

I have no fish or inverts just live rock right now. My tank has been set up for probably a month. I have kalkwasser on the way. I also have ph buffer, strontium, and calcium here to use. All of my additives are seachem.

I also have two marineland maxi-jet 1200 that circulate my water that are moved to just slightly see the water bumping up. And a larger sized donut bubbler for extra air in the water.

What should I do to get my water in check or are they fine?


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[Adamski]

Are you mid cycle?


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[Adamski]

Ignore that, I realised that they were times and not readings!


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[mr_X]

They are fine numbers to add fish.

 

[Flaxon-Waxon]

They are fine numbers to add fish.

Even with nitrite at 2 or potentially 5? As soon as that converts, the nitrate will skyrocket...

 

[mr_X]

Oh, I'm sorry, I misread. I thought that was nitrAte that was detectable. I would wait until nitrIte was undetectable and Then do a water change to remove excess nitrAte, and then add fish.

 

[TheRealKenKen]

Sure thing I'll start a water change as soon as I'm home. How much of a water change should I do? I'm thinking 20% would be okay then test it a little later on, or should I go ahead and do even more? Also what would be a good digital readers? I don't like guessing, and I sure don't want to be guessing when I add fish. Appreciate the help, I just started a saltwater tank and need all of the help I can get!


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[Flaxon-Waxon]

Don't do a water change if there's no fish yet. Keep monitoring until NITRITEs are at 0. Then water change time to get NITRATE as low as possible...

 

[TheRealKenKen]

Oh sorry, I did not read that correctly. I'll wait until I can not find traces of nitrIte, then start my water change.


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[Flaxon-Waxon]

Oh sorry, I did not read that correctly. I'll wait until I can not find traces of nitrIte, then start my water change.


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Good idea

And when NITRITE is at 0, then get a reading of NITRATE.. If it's at 40, then a 25% water change will bring it down to 30, a 50% change will bring it to 20, etc etc. I recommend bringing it down as low as possible, as it's an uphill battle if you start high.

 

[TheRealKenKen]

I will definitely start monitoring and probably start with a 25% water change, then test it. But when the time is right of course, haha. What digital readers would you recommend? I'm really wanting to get something that is more accurate.


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[Flaxon-Waxon]

I will definitely start monitoring and probably start with a 25% water change, then test it. But when the time is right of course, haha. What digital readers would you recommend? I'm really wanting to get something that is more accurate.


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You can check out Hannah checkers. I dont know from experience though. I use a refractometer for salinity, and other than that only test mag/cal/alk and use the Redsea Pro titration tests...

 

[TheRealKenKen]

Gotcha, I'll definitely have a look at them. Thanks for the help from both of you, it's greatly appreciated.


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[mrvincent]

THat fish tank is not ready, I see nitrites in the results... I would wait.