When to do first partial water change?

[Bettababe1011]

When the water evaporates, the salt is left behind. Therefore, adding more salt ups the salinity.

Courtesy of Dakota's iPod.

 

[scottayy]

Oh, that is very clever. I would've never thought of that. Thank you.

 

[Bettababe1011]

No problem. I try to help as much as I can, but that isn't much; I'm a freshie girl.

Courtesy of Dakota's iPod.

 

[hackteck]

I got my refractometer from ebay for $30 one of my prized possessions. LOL

Wre you nitrites higher before? cause your waiting for them to spike then the trates will follow. Are you doing fish only or reef I forgot hehe. SAlinity on reef is a tad higher if ur a reefie.

I keep a bucket of premixed salt water at the ready as well. You never know when youll need it.

i got mine today my hydrometer said my salinity was .028 the refractometer says .025 very accurate glad i purchased it

 

[carey]

i got mine today my hydrometer said my salinity was .028 the refractometer says .025 very accurate glad i purchased it

Some toys do payoff. Lol

 

[scottayy]

Whew, just had a scare. I did the ammonia #1 and #2 bottles backwards and my reading was .5. So then I tested again the right way and it said 0. So then I tested again to see which one was right and it was 0 again.

My nitrites are 0. My nitrates are at 10. Is this an acceptable level?

 

[Bettababe1011]

Generally you shouldn't worry until your nitrAtes hit above forty. Ten is perfect.

Courtesy of Dakota's iPod.

 

[carey]

You're coming along! Sure you didnt mix up the nitrate bottles too? ROFL j/k lol

 

[scottayy]

You're coming along! Sure you didnt mix up the nitrate bottles too? ROFL j/k lol

Thank you.

LOL, I'm sure!
I only noticed though because the ammonia test got cloudy after the first bottle.

I was totally unprepared on what to do if my ammonia was .5. I was thinking "crap! umm water change?.. i don't have any prepared"

 

[XxVooDooxX]

Nice man! Coming along just fine! Glad to hear, and yes 10 nitrate is very acceptable. Zero is perfect but 10 is just fine!

 

[Bettababe1011]

Nice man! Coming along just fine! Glad to hear, and yes 10 nitrate is very acceptable. Zero is perfect but 10 is just fine!

If a tank has zero then it means the tank normally isn't cycled. Ten is perfect, I stand by my opinion!

Courtesy of Dakota's iPod.

 

[scottayy]

both of your answers are acceptable to me
and thank you both!

as long as i'm not in the ~omg~ range

 

[Bettababe1011]

Lol. No one wants to be in that OMG zone, I would freak out! It's just the I HAVE TO WIN gene in me. I blame my dad. He always has to be right. Lol.

Courtesy of Dakota's iPod.

 

[scottayy]

Finally got my refractometer in the mail today
oh my goodness is it a refresher after using that stupid floating hydrometer

 

[carey]

Cool. i love mine. I keep it in the box all nice and safe. i feel so hi tech when i use it. lol

 

[scottayy]

yah i feel high tech too
hahaha

tried out my water changer today too, it doesn't fit my sink
have to make a trip out to lowes

but i was able to fill up my bin just using the hose.. so it was a little bit of a help

 

[hackteck]

Finally got my refractometer in the mail today
oh my goodness is it a refresher after using that stupid floating hydrometer

Yea my hydrometer was way off