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If anyone is interested, and has read the article, as to what 'pH' means (the actual term): The lowercase 'p' is actually a mathematical expression and not a 'letter'. The 'p' means 'negative common log'. The 'H' refers to the H+ (hydrogen ion) concentration. Concentrations are expressed in...

OK, I've run into a nomenclature issue. I see that (unique to aquaria?) that the term 'return' is actually referring to the sump pumping up into the tank. The gravity flow back is the 'drain'. In my work, working with very similar things but on a large industrial scale, the 'return' is what...

Thanks for the link. Most helpful, especially the drawing w/ different dimensions. Those boys are pricey and now I am rethinking my reluctance to DIY acrylic work. As for flow, I am not worried so much by too much, I am just trying to figure out how the flow is distributed. I know I need 20...

Hmmm, a little confusion here. A powerhead is a pump in of itself that has nothing to do with a sump/return system? I was thinking that a powerful sump pump would also act as the agitator, with some sort of fitting on the end. The 10x - 20x turnover rate, that is for the powerhead and not the...

CO2 maybe? Carbonic acid of course will drop the pH, do you get enough introduced with the stone to make a difference?

OK, sumps & pumps is back, I've been distracted for about a week and am slowly getting aquarium stuff going again. I am thinking of using an existing 10 gal tank for my sump/refugium. I would like to modify it by making some baffles and whatnot. Can I cut acrylic pieces and glue the edges to...

I was thinking more of pure water for evaporative loss, level top-off's, no salt. This actually isn't a bad idea, non-aquarium-wise. I need DI on occasion around the house and this is nicely convenient. Looks like I can get 3 GPH for just a little over $100 or so.

I was surprised to find them that high but I am also wondering about the wide ranges I was getting. I've never looked at nitrates before and have no idea as to their variability. I know, especially in agricultural area, seasonal variations can be large. Other kits are en route. I am looking at...

Some tap tests are in: Ca 70 ppm NO3 3-10+ ppm * Cu ND *Large variations in tests over the day (Salifert). One was under 3 and then a couple of hours later >10, depending on low or medium range visual method.

Do I need a grounding rod? Is that for safety (immersion heater develops an internal short) or are there electric fields the critters find objectionable?

OK, my nascent plans have to be redone due to the realization that a sump/refugium would be most beneficial. In trying to get a grasp of what is needed I have become slightly confused. Here is what I have and am thinking of doing - correction/suggestions as well as product recommendations are...

Specific ion electrodes have to be a couple hundred apiece. ORP was mentioned, I was wondering what use that would be? ORP measures the amounts of oxidizeable substances in solution. In my world, I use ORP to measure the ratio of ferrous to ferric ion concentrations in paint baths, or chlorine...

LOL, oh if I had time and some xtra pesos, I'd love to make contraptions. First off, Kurt, what I was referring was I was thinking the refractometer had pH electrodes in the tip and you just dunked the whole thing for a reading. I don't know why I was thinking that but... I'd run the tank from...

No, I'm a bonehead. They are of course separate, I have no idea why I was thinking it was incorporated, doesn't make any sense when you even think a little bit about it. Salinity Refractometer + digital pH Meter Aquarium ATC - eBay (item 250216426469 end time Feb-22-08 01:58:52 PST) Get a...

You sure the cat didn't have a hand in it? I am real curious as to how my guys are going to react to a tank of snacks. And to think the wife wanted gerbils...

Yes, I saw it and chose not to respond to it as this is not the place for arguing such things. Let me just say that a DC system will indeed measure quite accurately. The effects described are small compared to the overall environment. The 'article' also had some science inaccuracies that I chose...

Haven't gotten to ordering the test kits yet, I need to find a good Cu add-on, just for an initial spot test if anything. At 380 conductivity I would hope NO3 wouldn't be much more than 1 ppm. I have no idea what to expect with phosphates. As for the mesh, I was thinking of something like a 1...

All DC, an old Myron L. No inverters inside either. The factors I've seen most used is from 0.5 to 0.7 ppm per uS/cm. If a meter is to be used at higher range conductivities I've seen factors closer to unity or above. I am guessing your TDS is using the former, unless you have really nasty...

Thanks, that is most helpful. Just trying to see what flow at the tank I can get away with, I'll have to size accordingly for the head. It sure seems that is attainable with a sump/refugium. If I can get a nice stable environment going, w/ skimmer, from what I am gathering here I can...

Thx for the chart, now I have a better idea. I also see that I am going to have to rethink things a little. One premise was that when things are stable and established, I would have a system that would have a relative static nitrogen load, at least over the time frame of up to two weeks. That...

I honestly don't know the sizings of the canister media. I wouldn't think that would have anything to do with tds, maybe the carbon (if it removed anything dissolved). In my world I use conductivity, not TDS. I see many conductivity meters that flipflop to tds, I think there is a generic...

#1: Saltwater & Reef - Getting started, the sticky "Stock list and Tips...", in it is a link to "common abbreviations" that is broken. It points to http://www.aquariumadvice.com/acronyms.php #2: Same forum, the other sticky "we have a series of...", the post has two links that are broken...

My water comes in through a carbon bed and the a UV system, also a sed filter (we have elemental particulate lead). I *think* ammonia is adsorbed onto the carbon, I can't remember. I would be surprised if the phosphates are.

I was planning on testing anyways - I am absolutely no rush here, still haven't started putting the stuff together. What would you call an acceptable incoming nitrate level? There are going to be nitrates anyway (how much until you have to decant?), so a little coming in wouldn't hurt? I guess...

OK - water this time. First off, testing. I am looking at some kits and I like the Hagen Master kit, for its breadth of tests. Can be gotten (relatively) cheaply at thatpetplace for $65 total. I wrote Hagen to ask them some questions, one answer was that each test has enough reagent for 50-100...