nano-cube nut
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Started my 24g Nano-cube DX on 3/29/05. I started using the Hagen Test Kits (LFS sells & uses them). After reading posts here I just changed to Seachem Test kits.
My questions are concerning Alk. and Cal.
Alk.---
The Hagen kits say good range is 105-125mg/L or ppm
I was testing at 210-230mg/L or ppm So this would mean I'm off the scale too HIGH!!
My new Seachem Test Kit says good range is 4-6meq/L
My tank is testing 4-5meq/L So this would be GOOD.
**I thought I had a real problem with my Alk. being sky high, now with the Seachem Kit it looks like I don't have a problem??? Which do I trust?
Cal.---
Using the Seachem Test, my tank tested at 265. I know this is too low, it should be 380-420 even if I don't want stoney corals. I have 30 lbs. of LR from LR.com and it's totally covered with coralline and I have 10 bluelegged hermits, 7 snails, 3 sm. crabs and will get a cleaner shrimp soon (only coral I have so far is a green star polyp). But now I'm confused, someone just told me I don't need to worry about my Cal. only being 265 if my LR is already covered in coralline cause it doesn't have much growing it can do so it doesn't need the Cal. I thought coralline used Cal. to live/thrive, not just to spread/grow, is this incorrect??
Please let me know any info. you have and PLEASE tell me what your tank tests for Alk. (let me know the tank size and test kit brand).
I tried another forum and not getting help, I hope you all here will help me!
Thanks in advance
My questions are concerning Alk. and Cal.
Alk.---
The Hagen kits say good range is 105-125mg/L or ppm
I was testing at 210-230mg/L or ppm So this would mean I'm off the scale too HIGH!!
My new Seachem Test Kit says good range is 4-6meq/L
My tank is testing 4-5meq/L So this would be GOOD.
**I thought I had a real problem with my Alk. being sky high, now with the Seachem Kit it looks like I don't have a problem??? Which do I trust?
Cal.---
Using the Seachem Test, my tank tested at 265. I know this is too low, it should be 380-420 even if I don't want stoney corals. I have 30 lbs. of LR from LR.com and it's totally covered with coralline and I have 10 bluelegged hermits, 7 snails, 3 sm. crabs and will get a cleaner shrimp soon (only coral I have so far is a green star polyp). But now I'm confused, someone just told me I don't need to worry about my Cal. only being 265 if my LR is already covered in coralline cause it doesn't have much growing it can do so it doesn't need the Cal. I thought coralline used Cal. to live/thrive, not just to spread/grow, is this incorrect??
Please let me know any info. you have and PLEASE tell me what your tank tests for Alk. (let me know the tank size and test kit brand).
I tried another forum and not getting help, I hope you all here will help me!
Thanks in advance
Because Ca & Alk are so closely tied together I think you'll find that raising your Ca will cause a drop in your Alk (probably right into range). If you have trouble raising your Ca in spite of your best efforts take a look towards you Magnesium.
