cycling

[mxracer572501]

i tested my natrate but its really hard to tell what the readings are on my tester is there a better one

 

[alti]

what kind do you have?
u need to get tests for calcium and alkalinity too.

 

[mxracer572501]

to me it looks like 5.0 but im not sure its on a color chart

 

[alti]

does it change to a different color when it goes over 20?

 

[mxracer572501]

ya it goes from yellow to orange

 

[mxracer572501]

so what happens if theirs to much calcium and the buffer stuff in their now

 

[alti]

dont worry about it unless it turns orange then. when you are able to maintain the levels under 10 or 20 for a few months buy a low range nitrate test kit. it will be more accurate.

 

[mxracer572501]

god theirs a lot more to all this than i thought

 

[alti]

stop dosing the cal and buffer. there is a chemical relationship between c al,alk and ph. its a bit complicated, so do a search on them and you'll see what i mean. people dose calcium and alk because their corals are consuming them on a regular basis. if you keep adding them and nothing is getting rid of it you will run into a number of problems with you ph and you may even start to see the calcium start to precipitate. it will look like it is snowing in the tank.

 

[alti]

it sounds complicated, but once you know what u r doing it is pretty simple.

 

[mxracer572501]

so should i put in something else besides the damsels

 

[alti]

if the ammonia does not go over 1 ppm in a week or so you might want to feed a bit heavier or add some shrimp. i personally would try to get them out and take them back to the store.