Hello:)

beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
Quote:Originally Posted by Cysco1187 http:///t/397463/hello/40#post_3542720
So question: If drinking water is RO water, is it possible to just buy a bunch of 1-gallon jugs of water and do it that way if I wanted to?

Yep
with the exception chlorine and chloramine which need to be taken care of.
1) I hope you're getting a tank larger then 5g.
2) IMHO and IME a tank properly balanced out and stabilized with fast growing macro algaes can use any potable water. Most expecially for a fo tank. and for most soft corals as well. sps and other hard corals you could have problems though.
What I do is just "age" the tank fishless for a week with the macros growing. then just replace the water that evaporates with untreated tap water. that way the macros condition and filter the water making the system balanced and much more stable and forgiving.
But that's just me and my .02
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cysco1187 http:///t/397463/hello/60#post_3542728
Any suggestions on what kit to buy? I'm only seeing the reef kits...


Hi,

I don't recommend API kits, the nitrates read 4Xs higher then the others. I like the Instant Ocean, or SeaChem brand, Salifert is another good one. The tests you should have depends on fish only or reef. To be honest, since you have inverts (reef doesn't just mean corals)... get a reef kit. The calcium and phosphate levels affect them, that's the only real difference in the kits. regular saltwater kits just have tests for PH, Alkalinity, ammonia, nitrates and nitrites...the reef kits have calcium and phosphate tests besides. get a master kit (called multi kit if you go for SeaChem)... it's cheaper then purchasing all the tests separately.
 
cysco1187

cysco1187

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/397463/hello/60#post_3542735


Hi,

I don't recommend API kits, the nitrates read 4Xs higher then the others. I like the Instant Ocean, or SeaChem brand, Salifert is another good one. The tests you should have depends on fish only or reef. To be honest, since you have inverts (reef doesn't just mean corals)... get a reef kit. The calcium and phosphate levels affect them, that's the only real difference in the kits. regular saltwater kits just have tests for PH, Alkalinity, ammonia, nitrates and nitrites...the reef kits have calcium and phosphate tests besides. get a master kit (called multi kit if you go for SeaChem)... it's cheaper then purchasing all the tests separately.
I will not be putting my hermit crab in this tank, I'm probably keeping him in the 5 gal alone where he has been.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
FWIW api (and others) do read 4x more nitrates that some other kits. But the actual amount of nitrates is the same.
It is a matter of what the kit is calibrated for. api is calibrated for the total nitrate ion, some other for just the nitrogen part.
This is one thing you must keep in mind when reporting or measuring nitrates. What is actually being measured.
Bottom line is a nitrogen nitrate reading of 10ppm is exactly the same as a total nitrate reading of 40ppm
my .02
 
geridoc

geridoc

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by beaslbob http:///t/397463/hello/60#post_3542755
FWIW api (and others) do read 4x more nitrates that some other kits. But the actual amount of nitrates is the same.
It is a matter of what the kit is calibrated for. api is calibrated for the total nitrate ion, some other for just the nitrogen part.
This is one thing you must keep in mind when reporting or measuring nitrates. What is actually being measured.
Bottom line is a nitrogen nitrate reading of 10ppm is exactly the same as a total nitrate reading of 40ppm
my .02
Or your .08 in nitrate cents
 
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