chocolatechip

Hello again!!! I just recently bought saltwater test kits,I had to buy them individually because they run out of stock of reef master test kits.wahhh....

a little help with what do these do to the water and sometimes how to prevent it...

1ammonia
2ammonium
3ph up
4ph down
5magnesium
6calcium
7strotium?
8nitrite
9nitrate
10alkalinity
11salinity
thanks!!!
p.s:I already know some of these chems and I just wanted to make sure that I'm doing the right thing. BTW which is better? SERA or API brand?

Betta_dude

Ok, ammonia comes from fish waste. Its very toxi and you need a filter to break it down into nitrite. Then nitrites are broken into nitrates. You need a little calcium for your crabs and shrimp. They need it to keep their hard. salinity is how much salt is in the water. The more salt mix you, use the more salty the water becomes.

Btw, I might have mixed up nitrite and nitrate. However, theres no need to worry, its the same outcome eather way.

sirdarksol

pH up and down are worthless. They temporarily change the pH, and then it reverts to its old pH.

Betta_dude has the right idea on the waste products.
Caldium is needed for nearly every invert. They use them for their shells.
magnesium and strontium are trace elements needed by fish and corals.

chocolatechip

oh okay!!! uhmmm another silly question,I have a hydrometer, how to I know fo the water's salty or not?

travie

You will want the needle to stay between 1.021 and 1.025. It will best to keep it constantly at 1.025.

chocolatechip

Thanks!!!!

soldieroffortune1974

One thing to keep in mind,when adding water for evaporation (topping off) there's no need to add salt to the water (unless you are doing a water change) When the water evaporates,the salt remains in the aquarium. A lot of saltwater newbies make that mistake. Just FYI to keep in the back of your head.

Matt

umm i dont really now much about this although i should.

chocolatechip

oh okay!!!

Matt

Have u had any luck Chocolate??

chocolatechip

ummmm..the needle says that it's in 1.015 is it bad?

travie

Yes, thats bad. It needs to read in the range of 1.021 to 1.025

chocolatechip

oh...........

Betta_dude

Add a little more salt.

Matt

How big is your tank??

chocolatechip

uhmmm about 10 gal, want to convert to a 15 or 25 gal,I think?

soldieroffortune1974

The bigger you can get for saltwater the better,just my opinion. 25 gallons is much better than 10. I would consider a sump as well.It adds water volume,allowing you to keep your water parameters more stable.I hope you do get it.

Did you get the salinity levels to normal between 1.021 and 1.025?