Just tested my tank

[rjd0521]

the results are:

PH: 8.2 (API)
Ammonia: 0.0 (API)
Nitrite: 0.0 (API)
Nitrate: 10.0 (Salifert)
Alk: 12.0 dkh (API)
Calcium: 400 ppm (API)
Magnesium: Ran out of test. Need to get more.
Phosphate: .25 (API)

As far as for nitrate and phosphate, the nitrate will go down because I have a midwest aquatics denitrator. The original nitrate was at 80 ppm because I had sharks in the tank and after couple weeks of using the denitrator (effluent reads 0 ppm nitrate), the nitrate is currently at 10 ppm (shark is gone so that might have helped too). In regards to phosphate, I just installed a BRS reactor with GFO couple of days ago so I don't know how long it take to lower phosphate from .25 or if the API test kit for phos is any good.

Other than phos and nitrate, is Alk and Calcium within good range?

 

[RuffReef]

Test the effluent of the GFO and if it is higher than 0 then you need to replace your GFO.

 

[turbonut]

Alk is a lil on the high side for my liking but some people like alk that high .
Get a better test for po4 such as hanna or salifert . Api just doesnt have the resoultion

 

[turbonut]

Btw pm replied

 

[Richs2k6]

I think the alk is a tad high. I used to keep mine between 10-11 until I went on vacation and it spiked to 12.5 and I had ill effects. If you keep it between 8-9 or 9-10 then you have more room for error. I agree with turbonut that the API test kit for phosphate doesn't give a good enough resolution. I switched to the Red Sea Pro test kit and then eventually to a Hanna Checker. If you're keeping SPS and want ultra-low phosphates then you definitely need a more accurate phosphate test kit. As far as nitrates go when I first cycled my tank it took a while to get them below 10ppm but eventually they disappeared. I did a lot of reading at the time and found a lot of people had trouble getting zero readings on nitrates and were able to keep corals fine. It really depends on what you plan on keeping.