Help! Chemical Balances

Aquaholic · #1 02-08-2006, 03:45 PM

Hey everyone I need some help, I have a hagen KH/GH test kit and i was testing the GH. The test at the start is pink and then supposed to turn a yellow with a certain amount of drops, the problem is the solution goes from pink to purple never getting to a yellow/lime color.

All my other levels are:

Calcium: 450
amonia: 0
PH: 8.3
nitrites: good (cant remember exactly)
nitrates: 10 ppm
Magnesium: not tested
Alkaline: not tested
Phosphates: 0

All my fish (less one, box hasent recovered from getting stuck on filter, trying to save him) are doing well, i seem to be finding some hermits dead sometimes, bout 1 every 4-5 days(i think there is an over aggresive hermit in there). I also have 2 stars, sand and lactina, both fine.

I dont know what to think.

Help me, I'm weak and frustrated.

Thank you

mr_alberta · #2 02-08-2006, 03:58 PM

What is GH? I know you can test for it, but it seems no one I've ever met in the hobby tests for GH? Alkalinity (KH) is the more important one. I don't think you have to be overly concerned about GH.

The other values that you have listed look OK. Your nitrites should be 0 or undetectable though.

Aquaholic · #3 02-08-2006, 04:02 PM

I meant the KH not the GH.

Sorry

rickjames · #4 02-08-2006, 04:04 PM

Are you sure the dead hermits aren't just molts? They molt their skin every so often and sometimes all in one piece. Other then that get yourself a higher quality alkilinity test kit like seachem or salifert, the salifert one is excellent.

And try increasing water changes to get the nitrates down.

HTH.

Aquaholic · #5 02-08-2006, 04:18 PM

I have the numbers, called and got them,

Iron 0
ammon 0
calcium 450
NO3 10 mg/L
NO2 0.3 mg/l
phosphates 0
ph 8.3

Beverly · #6 02-08-2006, 09:36 PM

Don't know if you have read any of the links on this Reef Chemistry page, but here it is.....

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=19425

If your tank is cycled, you need to test and adjust alkalinity, calcium and magnesium every 2-3 weeks. A someone mentioned, Salifert makes good test kits.

TheReefGeek · #7 02-08-2006, 09:52 PM

Throw out the Hagen test kit, go with Salifert or Seachem as mentioned. Your problem is probably a faulty test kit, so if you are getting a new one anyways, might as well get a better quality one while you are at it.

StirCrazy · #8 02-08-2006, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquaholic

I have the numbers, called and got them,

Iron 0
ammon 0
calcium 450
NO3 10 mg/L
NO2 0.3 mg/l
phosphates 0
ph 8.3

with a NO2 level of 0.3 mg/l it tells me that your tank is not cycled and this is not a safe level of nitrite. I would wait untill the amonia and NO2 are both 0 befor adding anything else.

Steve