chimera Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Ph = 8.2 Salinity = 1.028 (yeah I know, too high. slowly bringing down) Nitrates = 0.2ppm Phosphates = 0ppm Magnesium = 1230 (a little too low) Calcium = 420 DKH = 6.4 (a little low) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Ph = 8.3 (8hrs light on) Salinity = 1.025 Nitrates = 0ppm Phosphates = 0ppm Magnesium = 1360 Calcium = 440 KH = 8.2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 My last tests Ph = 8.1 Salinity = 1.029 (Seawater is coming up as 1.028, just got a bit behind on topping off) Nitrates = 5ppm Phosphates = (Needa get a test kit) Magnesium = (Again...) Calcium = 425 KH = 8.15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Ira how are you testing your salinity? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Ph = 7.9- 8.10 Salinity = 1.025 refractometer Nitrates = .10 ppm (salifert test kit) Phosphates = .01 ppm (salifert test kit) Magnesium = 1250ppm (salifert test kit) Calcium = 420ppm (salifert test kit) KH = 8.15 (salifert test kit) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 The refractometer that I bought off you, Steve. So, either you sold me a dud or...Hehe. Seems pretty consistent and easier to read than a hydrometer even if it's showing higher than it should. So, I've just been keeping the salinity in the tank reading the same as the water change water. Actually, if I stop by Pies' next week I'll bring it along and compare it to his. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 It's probably a correct reading. Mine's the same - salinity too high (refractometer) and "roughly" double checked using a hydrometer. Interestingly, the SG of pure alcohol is 0.792 However, the higher the SG of wine, the higher the alcohol content (due to higher sugar content) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Hmmm, don't have any pure alcohol, What's the SG of bourbon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 At 50% alcohol, 0.7939 @ 15.5 degrees C. The good thing is that its only 2/3 the number of calories of beer (at same proof but not including the mix) Anyways!.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Ira - Remember that the SG changes with the temprature, so read the water change water after you have heated it. 029/028 is a little high. Mine is 0.25 and I change in about 200 litres of ocean water at a time, unheated and it doesn't affect my sg reading. IRA - What did you use to calibrate the refracto? Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Pies, what effect does this have on your overall tank temperature? (ie: changing 20% NSW unheated) What temp is the NSW prior to being added? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Chimera - If the tank is reading 25 (heaters off) it will drop to 24 (heaters on), if the temprature is 24 it stays at 24. Ocean water by the time I get home and test it is between 12-15 degrees. I pump it into my tank with an Ehiem 1050 (12 litres an hr). Takes about 30 minutes as I have a narrow pipe attached. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 23, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 oh i see, i thought you replaced it all in one big hit. 12 litres per hour would give the heaters enough time to maintain water temperature. cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 Opps cancel that, its 1200 litres an hr not 12 litres an hr! But it takes about 3/4hr to do the lot. Sorry for the confusion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 yeah, but i get what you mean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 what pies said about the temp changes in vanuatu might be something to think about? might even be a good thing when you think about it real hard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 Dont think so. Temperature swings in tropical areas wont happen within 3 minutes. Imagine pouring 200 litres of 15 degree NSW into a 1,000 litre tank of 25 degree water. That would pull down the temperature pretty damn quick and stress the fish/corals. IMO, certain areas of ocean dont typically go from 25 degrees to 20 degrees as you're swimming through it (in tropical areas, not NZL!!!). Normally it will change gradually a degree at a time which gives fish time to adjust. And anyway, I thought most coral reef fish were territorial and wont swim too far from their reef? The idea of adding water slowly via pump over a period of 1/2 to 1 hour makes sense though. Might try that next time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 It close to shore and the shallows the water temprate fluctuates, I have seen this first had and several places in the tropics. In the deeper water it will be far more stable, but there is still a shift of over 4 degress throught the year 24 winter, 29 summer. There are a few temprature algrithims available for those lucky enough to have computers to controll their tank. You can program in the 12 month season with the 4 degree shift, and adjust lighting time and moon lighting to more accuratly recreate seasonal change and phases of the moon. I think though the a stable temprature is important, which does contriduct some stuff I have said above. If I had a computer I would definatly use it to simulate a 12 month season though. Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 Trust me 4 degree temperature swings are not good for your tank. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 Exactly why i use a controller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianemone Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 i think what pies said about the seasons is true, its alot like the lighting phases that some of you have ie t5's turn on first and then the halides making it like a sunrise, in nature of course there are going to be fluxuations (as its not a controlled environment) and if you want to imitate it then you need to consider its variables) im going to go for a simulated typhoon tommorow and throw coconuts and dead pigs into my tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 Layton - a 4 degree swing during one day would be bad for sure. But slowing creeping up and down over 12 moths would be a more accurate simulation of real life than consistant 25 all year. I have no way of knowing if that would be good or bad for the tank though, but it would reflect what happens in nature. Pies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted September 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 everyone is agreeing about the same thing: - a 4 degree temp swing in one day is bad. - a 4 degree temp swing over a season is not. in a closed aquarium, IMO, I dont believe simulating seasonal changes is that important. especially when most fish are bred in captivity and corals, well, they're too stupid to know otherwise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 especially when most fish are bred in captivity No fish are breed in captivity that we receive, all wild . If breed you would be paying double the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lduncan Posted September 24, 2004 Report Share Posted September 24, 2004 Pies - just because it's a natural occurrence, doesn't mean that it's in anyway beneficial, or in fact that corals (or any other animal) has evolved to cope well in situations such as this. Coral reefs do bleach. Maybe these water temp swings are relatively recent occurrences in the wild, and corals are still in evolutionary catch up. Layton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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