Started my tank the second time

[sunny03]

sw is salt water

fw is fresh water

[Yellowbelly]

bad. cycling incomplete. what time did u measure the PH

I just tested it, a week back I tested it also but in the afternoon and the PH is 8 as well, so how about my ammonia level good ?

The 3 for ammonia is my estimation as the color for 4, 5 & 6 looks almost the same to me

[SpiderOne]

ammonia shld be zero. afternoon 8 is not good. PH too low. try using buffers

[terryansimon]

it shouldn't look the same.

try to get some chemistry lab grade phenophthalein to check. of course, get the colour chart. (=

[SpiderOne]

u dont need the phenolphthalein if u got the ph paper

[terryansimon]

u dont need the phenolphthalein if u got the ph paper

litmus paper? its highly inaccurate. unless you're talking about phenophthalein coated paper...in which you still need the colour chart.

wait. are we talking about the same darn thing?

[SpiderOne]

U mean u havnt memorised the chart?

[Yellowbelly]

Um how can ammonia be zero when there are damsel ...which leads to waste ?

I am currently using JBL NH 4 for ammonia test

[SpiderOne]

if u havnt overloaded ur tank. no need to worry about that

[Yellowbelly]

But adding another pack of sand ...would it bring up the PH ? ideal level is 8.3 right ?

[Yellowbelly]

... how many damsels do u have inside

I got 2 damsel and 2 cleaner shrimps which have not die on me for 3 weeks already

[terryansimon]

U mean u havnt memorised the chart?

unfortunately, no. silly old me still requires the paper and all. hahaha I guess I'm still too caught up in memorising the colour of precipitation and what not and what test for anions/cations. blah blah blah.

[SpiderOne]

use marine buffers. 4th from the right

[Yellowbelly]

use marine buffers. 4th from the right

The short bottle one ? anyway what does buffer do and is there a more natural way to do it?

[Yellowbelly]

I have this JBL PH Up are they the same as your marine buffer ?

[SpiderOne]

no idea. but since u have it use it.

[terryansimon]

The short bottle one ? anyway what does buffer do and is there a more natural way to do it?

technically, no. pH will always fluctuate one. especially when CO2 dissolves into water readily to form a weak acid (Carbonic acid). (=

[Yellowbelly]

Does this mean that every time I do a 10% water change I have to add in PH Up or just do once and forget about it ?

[SpiderOne]

why dont u read the bottle... instructions should be on it.

Test your PH if its low. UP it. if its high. Leave it

[reefer guy]

To reeferguy and other, I apologize if I got mad, I understand that you guys are lover of marine fish and cannot stand others who do not know the basic and jump right into it.

We cool about that ?

bro, im cool about that.. really sorry if i came in too rude for u, didnt meant to send the wrong message but was just hoping u would consider taking it slowly....

happy reefing dude!!!