Melev's new 280g Starfire tank thread - Page 20

crab0000 · #**476** 09/21/2007, 07:49 PM

Marc, have been following your thread from the beginning and like how you document everything; the good as well as the bad. I just started a thread on my upcoming 65 here http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...readid=1209178 that I am kind of trying to pattern after yours. Do you have any feedback on how I can make it better? Other than have it about a 280 instead of a 65.

Thanks!
Steve

Stile2 · #**477** 09/21/2007, 09:51 PM

That is why I love LaMotte Test kits. You don't have to measure anything. Pills!!!!!

melev · #**478** 09/21/2007, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elosusa
Sorry for the late reply, I was on the road. Yep it is just 2 minutes and most don't even do that. The 5 minutes is to be sure people mix the thicker reagent but once that is mixed the color really doesn't change much for saltwater. The cap, you mentioned in our forum has been made more like a stopper now. If your glass vial is graduated you have the new vial with the new top, if it is not, you have the batch previous. The reaction in this test kit actually causes a little pressure against the cap so most just leave the cap off and swirl instead of shake. Good to see you at the show marc, Nick and I enjoyed the conversation(s) and let me know if you have any other questions.

Hey Jesse, how did you find my thread? I thought it was hidden better'n that.

Thanks for the clarification. Mine didn't come with any graduations on the vial. I'd read some of the older threads in your forum and saw there were different time lengths discussed.

I emailed Nick as well, but don't know if he got it yet. Please let him know that your kit matched the Merck kit, as he wanted to know that for sure. I know he wants me to send a sample to that lab I read about recently (something like aquariumtesting.com ) and then see what they measure versus the three kits I have from differing makers. I'll probably do that some time next week, since it only costs $20.

Dudester · #**479** 09/22/2007, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnarowe
it is indeed strange that it is so "prescise" and yet directs you to use a level spoon of the reagent, and the spoon itself isn't level. I mean really, how the hell do you get a level spoon when the damn rim is eliptical?

you're funny!

jnarowe · #**480** 09/22/2007, 09:43 AM

It's cause I drink a lot.

jnarowe · #**481** 09/22/2007, 09:48 AM

BTW, Steve Weast was the one that pushed me to get the Merck test so when he came by to visit I asked him to do a test with it. He went about the test la-dee-da, and when he was spooning out the reagent, I asked him to explain how HE gets a level spoon, and he mumbled some BS I still don't understand.

I mean the kit is made by Germans right? Shouldn't it be exact? Steve said something like that it wasn't so important the exact amount of reagent is used...

I didn't know Lamotte made test kits. I have a LaMotte hydrometer that I liek a lot. Where do you get their kits?

Stile2 · #**482** 09/22/2007, 03:35 PM

I must warn you that the LaMotte test kits are not cheap, but I really like them.

Marine Depot has the basic four, Calcium, Alk, Nitrate, Phosphate

Marine Depot

Aquatic EcoSystems has more plus refills for the reagents.
Aquatico

Keith

PS each bottle of reagent has a lot number with the manufacture date, if you go to the LaMotte Web Site they have how long each reagent will last.

melev · #**483** 09/22/2007, 03:41 PM

Keith, I just had my nitrates tested with a LaMotte kit. It's pretty bad, but about what I expected, 50 to 60ppm. I've got a bottle of AZNO3 finally and plan to use that to get them back down.

I was reading the reviews in MarineDepot, and it was 50/50 - with death and destruction mentioned by some.

Boomer told me it was safe to use, so I'll go read the instructions carefully and see if I can get mine down where they belong.

jnarowe · #**484** 09/22/2007, 07:29 PM

Keith, Thanks for the post. I don't feel that's any more expensive than the Merck tests or even the Seachem tests I use. I am going to try them and see how they do. Thanks again!

original-reefland · #**485** 09/23/2007, 10:43 AM

LaMotte kits are great, they are professional grade kits. Anything not made for the hobby is typically high quality. After 9/11 reforms these kits became hard to come by because they contain hazardous materials. Be sure to read the Material Safety Data Sheets. Now the shippers charge a HazMat fee. Last time I looked it was an extra $15 to ship it (besides regular shipping and high cost of kit). What are they charging these days for HazMat?

IRISSERVICE · #**486** 09/23/2007, 10:49 AM

let me know how that AZNO3 works, a friends got a tank with high no3
...

melev · #**487** 09/23/2007, 11:34 AM

I'll post how it works for me, you can count on that.

thedude15810 · #**488** 09/23/2007, 02:32 PM

I've used AZNO3 with no ill effects. Just remember to dose slowly, then get off the product slowly.

melev · #**489** 09/23/2007, 06:22 PM

Thanks John.

purebullet417 · #**490** 09/23/2007, 08:51 PM

what is azno3?

IRISSERVICE · #**491** 09/23/2007, 08:59 PM

nitrate reducer

bmwaaron · #**492** 09/24/2007, 07:03 PM

Hey Brian what is the name of the second Lokian you have?
I think I have the yellow one but the blue one looks cool also.

makoJ · #**493** 09/24/2007, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bmwaaron
Hey Brian what is the name of the second Lokian you have?
I think I have the yellow one but the blue one looks cool also.

Just checked my pm's from when I got those and the yellow one is not a lokani its Yellow carolinea (maximus's)
The second one is either the 20,000 or 30,000 leauges Lokani I PM'd Znut Reefer to find out which one I got from her just can't remember.

bmwaaron · #**494** 09/24/2007, 09:34 PM

Ive seen post of people calling it the 20k lokian or the 30k Lokian but cant really see a diffrence.
Thanks for the fast reply

makoJ · #**495** 09/24/2007, 09:48 PM

she just contacted me its the 30k from FragGuy

TRITON1 · #**496** 09/27/2007, 05:47 PM

Wheres all the updates?!

Just thought everyone who reads this thread would be interested in seeing these pictures.....

Dive Trip

woz9683 · #**497** 09/27/2007, 06:26 PM

FWIW, I really don't think the specific amount of reagent has to be very precise either (agree with Steve). Several of the different Salifert kits have a powder or granule reagent that you have to spoon out like that. I was just noticing that at least one of them doesn't even specify a level spoonful. Can't remember which kit it was at the moment, but I know I tested several times with level spoonfuls and with heaping spoonfuls, and I got the same result each time. The limiting chemical in these particular reactions has to be the liquid reagent which is much easier to provide in an exact portion.

Hop · #**498** 09/28/2007, 01:22 AM

Did Marc go on another vacation? He hasn't updated his own thread in a few days. We may have to take the thread hostage with more dog pics soon!

vanmo92 · #**499** 09/28/2007, 01:11 PM

finaly got caught up on my project where i save ever page on the thread. this is number 448!

purebullet417 · #**500** 09/28/2007, 01:34 PM

hes busy building my sump lol. vanmo92 how do you have 16fw tanks and a sw tank in high school. im a grade up and only allowed 1 sw tank and a small desktop planted im going to start soon.