Can oxygen levels be meausred?

My calcium levels should improve as i just changed over from instant ocean mix to the reef crystals...but it can vary from 380-420, right now its at 400. I don't test for magnesium but occasionally get my LFS to check it. if i remember correctly the last three have been at 1300

 

Magnesium needs to be tested as often as Alk and Cal. until you can get a grip on the levels then I'd test once a week for all three the lower mag is causing the other two oppositely charged ion to not bond together and the carbonates may be suppressing the Cal or the other way around depending on what element got on top of the other first . The magnesium is the simple emulsifier to keep them playing happy together in the same little box of water . Think of the Calcium ion and the Carbonates ion as magnets and you are trying to put them together with the poles the wrong way it won't happen one will repel the other until you align their polarity correctly then smack they bond up . The mag just aligns the polarity of the Ca and Carbonates ions.
Oh and don;t depend on a simple salt change to do the total job you will need to suppliment any salt when or as the bio demand increases

 

i've been using the API line of test kits...i know they aren't very good but my options are limited living where i am. I'd like to get a master test kit, and something worth the money. The 2 LFS's in my area carry API and some other test strip kit that i know is worse than the API. What should I order? specifically a brand.

 

not to steal your thread, but what is an oxygen reactor? I have been looking for threads or DIY plans but I can't find anything on it, alot of dead ends.

 

A calcium reactor was mentioned earlier, not an oxygen reactor. I suppose you could class your protein skimmer as an oxygen or aeration reactor.

 

I just went to my LFS and looked for a mag test kit. They have API and nutrifin test kits....i think i need to order online and get something thats accurate. I don't trust the API kits, and haven't heard anything about the nutrifin but they are srtips so my assumption is they are crap. any suggestions?

 

While the tests kits may be, most DO meters are the market are very accurate.

Some one did mention an O2 reactor, Tangster

FWIW I use numerous DO meters and even the lowest grade Pin Point is pretty damn on The aquaculture industry would be dead in the water with out DO meters.

 

Yes well you can lead the old horse to water but making it drink is a different matter all together . I know I keep my 02 at totally dissolved levels just under 9ppm all the time My ORP is good and fish are always healthy and corals grow like weeds and since I have gotten on top of the 0'2 levels I have seen very little RTN'ing of my corals in the last 15 to 20 yrs I honestly have only had maybe 3 acros to suffer that dilemma .

I use a 0'2 reactor and skimmer and air stones on a strong pump and I have one air stone shoved right up into the 2" fitting when the tank water enters the sump its already being bubbled .and a few more stones around the sump I have a 9800 GPH pump on a 90 gal tank and it runs several thousands GPH through the skimmer bubbles everywhere . But not many in the main tank a few micros if you really look hard .. Bubbles are good I think with every ppm of oxygen gas in that water just drives out unwanted gases i.e Ammonia ,Nitrite Nitrates and CO2

 

I am currently having a problem with my tanks, the two mounted in the wall (backsides are in the mechanical space), pH is currently low. But my other two tanks are just fine, which makes me believe that i have a higher concenteration of CO2 in the mechanical space. i was hoping there was another way, other than ozone, to get more oxygen into my aquarium. I don't think that bubbling more air from the mechanical space would help raise my O2.

Thanks,
Dustin

 

might want to start your own thread if u wanna keep asking questions Im still awaiting an answer to my earlier question about test kits and Im concerned it will get lost with other related questions being posted on same thread