my test results

PH: 8.2
PO4: .05ppm
CA2: 440
NO3: 15ppm
dKH: 12
meq/L: 4.3

anything i need to do?

 

What is your Mg? If you are keeping SPS you will need to test it.

NO3 is high for a SPS tank, around 5ppm is good.

 

i need to get a mag test.
whats the best way to get the NO3 down?

 

Looks pretty good to me. Your nitrate is a bit high, but otherwise looks good. I agree mg will be good to know. Based on the fact that your alk and ca are reasonably high, it should be in a reasonable range though.

 

My standard answer for this:

The following will all either directly or indirectly help keep nitrates down

-Efficient Protein skimming- Keep protein skimmer clean and use a good one.
-Clean water source- RO/DI water - make sure output is 0 tds.
-harvest macro algae in fuge
-feed smaller amounts more, rather than lots less often.
-keep amount fed consistent to maintain steady biomass rather than allow fluctuating biomass.
-good cleanup crew
-Run carbon and GFO.
-Keep filters clean - remove detritus
-Keep substrate clean of detritus.
-Avoid dead spots, make sure there is flow
-Probably best to avoid any biofilter other than sand and LR.
-Remote deep sand bed
-more advanced and may be much more risky, but carbon dosing can be effective.


Also, I would suggest looking at this article.
Aquarium Chemistry: Nitrate in the Reef Aquarium — Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine

 

Efficient Protein skimming- Keep protein skimmer clean and use a good one. aqua medic 1000
-Clean water source- RO/DI water - make sure output is 0 tds. ro water 5-15 tds i need new filters
-harvest macro algae in fuge i dont have a sump yet
-feed smaller amounts more, rather than lots less often. i only have 2 fish right now
-keep amount fed consistent to maintain steady biomass rather than allow fluctuating biomass. need to get a auto feeder but 1 fish wont eat pellets
-good cleanup crew i have a ton of snails from reefcleaners and a few hermit crabs
-Run carbon and GFO. im running carbon and need to find a way to run gfo in my hob filter
-Keep filters clean - remove detritus
-Keep substrate clean of detritus.
-Avoid dead spots, make sure there is flow getting a 750 power head this week
-Probably best to avoid any biofilter other than sand and LR.
-Remote deep sand bed ?
-more advanced and may be much more risky, but carbon dosing can be effective.

 

It looks like you have some places to start. The "remote deep sand bed" isn't really my favorite, it's there to cover the bases. The idea is that you have a bucket or something full of sand and pump water over the snad and let it drain back into the tank. If you look around the net you can find plans. Or alternatively, it could simply be a DSB in a fuge etc... This way, as it gets old and collects crud it is easy to remove and replace without disturbing your display. There is some question whether small DSBs work though and personally, I'm not even sure DSBs work better than shallow sand beds for denitrification. It won't hurt though and a number of people I respect swear by them, so I left it... IMO something you could try if other things don't work.

 

ok the sand bed in my tank is about 2"

 

A DSB is 4" deep.

 

i thought it was more then i have. i wasnt trying to make a dsb i just like the look of 2"