WISRD Research & Engineering Journal

pH

8.1 - 8.4

Alkalinity

8 - 12 dKH

Ammonia (NH 3 )

Undetectable

Nitrite (NO 2 )

Undetectable

Nitrate - Nitrogen (NO 3 )

< 1.0 ppm

Phosphate (PO 4 3+ )

< 0.2 ppm

Calcium

350 - 450 ppm

Magnesium

1250 - 1350 ppm

2.2 Water Quality Testing Tools Below is a description of each type of kit we use to test the quality of the water in the research tank. Test kits were purchased from Bulk Reef Supply and used as recommended in each specific test. We use the Hanna Marine Salinity Tester (Figure 1) to test specific gravity. This device can detect salinity between the range of 1.000 to 1.041 and temperatures from 32.0˚ to 122.0˚ F (or 0.0˚ to 50.0˚ C). The Hanna Marine Alkalinity checker (Fig. 2) measures carbonate alkalinity in the range of 0.0 to 20.0 degrees of carbonate hardness, or dKH. We use the Hanna Marine Calcium Checker (Fig. 3) to measure calcium in the range from 200 to 600 ppm. The Hanna Marine Phosphate checker (Fig. 4) is used to measures phosphate levels in the range of 0.00 to 0.90 ppm. The Aquaforest Magnesium test kit (Fig. 5) is used to measures magnesium in the range from 0 to 1500 ppm. The Salifert Ammonia test kit (Fig. 6) is used to measure ammonia in the range of 0.5 ppm to > 2.0 ppm.

Figure 1. Hanna Marine Salinity Tester.

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