Testing for BW?

[G S P Freak]

Ok, I'm confused... I'm wondering, for a liquid test kit, if I should get one meant for saltwater or freshwater? S.G. is at 1.004 atm, but I plan to raise it to 1.006-1.007. I'm looking at getting an API Master test kit, but they have kits specifically for FW or SW, and I'm not sure which to get... So comments and suggestions please?

[bertie 83]

This is a f8 tank yes? If so 1.004 is perfectly fine and a f/w test kit is what you need.

[RTR]

+1 to bertie's comments.

[G S P Freak]

This is a f8 tank yes? If so 1.004 is perfectly fine and a f/w test kit is what you need.

Yeah, it's for a f8, ok thanks! I'll make sure to get the FW API test kit then. Also, you think 1.004 is ok? I read from PP article that the range is 1.005-1.008, so I was trying to get it in the middle, since I couldn't find an exact reccomended S.G., So is 1.004 the specific gravity you reccomend for f8s?
RTR, I'm particularly interested in a response from you, since I read somewhere that you did some sort of decade, or longer, study on F8's, I'm a to-be biologist (Non-med Bio Major ) so scientific evidence or materials interest me a lot!

[bertie 83]

Rtr says 1.003-1.005 lol. 1.004 is spot on

[Pufferpunk]

Yep, go with RTR, I guess I should change that... Hard water is more important than SG--adding salt is the best way to achieve this.

[RTR]

+1to PP's comments - obviously. And yes, IME water carbonate hardness (KH) is equally or possibly more important than salinity. I could not read any difference in life span between 1.003 and 1.005. Both above and below that life span was shorter.

I had preciously decided that all my BW and SW tanks would be on aragonite substrates, so KH was pretty stable. Marine mix alone does not have enough bicarbonate/carbonate to provide pH stibility alone. Commercial buffers do not and cannot substitute for KH lack, especially in low-end BW. Aerobic nitrification bacteria absolutely require adequate bicarbonate ion.

HTH

[G S P Freak]

water carbonate hardness (KH) is equally or possibly more important than salinity. I could not read any difference in life span between 1.003 and 1.005. Both above and below that life span was shorter.

Ok thanks guys. I'll leave the S.G. where it is then, at an apparently perfect 1.004, who knew ! I don't think I'll have a problem with water hardness, as I have crushed shells as substrate, and some decor that also adds some more to that; I have a hunk of dead coral and some kind of rock (idk what kind, I asked the shop for a rock they'd use as base rock, and they gave me some kind of rock lol..)