LFS SPS tank parameters!

[nikonosis]

What should I think of this? I just brought home an sps from the LFS and I decided to test their water to see how much it was off from ours. These are the results I got from their sps tank.

dKH 4.8
calcium 450
ph 7.9 (at 3:30pm)
nitrate 20

I didn't test mag or phosphate.
These tests were done with salifert.

[csb]

I usually test SG because if the SG is way off, I'd conduct a longer acclimation. Different parameters... that's why we acclimate ;)

[nikonosis]

ill go test the SG in a minute and post it here.

[karlmarx]

Those perameters arnt actually that bad. The ph is probably way off depending on how it was bagged and how long it was out of the tank. However the other params look pretty good, most of the lfs we have here cant even house sps.

[nikonosis]

1.024

I keep mine at 1.025

[nikonosis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10344997#post10344997 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by karlmarx
Those perameters arnt actually that bad. The ph is probably way off depending on how it was bagged and how long it was out of the tank. However the other params look pretty good, most of the lfs we have here cant even house sps.

4.8 dKH is good?

[Aquabucket]

If you want to test their water correctly you'll need to grab a sample that does not come with a coral in the bag.

[nikonosis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10346001#post10346001 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aquabucket
If you want to test their water correctly you'll need to grab a sample that does not come with a coral in the bag.

how would that make a difference?

[Aquabucket]

The minute you place a live coral in a bag of water it is effecting the water quality. It may be significant and it may not. To be sure you need a sample of the water only.

[nikonosis]

I really don't see it using alk and calcium on the 20 minute drive home, would it?

[Aquabucket]

A lot of SPS can shed mucus in the bag and having that mixed in with the sample might effect the test. The thing is you can't be sure unless you compare the bag with the coral to another bag with just water. If there is no difference than you have your answer.