test kit pollution

[Al]

Does anyone know of a Nitrate test that does not use Cadmium?
Not the biggest issue in our hobby, but when I noticed this ingredient in my Nitrate test kit I thought, "hmmm...this can't be neccessary, should be banned".

[Samala]

If you are running a marine planted tank you can gauge whether or not you need more nitrate in the system by keeping an eye on plant growth. When it starts to slow down, Caulerpa and related species show whitened or translucent growth, or seagrasses show red tinged growth, its time to add more NO3 (either dosed or fish poo.. and prefereably fish poo if you're trying to go for a "green" aquarium.) :)

>Sarah

[Al]

Sarah, thanks for the reply.

The one time I ran the NO3 test a few weeks ago, it was zero. There has been a problem with the C. Proliferata's leaves becoming translucent then disentegrating.
Maybe I should add a few fish. All that is there now is a serpent star, a few montipora, one or two small hitchhiker crabs, and innumerable worms and bugs, and feeding these guys heavily has not given me the thick 'carpet' of caulerpa I have seen in lagoonal areas. I seem to get more runners than I do leaves.

[Samala]

Hmm. What is the lighting like on this tank? I notice long runners on C. prolifera when the salinity is a little low, and when lighting cycles are erratic. Do you keep a standard photoperiod?

Translucent leaves on C. prolifera is a major indicator of low nitrate levels. I keep it in all my tanks because its a good canary for nitrate levels. Adding a fish or two could certainly help.

>Sarah

[Al]

The lighting is 2 96 Watt Compact Flourescents. One is on from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, the other 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. They are turned on and off by timer. Salinity is full strength, 35 ppt.
Back a few months I tried a few doses of the Seachem iron supplement, I think the runners started to race at that time.

Ver nice weblog, by the way.

This thread should probably be in the Macroalgae forum.