A Water Analysis program - could use some help

joelr · 09/17/2008, 02:06 PM

I'm working on a simple to use little program that helps one try to figure out what's going on with their water. Basically a bit of water analysis.
I'm starting with ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, calcium, alkalinity, temperature and salinity. I know a *little* about these and certainly less about others.

At this point it is intended to be for reef tanks.

The program is available here:
http://jnana.appspot.com/?app=Water%...%20Reef%20Tank

I only have some data in it so far for ammonia. You can try a few cases with ammonia > 0, 75g tank, 6ish fish, and a tank up to about 5 months old. Other answers won't produce any results yet.

What I could use help with is what various sets of parameters indicate and/or what you should do about it.

If you have ammonia > 0 in an established tank... does that mostly mean that something just died in the tank?

I tend to think that nitrite and nitrate fall into mostly the same situation as ammonia (cycling types of issues). But I imagine there are more cases there.

If your phosphate is > 0 then what. Simply add a phosphate removal bag? What if it is > 5?

If you calcium is low and your alkalinity high then you should probably add some calcium buffer. And vice versa.

It'd be great if I could get some input on various water parameter cases and what they mean. I think a utility such as this could be useful for the average reef tank person.

joelr · 09/17/2008, 02:12 PM

ps. Especially let me know if some of my explanations are simply wrong!

joelr · 09/17/2008, 03:20 PM

Errr... of course as soon as I announce my app stops working right. I'll yell again once I figure out why.

joelr · 09/17/2008, 04:03 PM

Who knows... seems to be working again.

joelr · 09/19/2008, 03:05 PM

Ok. The app had some difficulty yesterday but it is more stable today (famous last words).

I've got some cases in there for calcium and alkalinity as well as perfect water parameters.

I could use some input on the following?

What does it mean to have high phosphate? How much is too much, what can you do about it? Does it matter what other water parameters are?

Does a nitrite reading above zero simply indicate a bit of cycling? Or could it be something else.

I guess I would think that a nitrate reading would be similar to an ammonia reading, or can nitrate readings occur for different reasons?

Any comments would be really appreciated.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 09/19/2008, 03:48 PM

I give guidance on water parameters here:

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

joelr · 09/22/2008, 04:16 PM

Thanks. That's a nice article.

I've implemented a new version of my application that I'm liking better so far.

Reef Tank Water Parameter Analysis

http://jnana.appspot.com/?app=Reef%2...ter%20Analysis

I'm certainly open to better explanations or other scenarios that would be useful.

(This stuff is still useful for me as I feel as though I'm only beginning to actually understand some of these things.)

SoulFish · 03/06/2010, 04:45 PM

anyone know where to find that water flow program again?

SoulFish · 03/08/2010, 01:03 AM

bump

Randy Holmes-Farley · 03/08/2010, 05:52 AM

I' not sure what you are referring to.

Water flow?

09/17/2008, 02:06 PM	#1
joelr Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 31	A Water Analysis program - could use some help I'm working on a simple to use little program that helps one try to figure out what's going on with their water. Basically a bit of water analysis. I'm starting with ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, calcium, alkalinity, temperature and salinity. I know a little about these and certainly less about others. At this point it is intended to be for reef tanks. The program is available here: http://jnana.appspot.com/?app=Water%...%20Reef%20Tank I only have some data in it so far for ammonia. You can try a few cases with ammonia > 0, 75g tank, 6ish fish, and a tank up to about 5 months old. Other answers won't produce any results yet. What I could use help with is what various sets of parameters indicate and/or what you should do about it. If you have ammonia > 0 in an established tank... does that mostly mean that something just died in the tank? I tend to think that nitrite and nitrate fall into mostly the same situation as ammonia (cycling types of issues). But I imagine there are more cases there. If your phosphate is > 0 then what. Simply add a phosphate removal bag? What if it is > 5? If you calcium is low and your alkalinity high then you should probably add some calcium buffer. And vice versa. It'd be great if I could get some input on various water parameter cases and what they mean. I think a utility such as this could be useful for the average reef tank person.

09/17/2008, 04:03 PM	#4
joelr Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 31	Who knows... seems to be working again. __________________ Click my home to see my Reef Tank Water Parameter Analysis application.

09/19/2008, 03:05 PM	#5
joelr Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 31	Slightly farther along - questions Ok. The app had some difficulty yesterday but it is more stable today (famous last words). I've got some cases in there for calcium and alkalinity as well as perfect water parameters. I could use some input on the following? What does it mean to have high phosphate? How much is too much, what can you do about it? Does it matter what other water parameters are? Does a nitrite reading above zero simply indicate a bit of cycling? Or could it be something else. I guess I would think that a nitrate reading would be similar to an ammonia reading, or can nitrate readings occur for different reasons? Any comments would be really appreciated.

09/19/2008, 03:48 PM	#6
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I give guidance on water parameters here: Reef Aquarium Water Parameters http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

03/08/2010, 05:52 AM	#10
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	I' not sure what you are referring to. Water flow? __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

09/17/2008, 02:12 PM	#2
joelr Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 31	ps. Especially let me know if some of my explanations are simply wrong!

09/17/2008, 03:20 PM	#3
joelr Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 31	Errr... of course as soon as I announce my app stops working right. I'll yell again once I figure out why.

09/22/2008, 04:16 PM	#7
joelr Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 31	Thanks. That's a nice article. I've implemented a new version of my application that I'm liking better so far. Reef Tank Water Parameter Analysis http://jnana.appspot.com/?app=Reef%2...ter%20Analysis I'm certainly open to better explanations or other scenarios that would be useful. (This stuff is still useful for me as I feel as though I'm only beginning to actually understand some of these things.)

03/06/2010, 04:45 PM	#8
SoulFish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tampa Area Posts: 316	anyone know where to find that water flow program again?

03/08/2010, 01:03 AM	#9
SoulFish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tampa Area Posts: 316	bump