Water and my last nerve

[smontmagny59]

Hi there just learning about water and water changes.
On 6/11 at 12:00 pm I prepared for a 50% water change to bring down my nitrates (reading of about 20)
Purchased new test kits for this leaving test strips behind.
Made about 13 gallons of water using Kent marine salt and tap water (changing to ro soon)
made the water and let it sit for about 3 hours and then took measurements here are the results.

Temp 77.5
Specific G 1.026
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Salinity 300
PH 7.7 +
DKH 14
Phosphate .25
Calcium 520 + (extrapolated to about 580)

Performed water change of about 10 gallons

24 hours later the readings were as follows

Temp 77.5
Specific G 1.026
Nitrite 0
Nitrate between 5 - 10
Salinity 300
PH 8.0
DKH 13
Phosphate .25
Calcium 520 + (extrapolated to about 580)

Is this a result of bad water or bad salt or even operator error (all tests done 2X)

What can I do to fix this. The amount of info and the learning curve is probably the hardest part for me so far but also the most fun.
Thanks for all your help

[binford4000]

To quote Jimflies wisdom ! Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank. I would switch to R/O as soon as you can. Continue to use the same salt and see if that helps. Changeing salt brands is hard on your corals and takes a long time when done correctly so as to do no damage to your livestock. Patience is a must in this hobby. :oldman:

[BlackGrandPrix]

Im not seeing what your problem is?

[smontmagny59]

On just the 1 nerve no corals two ocellaras clowns 1 royal gramma. So many times the first big mess up is the one that haunts just trying to get it right from the beginning

[lmccluer]

I agree with BlackGrandPrux, I don't see anything that would alarm me. I also agree with Binford, if you change, change slowly, and definitely get a RODI as soon as possible. Use of tap water can throw testing way off because you have no control of trace elements in it from one day to another.

[woods4542000]

It brought your nitrate down , raised your ph ? Phosphate is from tap water. What are we missing?

[FlynnFish]

*this is an old thread*
actually the nitrates went up.
you stated that you were performing a 50% water change which was 10 gallons. so with that information you had a 20 gallon tank. you first stated that you were just learning how to do water changes. so i am asumming that your tank was still really new and you had 3 fish in it, the two clowns and a royal gramma. for a few months you can expect fluxuations in parameters. hope your tank is stable by now and thriving.

[woods4542000]

Nitrates were at 20 before change , then after between 5-10 . Am I not reading right?

[FlynnFish]

Ah, see it now. In the paragraph yes it says 20. Sorry below that I see now that was the new water tested. Ok, i get it. Sorry Mike. :)
Still nothing out of the ordinary for a new tank.