So I’ve been keeping an eye on things.  The main concern is a very slight level of Nitrite showing up on my tests…less than 0.1 ppm.  As soon as that goes away, we should be good to go.
So here’s how the water in the Ecoxotic tested out this morning:
Seachem pH – 8.1
Seachem Free Ammonia – 0 ppm
Seachem Total Ammonia – 1 ppm
(update – after letting it sit, total ammonia was actually closer to 0.1 ppm)
Seachem Nitrite – trace, < 0.1 ppm
Seachem Nitrate – 0 ppm
Salifer Nitrate – 0 ppm
Seachem Total Alkalinity – 2 meq/L
Salifert Calcium – 410 ppm
Seachem Magnesium – 950 ppm
Yes, I actually have a lot of Seachem tests on hand, but my Seachem Calcium test went bad eons ago when the powder it used got rock hard and changed color…probably moisture exposure.  I also am only semi-confident in the Seachem Nitrite/Nitrate tests at this point as well, but other test kits seem to confirm the readings.  I wish you could just get replacment reagents for these tests as it seems a big waste to order a whole new test kit because one component may no longer be working.  I asked Seachem, and sorry, they don’t sell the reagents by themselves.
Of course, after this test I dosed 6 ml of each C-Balance component because I want to see what affect it has on the water.  So a bit later today I’ll retest pH, Alkalinity, Calcium and Magnesium to know what a dose does to the system.
Second Test (midday)

This is post dosing:
Seachem pH – 8.1
Seachem Total Alkalinity – 2, maybe 2.25 meq/L
Salifert Calcium – 410 ppm
Seachem Magnesium – didn’t test
Basically, I saw virtually no bump, although the Alkalinity did turn back from yellow to “green” after a minute, which suggests a slight increase but not enough to be in the 2.5 meq/L range.  I dosed 6 ML of each two part component again, and will test in a couple hours.
Third Test (afternoon)

Seachem ph – 8.2
Seachem Total Alkalinity – 2.5 to 2.75 meq/L
Salifert Calcium – 420 ppm
Seachem Magnesium – not tested
According to the instructions, the maximum dose is 1 ML per gallon per day, and no more than .5 ml per gallon in one dose.  I’ve been doing roughly .25 ml per gallon per dose.  So…why not.  I’ll dose again now at my .25 ml per gallon, and see where things are a little bit later.
Update – Fourth and Final Test (evening)

Seachem pH – 8.2
Seachem Alkalinity – 2.5 meq/L
Salifert Calcium – 420 ppm
Seachem Magnesium – 1025 ppm
So, dosing .75 ml per gallon of C-Balance showed a rise in pH from 8.1 to 8.2.  Total Alkalinity went roughly from 2 to 2.5 meq/L.  Calcium seems to have gone up by 10 ppm, from 410 to 420 ppm.  Magnesium apparently saw a larger jump, at 950 to 1025 ppm.
Of course, I ran out of Seachem’s Total Alkalinity test reagent at the last test.  The question will be whether I get a new Alkalinity test or use the ones that come contained within the Seachem Magnesium test.  In the end, I’m not going to dose again today…I don’t want to push that max dose limit.  Obviously at this point I can probably do another three .25ml/gallon doses of C-Balance tomorrow and check again at the end of the day.  Sounds like a plan.
As far as the Lightning is concerned, I’m going to recheck the nitrites again in a day or two.  Once the minimal level has gone away, it will be time to swap Maroons and finally get things going!!!