"Ideal" Water Parameters

[CheyDogFlies]

After wading through thousands of posts on water quality on this site and many others, reading dozens of articles about the same online and in my old (6-8 yrs) books, I would like to take an informal poll from the users here.

Nobody seems to agree on what ideal water parameters are. I have started a mixed reef tank that is currently 8 wks old and is so far doing pretty well. It's only a FOWLR right now, but I want to add LPS and perhaps some SPS frags. I would like to make sure I've got "good" water before attempting this, of course. I used to keep LPS when I lived in Tokyo, with mixed success. The hobby had changed quite a bit in the last 8 years.

I would like to know what you think is ideal for:
1. Salinity
2. pH
3. Alk
4. Ca
5. Mg
6. Others you think are important.
This is especially directed at those of you who have been keeping LPS with success!

FYI, I'm currently at:
1.025 sg
8.25 pH
10.25 kH
325 ppm Ca
1.0 mg Mg
5 ppm NO3
0 ppm PO4
So far I've been using IO salt and Elos test kits.

 

[reef_doug]

There will be different opinions on this. I think your alk is too high and Ca is low. BTW... my tank is geared toward SPS dominant though.

My parameters are:
Temp 79 - 82
Salinity 1.026
pH 7.9-8.1
dKH 7.5-8.0
Ca 410-420
Mg 1300
Ammonia (undetectable w/ salifert)
Phosphate (undetectable w/ salifert)
Nitrate 15
Potassium 380-400 (FM kit)

Salt is Coralife and most test kits are Salifert)

 

[fatrip]

1. 1.024 - 1.026
2. 8.0 - 8.3
3. 8-12 dkh
4. 380-520 ppm
5. 1290 - 1600ppm

there is no right answer but these are the area's that you want to be with in. going to much higher or lower will cause chemical imbalances that can screw up your tank.

i would suggest boosting up your Ca. IO is a good salt mix but it needs to be boosted in some areas like Ca and Alk.

my tank. temp 78.8-81
1.026sg
8.17 ph
11.6 dkh
510 ppm
1540 ppm

 

[fatrip]

"I think your alk is too high and Ca is low. "

i disagree on tha alk being to high, but the Ca is very low for that amount of Alk. with that Alk you want to be in the 450 range for Ca.

 

[CheyDogFlies]

Oh yes, I forgot temp. Mine is 78.4 - 79.0. I have a ridiculously outstanding heater/temp controller that I got at the LFS in Japan. Water temp control is outstanding--I hope it never dies! Largest/best fish store I have ever seen, and ever will see--two buidlings, one with two floors--probably the floor space of a Target.

I have noticed that my Ca is rather low. I have tried to dose liquid Ca via two brands, but it only lasts for a day, and there's no way I can keep that up due to cost and availability (I'm gone a lot). I think I will switch out of IO salt to something different soon.

 

[Hingeback]

I dont know if these are ideal or not, but they are working for me. I try to keep my params within this range.

1. Salinity 1.026
2. pH 8.3
3. Alk 10dkh
4. Ca 450
5. Mg 1320
6. NO4 0
7. NO2 0
8. NO3 0

Best wishes.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I would like to take an informal poll from the users here.

I give my opinions in detail here:

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

Based on what you posted, I think calcium is too low, and the magnesium is a typo.

but it only lasts for a day, and there's no way I can keep that up due to cost and availability (I'm gone a lot). I think I will switch out of IO salt to something different soon.

I use IO and have for many years. I boost the calcium and magnesium in it before use with inexpensive Dowflake and MAG flake.

 

[CheyDogFlies]

Yes, Mg=1000 vice 1.0

Do you get the same test results on a new batch of IO as me?
Based on 1.025:
pH 8.3
kH 11
Ca 325-350
Mg 1000
NO3 5
PO4 0

 

[HowardW]

My LPS grow like weeds and I strive for the following water params:


1. Salinity 1.026 - 1.027

2. pH 8.0 - 8.2

3. Alk 7.5 - 8dKH

4. Ca 420 - 450PPM

5. Mg 1300- 1400PPM

6. Iodide and Potassium @NSW levels, and I dose iron weekly

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Do you get the same test results on a new batch of IO as me?

I use higher salinity (sg = 1.0264), but yes, those values look typical for IO. Your magnesium value may be lower than usual.


Oh, and we forgot to give you a
<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

 

[fatrip]

well if the mag is truely that low then that would be why he cant keep Ca up. it is interesting that you can keep the Alk that high as well. Up your mag and you'll be able to keep Ca up as well.