parameters ok to add coral?

[cam08]

Planning on picking up some corals this weekend, tested the water yesterday and these were the results.
ammonia-0
nitrite-0
nitrate-5
saltinity-1.026
temp 80
phosphate-.25
alk-11.9
calcium-365
mag-1300

Will i be ok adding some soft corals?

 

[Knighthawk]

Planning on picking up some corals this weekend, tested the water yesterday and these were the results.

ammonia-0

nitrite-0

nitrate-5

saltinity-1.026

temp 80

phosphate-.25

alk-11.9

calcium-365

mag-1300



Will i be ok adding some soft corals?

You should be fine for softies. Calcium is a bit low for anything stony.


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[cam08]

Yes just picking up soft coral. As far as calcium, how do I raise it? I heard of two part, but i heard you have to dose the same amount of alk as you do calcium. Is this true?

 

[Knighthawk]

Yes just picking up soft coral. As far as calcium, how do I raise it? I heard of two part, but i heard you have to dose the same amount of alk as you do calcium. Is this true?

What size is the tank and what kind of salt are you using?


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[cam08]

40 gallon using instant ocean

 

[Knighthawk]

I would switch over to reef crystals and do some water changes. That will bring it up for you. There's no need to dose with the setup you have.


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[Knighthawk]

You should be closer to 420 ca btw.


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[Khazmodain]

For the most part things look good, but these look a little questionable to me:
phosphate-.25
alk-11.9
calcium-365

That alk is awfully high and Ca quite low. I'm surprised they were able to get that far out of line with one another without you dosing anything (natural saltwater is closer to 8 dkH alk and 420 Ca). Two part dosing doesn't require you to dose both parts.. you can take corrective actions with just one component. I'd recommend getting calcium chloride from BRS to raise Ca (not calcium hydroxide which is kalkwasser and will also raise alk).

Are you getting any kind of green hair algae or cyano growth? PO4 is fairly high... I'd try to get it under .10 to keep nuisance algae under control.

For softies you are probably okay but your alk/Ca seem far off enough that I would still try to correct them. I believe the general guideline is to raise Ca no more than 50 ppm per day, but I'd probably aim for more like 25.

 

[mcgyvr]

You been feeding fish? If so that may account for your phosphates (overfeeding)..
Or are you using RO/DI water or tap? tap may also account for the phosphates..

Other than that your parameters are fine IMO..
Yes you can increase cal some.. maybe a bit of mag too..

 

[cam08]

I would switch over to reef crystals and do some water changes. That will bring it up for you. There's no need to dose with the setup you have.


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Yes i plan to i was just hoping to use up all the salt i have now before changing, but i will change it now

 

[cam08]

For the most part things look good, but these look a little questionable to me:
phosphate-.25
alk-11.9
calcium-365

That alk is awfully high and Ca quite low. I'm surprised they were able to get that far out of line with one another without you dosing anything (natural saltwater is closer to 8 dkH alk and 420 Ca). Two part dosing doesn't require you to dose both parts.. you can take corrective actions with just one component. I'd recommend getting calcium chloride from BRS to raise Ca (not calcium hydroxide which is kalkwasser and will also raise alk).

Are you getting any kind of green hair algae or cyano growth? PO4 is fairly high... I'd try to get it under .10 to keep nuisance algae under control.

For softies you are probably okay but your alk/Ca seem far off enough that I would still try to correct them. I believe the general guideline is to raise Ca no more than 50 ppm per day, but I'd probably aim for more like 25.

Thanks, i will look into the calcium chloride, I did have some green algae growing but i added some snail and now there is no algae anymore.

 

[cam08]

You been feeding fish? If so that may account for your phosphates (overfeeding)..
Or are you using RO/DI water or tap? tap may also account for the phosphates..

Other than that your parameters are fine IMO..
Yes you can increase cal some.. maybe a bit of mag too..

I do feed my fish, once a day but not much. Using rodi water

 

[mcgyvr]

Could be leaching from the rock too..
Not a big deal though really but could be lower..

Or testing error..