suggestion for water parameters

[idan555]

In the past 2 years I was all over the place trying to maintenance my tank. mostly I kept it in good condition.
now I am upgrading my system to 180 (85 gal before) total water volume and would like your help here on how to keep the water level in great condition except water change.
so this is what I know:
phosphate 0.1
nitrite 0
pH 8.2
nitrate 10ppm
cal 1450
mg ? (rea sea test kit drive me crazy, show 1580. I don't boost mg at all, and I made sure my mixing salt is low on mg).
kh 9
salinity 1.025
I don't have corals, only nem and fish.
this is as far I remember.

Are there any formula that can help me know how much dosing I need to do per day to keep the parameter above satiable?

Also, what are you guys dosing on daily/weekly base?

as far as light, I have 2 Ocean Revive light. the tank is 48X30X24 I'm not sure if I need to add additional light


thanks!

 

[sde1500]

You would need to measure daily to determine the level of change in parameters in your tank. Once you know that, then you set the dosing rate. You'll still need to measure parameters to make sure dosing is keeping up, growth can change the uptake rates. Though with only nems, you won't need to dose much.

 

[Uncle99]

The only dosing regularly done is when you keep Stoney type corals and/or clams, as they consume CA and Alk faster than a water change can replace.

Not sure you use a ATO, if not, this would be a great addition for stable salinity.

Your parameters look fine to me except CA at 1450....... Range would be 400-440 ish

Red Sea ( or any hobby grade kit) can give back incorrect or varied results based mostly on how the test is done. MG should be in the 1260 - 1360 range. There are two things that effect the outcome of MG in the RS Kit. When adding drops "A" you must shake for 15 seconds between drops. Also when filling the syringe with "C", make sure you draw past the 1ml line, then push down to match the line.

With fish only and Nems, a water weekly water change should suffice.

 

[idan555]

The only dosing regularly done is when you keep Stoney type corals and/or clams, as they consume CA and Alk faster than a water change can replace.

Not sure you use a ATO, if not, this would be a great addition for stable salinity.

Your parameters look fine to me except CA at 1450....... Range would be 400-440 ish

Red Sea ( or any hobby grade kit) can give back incorrect or varied results based mostly on how the test is done. MG should be in the 1260 - 1360 range. There are two things that effect the outcome of MG in the RS Kit. When adding drops "A" you must shake for 15 seconds between drops. Also when filling the syringe with "C", make sure you draw past the 1ml line, then push down to match the line.

With fish only and Nems, a water weekly water change should suffice.

Thank you guys for the reply,
Are you using Hanna tester kit or Api etc.?
I noticed the are pretty expensive, not sure if they make any difference

 

[Uncle99]

Good question
I use Hanna for Alk only, because it is fast, easy and accurate. ALk is the component I check twice a week. Yup, expensive.
I use Salifert for calcium, again easy and accurate, but the cost is a lot less than Hanna.
For MG, I use RED SEA, the only one I found that worked for me.

 

[mattgumaer]

In the past 2 years I was all over the place trying to maintenance my tank. mostly I kept it in good condition.
now I am upgrading my system to 180 (85 gal before) total water volume and would like your help here on how to keep the water level in great condition except water change.
so this is what I know:
phosphate 0.1
nitrite 0
pH 8.2
nitrate 10ppm
cal 1450
mg ? (rea sea test kit drive me crazy, show 1580. I don't boost mg at all, and I made sure my mixing salt is low on mg).
kh 9
salinity 1.025
I don't have corals, only nem and fish.
this is as far I remember.

Are there any formula that can help me know how much dosing I need to do per day to keep the parameter above satiable?

Also, what are you guys dosing on daily/weekly base?

as far as light, I have 2 Ocean Revive light. the tank is 48X30X24 I'm not sure if I need to add additional light


thanks!

Calcium number seems like it has to be wrong, way too high. If you're not already dosing like crazy, it doesn't seem like the number could ever get that high. Even with crazy dosing and high Mag, it would seem likely that the calcium would precipitate out before reaching that level.

Phosphate seems high. Are you having algae problems? I would worry less about chasing specific numbers than how the occupants of your tank are doing.

Dosing really should be determined based on your individual measurements. I would do no dosing and then measure at least alk and calc over a few days to see if its dropping and, if so, how much its dropping on a daily basis. Then dose based on your specific consumption. Consumption can vary dramatically depending on tank occupants, (including things like coraline algae). Bulk Reef Supply has a dosing calculator that may help once you have a sense of your tank's consumption. There really is no reason to dose unless/until your numbers are dropping lower than you would like between water changes.

Matt

 

[lapin]

If your tank is doing good and it has those numbers then stick with the same plan. Not sure if your post hints at not wanting to do water changes. They are you best friend in keeping a tank stable. Exports nutrients and replaces minerals. I would not worry about dosing unless water changes can not keep up with loss of minerals. A few nems and fish are not going to deplete minerals in such a way as you need to dose.

 

[idan555]

If your tank is doing good and it has those numbers then stick with the same plan. Not sure if your post hints at not wanting to do water changes. They are you best friend in keeping a tank stable. Exports nutrients and replaces minerals. I would not worry about dosing unless water changes can not keep up with loss of minerals. A few nems and fish are not going to deplete minerals in such a way as you need to dose.

Sorry! Ca is 400.
Phosphate I dose to avoid dino breakout, that what I have been told

 

[lapin]

Sorry! Ca is 400.
Phosphate I dose to avoid dino breakout, that what I have been told

An imbalance of N and P with low P can certainly favor dino's.
I think what you need to do is wait until your new tank is running. I have experienced and I am sure others have, is that every tank is different. You are adding a lot of water volume. This plus more sand, rocks ect... You are most likely going to get a different bacterial balance. Without testing the numbers in a new tank, it will be very hard to come up with a exact dosing amount based on your old tank.
To raise P naturally have you tried different fish food? Some are higher than others in P.

 

[mattgumaer]

Sorry! Ca is 400.
Phosphate I dose to avoid dino breakout, that what I have been told

Do you have a dino problem or did you have one? Thankfully, I've never had one so I'm not familiar with dosing phosphate to avoid/fix one. Even if you had a dino problem in the past, it might be worth tapering off your phosphate dosing to see if the problem returns.

I think the risks of excess phosphates are generally: 1) nuisance algae; and 2) impeding calcification of stony corals. If you're not trying to grow stony corals and you don't have an algae problem, I wouldn't worry too much about keeping the phosphate level really low (but, I probably wouldn't dose it as a dino preventative either).

The often quoted Holmes-Farley water chemistry article says calcium should be between 380-450. I try not to let mine get below 400 so, I target 425 to give me a cushion. Having said that, I personally measure alk a lot more than calc. At least in my system, alk seems to drop more quickly than calc when dosing is not keeping up with nutrient consumption.

Matt

 

[idan555]

I have Dino problem for long time in my previews tank. it was the hardest thing to deal with, and still I didn't win!
now, after you mention the nuisance algae (didn't heard about it before). it those look like thatin the pictures. maybe after the the Dino (I did microscope test first to make sure it was Dino) by me increasing the phosphate I cause new algae to growth?