Target Calcium and Alkalinity for LPS and Zoos

[daddy2kids]

I'm not sure if this goes in this forum or Reef Chemistry, but since it pertains to LPS in particular here goes:

I am wondering what my targets should be for calcium and alkalinity for the following LPS and Zoos. I found some suggestions indicated below:

2 ea Brain Coral (Favia sp.; Calc 380-430 ppm; alk 3.5 mEq/L)
Open Brain Coral (Trachyphyllia geoffroyi; Calc 400-430 ppm; alk 3.5 mEq/L)
2 ea Aussie Acan Lord (Acanthastrea lordhowensis; Calc 400-450 ppm; alk 3.2-4.8 mEq/L)
Green Button Polyps (Protopalythoa sp.)
Red People Eater Palythoas
Eagle Eye Zoanthids (purple red purple green)
Many other Zoanthids and Palythoas

Looks like an alkalinity of 3.5 will work, right? Thoughts?

If I target 3.5 mEq/L alkalinity, what should my target calcium be? I've seen Randy's ranges, and those suggestions are within Randy's general ranges, so would anything in the above ranges be fine for LPS and zoos?

But what about a specific calcium target? Are there optimal values/ranges for calcium and alkalinity for these LPS/zoos?

Do I need to use a target calcium of 430 ppm for a target alkalinity of 3.5? More specifically, do I need to use the calcium amount that is "balanced" with an alkalinity of 3.5 (i.e., starting from sea water alk/calc and adding calcium carbonate), which I believe would be calcium at 430 ppm (from Randy's "Calcium and Alkalinity" article from Reefkeeping).

Thanks in advance!

 

[mscarpena]

I target about 450 for calcium and 3.5 for alk. I also and very important target 1350 for magnesium. All 3 of these play an important role in maintaining proper PH and coral growth. Also if you go too high in one the others may get screwed up. Dont go too high or you will precipitate out and your levels will drop like a rock. Too high IMO is calcium above 550 ALK above 4.5 and Mag above 1700. Some people will maintain Mag at 1800 for short periods of time to control algae, but not recommended to remain there for long. Zoos dont need to calcium and mag so much, but Alk is pretty important to them as well.

 

[daddy2kids]

Thank you. Are your levels of 450 and 3.5 for an LPS tank?

 

[RokleM]

I shoot for 425-450 calc, 9.0 dKh, and 1400-1500 mag on my LPS tank.

 

[mscarpena]

Yep and my tank is mostly LPS.

 

[cjcmcheek]

4 meq/l, 480 Ca, 1450 mg and my lps corals grow fast.