testing reef tank
- Thread starter randy jr
- Start date
oneradtek202
Pitcher Hill Reef Society
many different things can affect coral growth and success. it is not just limited to the correct parameters always. more info would be helpful. but here are some general ball park for "correct" params. i would say that keeping the params stable is just as important, if not more important than the right numbers
ph- 8-8.2
salinity-1.025-1.026
alk- 7-12 dkh
ca- 400-420ppm
nitrate- for reef under 5, less the better
nitrite-0 poisonous
ammonia- 0 poisonous
mag- 1400
phosphate- for reef under .1 but less the better.
ph- 8-8.2
salinity-1.025-1.026
alk- 7-12 dkh
ca- 400-420ppm
nitrate- for reef under 5, less the better
nitrite-0 poisonous
ammonia- 0 poisonous
mag- 1400
phosphate- for reef under .1 but less the better.
oneradtek202
Pitcher Hill Reef Society
many different things can affect coral growth and success. it is not just limited to the correct parameters always. more info would be helpful. but here are some general ball park for "correct" params. i would say that keeping the params stable is just as important, if not more important than the right numbers
ph- 8-8.2
salinity-1.025-1.026
alk- 7-12 dkh
ca- 400-420ppm
nitrate- for reef under 5, less the better
nitrite-0 poisonous
ammonia- 0 poisonous
mag- 1400
phosphate- for reef under .1 but less the better.
ph- 8-8.2
salinity-1.025-1.026
alk- 7-12 dkh
ca- 400-420ppm
nitrate- for reef under 5, less the better
nitrite-0 poisonous
ammonia- 0 poisonous
mag- 1400
phosphate- for reef under .1 but less the better.
toddmh
New member
FSU3NOLES28
New member
For the first time my calcium seems a bit high. Test tonight read 480 ppm.
Whats the best way to lower it? Water change?
Only additives i've added is bionic 1 & 2. Havent added much of it, i measured accordingly as the bottle said and added it 2 times in the last week and a half. Thats it. Some people say to add it every day or every other day. I added it 2 times in a couple weeks and my calcium level is high. Whats up with that?
Whats the best way to lower it? Water change?
Only additives i've added is bionic 1 & 2. Havent added much of it, i measured accordingly as the bottle said and added it 2 times in the last week and a half. Thats it. Some people say to add it every day or every other day. I added it 2 times in a couple weeks and my calcium level is high. Whats up with that?
cardiffgiant
Active member
I like to lower my calcium by adding a bunch of corals to absorb it all 
JK, for 480, I'd probably just do a normal water change, turn off supplementation, and let the corals do the rest of the work.
JK, for 480, I'd probably just do a normal water change, turn off supplementation, and let the corals do the rest of the work.
FSU3NOLES28
New member
I like to lower my calcium by adding a bunch of corals to absorb it all
JK, for 480, I'd probably just do a normal water change, turn off supplementation, and let the corals do the rest of the work.
Both sound like a solid resolution.
FSU3NOLES28
New member
teamdulski
The Saltiest!
Try and keep your alk between 10 and 12 DKH.
FSU3NOLES28
New member
Anything over 7 and under 11/12 dkh is fine. Calcium and alkalinity work well as long as each is dept within the recommended range. Keeping alk relatively constant is important and certainly not letting it drop below 7. Most run above the 7 which is nsw to provide a margin for error and depletion. Personally I run it at 9.6 to 10. Higher alk equals more growth, generally ,but also brings on risks for abiotic preciptiation of calcium carbonate.
Sorry hit the wrong button.
They(calcium and alkalinity) are separate and dissolved in the water at normal reef ph levels. . Corals and other calcifying animals pull them out and make skeleton/shells from them;solidify them .That's biotic precipitation.
Only so much alk can remain dissolved in the water . When it gets too high or the ph goes too high it joins up with a calcium ion and turns to solid aragonite, basically coral sand, same basic stuff as the skeletons but without the animal. This is abiotic precipitation. It clogs pumps and forms white layers of solid cement like material. When it starts to precipitate it may look like a snow storm or just cloudy white water. It can drop alk and calcium and ph quickly. Not a good thing
They(calcium and alkalinity) are separate and dissolved in the water at normal reef ph levels. . Corals and other calcifying animals pull them out and make skeleton/shells from them;solidify them .That's biotic precipitation.
Only so much alk can remain dissolved in the water . When it gets too high or the ph goes too high it joins up with a calcium ion and turns to solid aragonite, basically coral sand, same basic stuff as the skeletons but without the animal. This is abiotic precipitation. It clogs pumps and forms white layers of solid cement like material. When it starts to precipitate it may look like a snow storm or just cloudy white water. It can drop alk and calcium and ph quickly. Not a good thing
