Water parameters

[Spaws]

Hi guys I'm trying to start getting some corals, I've only had fish but I curently have a hammer coral for almost 2yrs it's been fine but I want to make sure my water is fine to beggin adding some pricier items
Salinity=.0025
Nitrate=20-40ppm
Phosphate=1.5ppm
Kh=11 drops or 196.9?
Calcium was a bit weird I got over 650?
Ph=8.0
All tests were done w/api test kits
80g tall tank, Filters are 80lbs live rock 4" sand bed, aquatic life 36" 4 bulb t5 ho x3 blue + 1 10k bulb. Coralia 220 super skimmer, chateau & sock filtration in the sump. Current neighbors are Niger trigger, yellow tang, Midas blenny, white shoulder angel & tomatoe clown. Suggestions or trades accepted on the angel/clown
Not sure if all is covered. Just need some help thanks in advanced:deadhorse1:

 

[alf1096]

Suggestions on what you want to add would help. Phosphate seems high if you want to add sps

 

[pyithar]

you should buy a refractometer and more reliable test kits like salifert first. you'll also need a much larger tank for your fishes if you want to keep them long term. check this website. you can see ideal water parameters there. you don't need to have exact same numbers but you can get the general idea.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/PIC/article.cfm?aid=89

 

[downbeach]

I would suggest getting a better grade of test kit, i.e. Salifert or Red Sea Pro for your NO3, Ca, Mg and Alk. I'll assume your SG is 1.025, and would suggest using a properly calibrated refractometer for this. For PO4, a Hanna checker would be best.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

 

[gone fishin]

^^^^^ +1

 

[Spaws]

:deadhorse:Yes sorry I ate the 1 it was late & I was hungry, yes salinity is 1.0025, I am mostly going to have softies due to I think the fish are going to make nitrates high & my lighting is not the greatest but it will have to do. No specific corals I like hammers bubble corals, bubble tip that kind of stuff no anemones due to they move too much I've had them before they are nice but suck . Thanks for your replies guys this actually helps
:deadhorse:

 

[Spaws]

today i rechecked my levels & i found
nitrate-60-70ppm
calcium 500
alkalinity 9.7
phosphate 2.49
salinity 1.025
i had them tested & lfs just for comparison to mine also this was about 3 days after my last water change, which was about 1 day before i gave out the previous levels I cant seem to lower my phosphates & what do you guys think about my alkalinity is it too high? how do you guys normally bring it down, nitrates have been around here since i've started to try to control my water levels for about 3 weeks now, i had stopped messing w/it due to only fishes lived so nitrates was not a problem but now they are really high for corals, i dont dose anything & i dont have a tds meter, im thinking about buying a cheapy one on amazon or something like that. any advise will help thanks.

 

[rfgonzo]

Your Alk is fine between 7.0 and 11.0 at 9.7 you're right in the middle which is a good place to be. You can't seem to lower your phosphates have you tried GFO in a reactor? As far as nitrates how often do you do water changes? And at what %? Do you use RO/DI or Tap? You really need to get those two parameters in check before you start adding coral. There's plenty of other reasons for the high numbers that you're getting but the GFO and RO/DI with a good skimmer is a good place to start.

 

[Sk8r]

Phosphate is way high...as in, zero is good. I do well with euphyllias and my params are in my sig line.

 

[Dan_P]

I was wondering whether your aquarium has algae or cyanobacteria growth anywhere. With those nitrate and phosphate levels in your sytem, current wisdom would have me predict you would.

 

[Spaws]

I do have algae & some cyano I recent cleaned it out I do about 20% water changes on my 80g weekly. I get algae on my sand pretty much from one day to the next bumming me out. I don't have a phosphate reactor I'm trying to remove the phosphates naturally bu I might have to bite the bullet & buy something

 

[Sk8r]

You pretty well have to bite the bullet. Phosphate will stay until you remove it.