What are your tank params?

[FizNid]

I was curious to know what everyone has for their readings on their reef tanks and what corals they can keep. I will start a list. Just curious as to how big a range things are between individual tanks. Also if you could mention what test kits you use and what corals you keep.

All my tests are done with AP test kits and I use a refractometer for the salinity.

Salinity 1.025-1.026
PH 8.2-8.4
ALK 11-12
Calcium 320-340
Phosphate 0
Nitrate 20
Temp 78.6-80.2 throughout the day

I don't test for Ammonia, Nitrite because the tank is 4 years old etc.

Corals I keep

leathers (Yellow Fiji, Toadstool, Devils Hand, Spaghetti, Cabbage, assorted fingers, colts etc),
Pom pom xenia, silver long branch xenia, Blue African Cespitularia,
Mushrooms(lots of diff rhodactus and other types)
Monti caps, Platy brain, Pagoda cup, Alvepora, tons of different zoanthids and button/moon polyps, green star polyps, encrusting gorgonians.

 

[tkeracer619]

Where did you get your calcium readout at 320? My sps start to die when the calcium hits anywhere close to that. It should be kept higher.

I keep sps, anemonies, lps, zoas, and a few softies. My measurements that differ from yours are.

Calcium 420 - API
Mag 1320 - Red Sea
Nitrates 0 - Red Sea

 

[FizNid]

I should of mentioned about the calcium. I am actually raising it up. I had kept it sorta low because I was under the impression / had been told I didn't need it high when I wasn't keeping any sps/lps corals. Doing a gradual raising of it to get it around 420 or so. I have now been told I should have it around 480 but will do more research on that. But I am getting it up there slowly so I don't shock anything. Sorry for any confusion

 

[downhillbiker]

Ca-440-460
dKH-10
nitrate-0
nitrite-0
phosphate-0
ammonia-0
PH-8.4

I am new to reefkeeping but have always prided myself in prestine water quality and do weekly changes. clean filter media every other day. use good protein skimmer.

I keep sps, lps, mushrooms, polyps, anemones, and clams. everything does great. My dKH was at 13-14 and Ca at 500 for a long time, but has now been lowered to optimal levels, but I dont think it hurt anything when they were higher.

 

[Tswifty]

.

 

[maluskeeter]

jw, but how important is calcium in maintaining a reef tank? is it something that must be measured as closely as nitrite and ammonia?

 

[tkeracer619]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12516069#post12516069 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by maluskeeter
jw, but how important is calcium in maintaining a reef tank? is it something that must be measured as closely as nitrite and ammonia?

An established system should have undetectable levels of both nitrite and ammonia. Once those params are stable several others become important.

Calcium, Alk, Magnesium, Phosphates, Ph, and Nitrates are all important to keep under control. You can take care of Calcium, Alk, and Magnesium with simple dosing each week or through a drip system. Phosphates are easy to keep low with the addition of a media reactor and some phosban media. Regular water changes, a nice skimmer, proper feeding, and regular cleanup keep nitrates down.

 

[psteeleb]

here are my normals

Salinity 1.025
PH 7.9-8.1
ALK 7-8
Calcium 480 -500+
Phosphate 0
Nitrate 3
Temp 79.8 - 82

 

[DevilBoy]

1.026
Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 5ppm
Ca 440ppm
Alk 9dKH
Mag 1550ppm
Temp 79-81
pH 8.1 - 8.3