Anemone tank water parameters-what do you test for?

ianryd · Aug 22, 2019

So after searching R2R and the web and not coming up with any definitive answers, I'm curious what folks with nem only tanks test for regularly. I know salinity, temp, PH, nitrates, and phosphates are important, but what about alk, cal, and mag? Since they dont have a skeleton are these important? Even if they aren't important, should they be kept at a stable level? What about trace elements?

sfin52 · Aug 22, 2019

I test everything

mta_morrow · Aug 22, 2019

While my tank is not nem only, I do have 2 rbta’s, 1 LTA, 1 H Magnifica, and 3 rock flowers.

I test everything.

lpsouth1978 · Aug 22, 2019

It doesn't matter to me what is in the tank, I test for everything except pH, ammonia, and nitrite. Once a tank is properly cycled, there is really NO reason to test Ammonia or Nitrite. I feel it is a waste to test for these (unless you have a severely overstocked tank and not enough space for the necessary bacteria to grow). Basically the same with pH, why test? There is little that can be done to change the pH, and chasing it usually leads to more problems than it solves.

2Sunny · Aug 22, 2019

I've had a Nem since day one of my reefing hobby, but not a Nem only tank. The only parameter I would test for in a nem only tank is pH. This is what a normal pH does and what a sudden spike in pH does . . .

mta_morrow · Aug 22, 2019

2Sunny said:
I've had a Nem since day one of my reefing hobby, but not a Nem only tank. The only parameter I would test for in a nem only tank is pH. This is what a normal pH does and what a sudden spike in pH does . . .

Beautiful Magnifica.
@Eagle_Steve Ph swing w pics!

mta_morrow · Aug 22, 2019

lpsouth1978 said:
It doesn't matter to me what is in the tank, I test for everything except pH, ammonia, and nitrite. Once a tank is properly cycled, there is really NO reason to test Ammonia or Nitrite. I feel it is a waste to test for these (unless you have a severely overstocked tank and not enough space for the necessary bacteria to grow). Basically the same with pH, why test? There is little that can be done to change the pH, and chasing it usually leads to more problems than it solves.

When I said everything, I assume people quit testing ammonia and nitrite as well once cycled. I have never tested for ph

sfin52 · Aug 22, 2019

I test for ammonia and nitrite because I just started feeding reef roids in the last three month. I was told its really easy to over feed. I only test those two for specific reason.

lpsouth1978 · Aug 22, 2019

sfin52 said:
I test for ammonia and nitrite because I just started feeding reef roids in the last three month. I was told its really easy to over feed. I only test those two for specific reason.

Even so, you would not likely see an increase in ammonia or nitrite if the tank was cycled properly. Your nitrates, on the other hand, could climb in a hurry.

sfin52 · Aug 22, 2019

lpsouth1978 said:
Even so, you would not likely see an increase in ammonia or nitrite if the tank was cycled properly. Your nitrates, on the other hand, could climb in a hurry.

Your right just being extra cautious.

Eagle_Steve · Aug 22, 2019

I do have a nem only tank, besides the zoas in there lol. I test everything excluding ammonia, ph and nitrites.

I have noticed that alk is important to test, but it does not have to be tested as much as an sps tank for example. Alk is still important to nems, as a very very low alk throws ph and other things way off. Same if it gets way too high. As for a range I have nems in a 7.2 tank and a 13 tank. You wouldn’t know the difference in them. So I think stability is better than a set number. Even in a 100% nem only tank, alk can be used. Coralline, snails making shells, all that stuff can consume alk. It is at a low rate usually, but a loaded back glass of coralline can use a noticeable amount.

PH is very important as well and needs to be kept stable. I have seen nems thrive in 7.6 and 8.4 tanks. Stability is key from my experience. In the beginning of a tank being setup, I test PH. After it get a good consistent base line I stop testing. I do start up testing again when seasons change of the tank has not been through that season. Same with holidays and family gatherings. More people means more co2. The great thing is, if you have another tank and it has been tested for PH, usually you can use that tank to gauge what kind of change you should see in the new tank. Granted it won’t be exact as all tanks have a different rate of gas exchange, but you can get close.

In short, I have every readily available nem and some rarer ones in at least one of my tanks and I have a thriving nem only tank. It would worry me to death if I did not know the below parameters for any of those tanks and even the nem tank.

SG
Alk
NO3 (too high and nems don’t like it, plus algae)
PO4 (same as NO3, except I have seen high PO4 tanks support nems long term, it more algae issues)
PH (until I know how the tank reacts)
Calcium (if it starts dropping, something is consuming alk)
MG (nems do use this)

I do not test iodine, but it gets dosed occasionally. Nems use this a little as well. I just use the zoas for a gauge on it. If they look a little off and everything testing wise is good, I dose a little and they perk back up. Nems have never reacted like the zoas, but it is a trace they use.

Now I do not do very many water changes, so some of the above items may not even need to be worried about, if you do scheduled water changes to replenish those lightly used elements. Some of my trace elements do get lightly replenished with brine water added to keep the SG right due to skim mate containing salt.

But the biggest thing is stability and decent parameters. They all tie together in some way, so my opinion is to just keep them all in acceptable ranges.

Eagle_Steve · Aug 22, 2019

mta_morrow said:
Beautiful Magnifica.
@Eagle_Steve Ph swing w pics!

Thx sir. Those have been snipped and saved. That is the lovely “ticked off mag scruntch”, as I call it. I have seen that during large alk swings as well. I can see how a ph swing could cause that also. Those 2 params are so tied together.