Just added corals. What are good water parameters?

[bjmartie]

So I just got me 2 redsea90 lights for my 90 gallon with live rock and sand, with a 40 gallon tsunami sump.

I went ahead and got a 3 zoas and two polyps added in, but now I am curious what are good water parameters to keep my tank at?

I found various charts and they all change slightly, but all my numbers are very close to the charts I seen. Just wondering if y'all have a chart y'all like to follow? As well as how do y'all keep track of it all?

I was thinking about making a excel and check weekly and rotate it all there.

 

[lulubap]

>>Cracks knuckles

Forewarning: I'm not a reefkeeper, just a reef store employee looking to practice her skills. This is what our store strives to keep and encourage for customers:

Assuming your cycle is finished (AKA, nitrites and ammonia are gone), seeing as your dry rock looks immature:

Alkalinity: I've mostly seen corals thrive in high alk, aka 8,9, 10. The key to alkalinity for corals is consistency. Raise the alarms and start to monitor alk closely if there's a rapid change.

Calcium: Ideally 450

Magnesium: Ideally 1350-1400. A good rule of thumb is for your mag to be thrice your calcium

Salinity: Higher salinities are liked by corals : ) look for 1.025-1.026. Try not to stray from this small margin, specifically any higher than 026

Ammonia, nitrites: zero, big olllllll zero.

Nitrates: Should not be zero. Try to keep nitrates up around the 5-25ppm mark and, by extension,

Phospates: Keep 'em below 0.1. Raise some eyebrows if it gets to around 0.2

Temperature: Should usually not go over 79F, not under 76F, in optimal conditions. This varies by tank, however.

The store I work at has an excel sheet that we're required to log in twice daily with basic parameters which exclude magnesium, calcium, phosphates, etc that are measured by the apex neptune system. We test all of the parameters separately on occasion on an aquaspin tester.

Happy to have anyone confirm or deny any of these parameters, always looking to learn and bring more experience to my work.

Best of luck with your tank, may the softies be happy. : )

edit: clarification on store tests

 

[bjmartie]

Awesome thank you! Yeah tank been set up for a few months and was cycled.

I have read a lot about nitrates being good for coral growth. I do know mine stay a little above 25ppm.

My temperature has been around 80° and salinity I tried to keep it around 1.023, wanted to be as close to the middle as possible.

When I first added my corals in (last night), the calcium was above 450, closer to 500. Haven't checked the levels since.

 

[lulubap]

Awesome thank you! Yeah tank been set up for a few months and was cycled.

I have read a lot about nitrates being good for coral growth. I do know mine stay a little above 25ppm.

My temperature has been around 80° and salinity I tried to keep it around 1.023, wanted to be as close to the middle as possible.

When I first added my corals in (last night), the calcium was above 450, closer to 500. Haven't checked the levels since.

Your nitrates should be ok! After all, I just listed optimal parameters.

I've seen people get iffy about 80F temp, but if you see your corals happy in this temperature then there should be no issue. Salinity is fine. Again, whatever works for your corals. Better lower than higher, anyways.

Calcium is a bit of an eyebrow raise for me. I'd suggest monitoring your calcium and waiting for any changes in it. Hopefully it drops on its own. Usually once calcium exceeds 500ppm it begins to affect alk.

 

[bjmartie]

Awesome I really appreciate it!

 

[Spare time]

Match your salt. That's the best way forward (unless it's tropic marin as I think their levels are not ideal for reef tanks9

 

[bjmartie]

Match your salt? What you mean by that?

I have stuck with one salt brand so far and that's reef crystals. I do try and make sure the salt I add and the salt in the tank are as close as possible, why I try and keep both at 1.023

 

[Spare time]

Match your salt? What you mean by that?

I have stuck with one salt brand so far and that's reef crystals. I do try and make sure the salt I add and the salt in the tank are as close as possible, why I try and keep both at 1.023

Basically the numbers your salt gives you is a good idea. If the salt mixed to 1.026sg gives 10KH for alk, then stick around 10KH (+/-2ish). Calcium at 450ppm? Stick to 450ppm +/-50 ish. That way when you do a water change. However, reef crystals mixes a bit high in alk for my liking (about 13KH at 1.026sg). This is only a big issue if you scarcely feed the fish/coral or have very low nitrate and phosphate.


1.023sg is a bit below what I like but it shouldn't cause any issues. I just prefer more wiggle room