Newbe question regarding tank paramaters

bontrager · Jun 30, 2018

have a few questions but lets start with this one.

Once tank is cycled what are the measurements for successful coral growth and health.

I know that calcium should be around 420.

How bout the other critical conditions.

Is PH and alkalinity the same.

I am using tropic marin salt.

Please excuse my ignorance.

Thank you
Bart Zuccala

KJ · Jun 30, 2018

bontrager said:
have a few questions but lets start with this one.

Once tank is cycled what are the measurements for successful coral growth and health.

I know that calcium should be around 420.

How bout the other critical conditions.

Is PH and alkalinity the same.

I am using tropic marin salt.

Please excuse my ignorance.

Thank you
Bart Zuccala

NO3 / 3-5 ppm
PO4/ 0.03
Mg/ 1400
Alk/ 8-8.5
Ca/420-440
PH/ 7.9-8.2 is good
Salanity /1.025-1.026
Ammonia/ 0
NO2 /o
How old its your tank?

ihavecrabs · Jun 30, 2018

Welcome @bontrager

@KJ wrote out the most common parameters people shoot for and this is a great place to start. There are success at other ranges as well. Most common element is stability of the ones you choose. For example, I run my Alkalinity a little lower.

Alkalinity and pH are not the same; however, when you add Alkalinity to your tank your pH will rise. This is because it binds with CO2 and therefore raises your pH. Out of the two, alkalinity is more important to coral health. Keep Alk stable and use pH as an indicator, but I would personally never make a correction to pH if my Alk was where I wanted it.

bontrager · Jun 30, 2018

Thank you for the quick response. About 8 weeks old. I have used Carib Sea Life rock and similar rock from Premium Aquatics and a bacteria starter when new.
I really haven't checked anything except salinity.

I have no hair algae or diatoms during period. I have one addition small power head in the RedSea max 170 E aquarium ( 40+ gallons) with all filtration built into the back. Protein skimmer is working but there is no junk. Also have added premium charcoal in the filter basket.
What is No3?

7 hour life cycle with a one hour ramp up on each end

One blastamusa (sp) but nothing seem to be happening with it

I have added 4 or 5 soft corals during the last 2 weeks and seem to be doing well. I acclimated them to light, double Hydra 26. and have moved them up and they seem to be opening up, especially the red mushroom and a few zoas and polys that came in on the rock.
I don't see any coraline algae growing but most of the rock is covered in a pigmented dye.
Thank you for the for the info. I have a few quality kits, calcium, magnesium and PH and will start to check

Any other comments will be greatly appreciated