Noob Chenistry question

[Rscott]

hi all

So as some of you may have seen or read before I am 3 weeks into my reefer 450

Did the full tests today’s

Skimmer finally working ok.
I have all the Hannah checkers
Calcium was at 519
Dkh = 8.5
Phosphorus ULT was 5 which I understand is .015 phosphate.

So that is good right?

Ammonia seems to be in check. Nitrite still up in the air a bit because I don’t know what test to read but looks
Like around .1

Nitrate I didn’t test for because I will probably do a water change this weekend and I can’t do anything about it anyway

pH is a bit low at 7.8 -8.0

I have power heads pointing at the surface but still can’t get it higher then 8

Salt about 34 right now
Temp 77.5 -78.2


How is this all sounding?

I would like to get a few softies perhaps in 2 -5 weeks depending

What should I be shooting for as good levels?

Thanks

 

[EmdeReef]

Sounds like a well cycling tank

You should wait until ammonia is 0 even after a stress test - add some ammonia in the evening and measure the next day and you have detectable nitrates.

Ca sounds a bit high but if you’re using the Hanna checker it could be a testing error, either way not an issue.

Soft corals like higher nutrients so definitely don’t want to have too clean water. Based on everything you posted you should be ready very soon

 

[Rscott]

Sounds like a well cycling tank

You should wait until ammonia is 0 even after a stress test - add some ammonia in the evening and measure the next day and you have detectable nitrates.

Ca sounds a bit high but if you’re using the Hanna checker it could be a testing error, either way not an issue.

Soft corals like higher nutrients so definitely don’t want to have too clean water. Based on everything you posted you should be ready very soon

Thanks for the reply

Any ideas what numbers I should be shooting for?

 

[EmdeReef]

Thanks for the reply

Any ideas what numbers I should be shooting for?

Ca 420-450 is good, I wouldn't worry about it though.

 

[lapin]

Starting off
N=5 to 10
Po4=.01 to .1
Cal=400 to 500
Mag=1400 to 1500
Alk=8 to 9
Ammonia=0
Salinity=1.025 to 1.026
Ph= 7.7 to 8.5
There is some flex in these numbers because this is not a perfect world... test kit errors ect

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Sounds like a well cycling tank

You should wait until ammonia is 0 even after a stress test - add some ammonia in the evening and measure the next day and you have detectable nitrates.

Ca sounds a bit high but if you’re using the Hanna checker it could be a testing error, either way not an issue.

Soft corals like higher nutrients so definitely don’t want to have too clean water. Based on everything you posted you should be ready very soon

Since you already have fish in the tank, DON'T add ammonia for a stress test. This is only done before adding livestock to see how quickly your tank can cycle ammonia to nitrite to nitrate.

@lapin's numbers are good.

You could also check out the article by @Randy Holmes-Farley in the chemistry section to get a better idea on typical reef tank numbers.

 

[EmdeReef]

Since you already have fish in the tank, DON'T add ammonia for a stress test. This is only done before adding livestock to see how quickly your tank can cycle ammonia to nitrite to nitrate.

@lapin's numbers are good.

You could also check out the article by @Randy Holmes-Farley in the chemistry section to get a better idea on typical reef tank numbers.

Does the OP indicate fish? Sorry if I missed that.

 

[IslandLifeReef]

Does the OP indicate fish? Sorry if I missed that.

In a different thread of his.