Parameters of a Reef Tank

[SeymourDuncan]

When you set up a tank there are tons of things to worry about. Plumbing, flow rate, lighting, and the list goes on.

One extremely important factor of tank setup and husbandry are water tests! We have to know what's in there or we could have serious issues down the road, or in extreme cases all of the sudden.

Here are the parameters most hobbyists shoot for. Keep in mind some people have different preferences and the ocean is also a little different as well.
Marine Depot has a great go-to chart!

"Live like tomorrow already happened. Yesterday is only 3 days ahead. Today will be here soon."

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

New sticky!

 

[Sacohen]

Nice Information.

 

[Mrfresh]

Does anyone have a finer range for orp? 250-400 is kinda broad

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Orp will be one of those high ranging parameters. At night it will read differently than in the day unless you have a massive reverse lit refugium.

The range specified is broad but safe. Water changes will raise the number, which then will begin to drop. After it drops it rises back up again and it is when it exceeds the limit is it a sign for a water change again. (Well one of the millions of signs).

 

[SeymourDuncan]

Another interesting thing about ORP is that those levels are actually more important than most others as far as tank health is concerned.

A tank with a reading that stays around the 300 range will be healthier than a tank that fluctuates. Fish loss is more often caused by high or low ORP more often than nitrate spikes.

Over sizing your skimmer helps as well as keeping it clean, including the cup. If its full of rotten gases they will just exchange back into the water column, which is why having a drain to an exterior collection jug is extra beneficial.

Just smell it! Fish don't want to breath their own sewer system lol.

 

[Hampton]

Another nice to know is acceptable amounts of fluctuation for each value, but I may be asking for too much.

 

[gurbanski]

So which ones SHOULD you check for then?? I check for ph, calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, salinity, on my reef now, but I just don't know if I should literally buy a test kit for nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, phosphates, etc????

 

[Hampton]

So which ones SHOULD you check for then?? I check for ph, calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, salinity, on my reef now, but I just don't know if I should literally buy a test kit for nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, phosphates, etc????

Phosphates, yes. The others really should stay at zero in a healthy reef tank, IMO, unless something dies. But phosphates can get into your system from other sources, so, I plan to add a tester to my arsenal of testing equipment.

 

[TonapahNorth]

Phosphates, yes. The others really should stay at zero in a healthy reef tank, IMO, unless something dies. But phosphates can get into your system from other sources, so, I plan to add a tester to my arsenal of testing equipment.

What equipment do you use to test these things? Hanna, API, Reef, ?


Tona

When all is said and done, there is too much said than done. - Grandpa

 

[glb]

What equipment do you use to test these things? Hanna, API, Reef, ?


Tona

When all is said and done, there is too much said than done. - Grandpa

I use hanna for alk and phosphates, Red Sea pro for mg, Red Sea for ca and salifert for nitrates.

 

[gurbanski]

I use salifert for ph, calcium, phosphates, and magnesium and then Hanna for alkalinity....hope those are good enough....I like them a lot!

 

[bluzepher]

When you set up a tank there are tons of things to worry about. Plumbing, flow rate, lighting, and the list goes on.

One extremely important factor of tank setup and husbandry are water tests! We have to know what's in there or we could have serious issues down the road, or in extreme cases all of the sudden.

Here are the parameters most hobbyists shoot for. Keep in mind some people have different preferences and the ocean is also a little different as well.
Marine Depot has a great go-to chart!

 

[bluwinghawk]

Hi thank you for posting chart it helps a lot, But I'm still a lil confused atm I am using API test kits for high range ph,8.2 phosphates 0.25 and going down, calcium 360, KH (14 dKH)-(250 ppm) and salifert for mag 1440, salt 1.026 on refractor, Temp is 80.
My main question is this is KH the same as dKH and are these alkalinity? I see your symbol on chart is an A, and when I look in lfs I never get a straight answer,(frustrating ) so if this is alk can and should I bring it down to 11 for swing and better calcium saturation? I have a mix of corals and fish and inverts, everything was fine until I forgot to turn off top off from RO so did an emergency salt mix using Reef crystals salt and purple up supplement , I believe I only lost my fire, and cleaner shrimps unless they are molting everyone else is coming back.
Thank you,
Rick

 

[TrialandError]

dKH is KH or Alkalinity I do believe

 

[bluwinghawk]

thank you

dKH is KH or Alkalinity I do believe

 

[stunreefer Verified Sponsor]

dKH = Degrees Karbonate Hardness
meq/l = milliequivalent per liter
ppm = parts per million

All of them are units of measure that can be applied to Alkalinity. Here's a conversion calculator if necessary.

 

[inkedsparkster]

Subscribed

 

[Kaz]

So if I were to just start setting up my aquarium can someone recommend a kit that will allow me to test all the water parameters that are most important for the setup? What is the most cost effective kit/ method to test the parameters?

Thanks kaz

 

[prsnlty]

What is the proper potassium (K) ppm?

I purchased red sea coral colors pro. My I2 .06
Fe .o5
K 356

I know the iron is low but is K also low? What is a good range for this?

Thanks

Jackie