Parameters sanity check

[DanH86]

Added my first torch coral to my tank yesterday and all seems well. It was retracted at first but today looks just as good as it did in the LFS so I’m happy that all is well but thought I’d get people with more experience than me to double check my parameters before I get too carried away and add more corals.

Been doing 10% weekly water changes with Rodi and Red Sea coral pro.

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 2
Salinity 1.024
Temp 77
Mag 1450
Phos 0.2 (could be 0.1, hard to read)
Alk 6.5 (too low?)
Ph 7.8

Current tank stock (reefer 250 v3 with reef90 LEDs):
2 juvenile oscellaris clowns
2 bengaii cardinals
1 hermit crab
1 orange spot snail
2 nassarius snails
3 trochus snails
1 torch coral

Thanks in advance!

 

[Sparkymarc]

IMO, I keep salinity at 1.025, temp at 78, phosphate somewhere between 0.03-0.05, alk somewhere in between 8-9, and calcium 400-450. As far as ph, I’ve seen beautiful tanks with ph 7.7-8.4. I try to keep nitrates around 10

 

[DanH86]

Thanks! So I need to raise alk somehow - something must be consuming it. Also seems like I need a better phosphate test kit as it’s accuracy is to 0.1, unless I’ve read it wrong.

 

[Ly78]

Redsea coral pro should have high kh. Did you track alk consumption daily? Whats your calcium?

 

[Sparkymarc]

No problem. Water changes help with alk but you will need to start dosing, especially when you add more coral. The best phosphate test I have come across in the Hanna checker ulr phosphate or ulr phosphorus. They cost around $50 new, which is a little expensive but you can find them on the selling forum a little cheaper sometimes. Are you testing for calcium?

 

[Sparkymarc]

Redsea coral pro should have high kh. Did you track alk consumption daily? Whats your calcium?

Fritz also has high alk salt mix

 

[DanH86]

Not testing for calcium yet; only have the one coral.

Alk has stayed at 6.5 every day that I’ve tested, very odd.

 

[Sparkymarc]

What test kit are you using?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Take alk to at least 8.5, salinity to 1.025-1.026, moderate light and water flow plus ph although a little low is acceptable but ideal would be 8.0-8.2. You don't want to chase ph levels

 

[DanH86]

Red Sea test kit, just checked and it is 0.1 accuracy for phosphate.

Today is water change day so done that this morning and just checked alk - still 6.5. Salinity raised to 1.025. Will look into alk dosing!

 

[Ly78]

Curious if u checked the alk of fresh salt mix.

 

[Sparkymarc]

Red Sea is good IMO.

 

[DanH86]

Curious if u checked the alk of fresh salt mix.

I was just thinking that I should have done that! Tempted to go mix a small batch now just to test - might have bad salt?

 

[vetteguy53081]

best to add alk at night as it affects PH which peaks during the day. Do add calcium carbonate which will increase your alk safely but add it in small increments

 

[DanH86]

Just mixed 1 litre Rodi / 37.1g Red Sea salt as per instructions and it came out at 11 alk on my test kit. Definitely something in the tank consuming it...gonna head to LFS during the week and pick up the Red Sea alk dose kit.