Test Results

ReefGirl87 · Mar 4, 2020

Ok guys- did my first OFFICIAL testing on all the levels in my reef tank. Here they are:
Alk-10.1
PH-8.2
Nitrate- 5
PO4-0
Mag-1270
Calcium-350
Temp-80
Salinity- 1.023

seems my Alk is a bit high.... please give some input on where a good target for these are and how to lower the Alk levels.
TIA

fishguy242 · Mar 5, 2020

hi cal is low mag is close ,let ride ,bump cal slowly alk will come down
imo
alk 9-10
cal 450
mag 1300
sal 1.024 good target to maintain

Hemmdog · Mar 5, 2020

Alk 7.0-9.5
Ca 380-480
Mag 1270-1480
K 380-425
Nitrate 0.2-25
PO4 0.01-0.1Ppm
Salinity 1.025-1.026(for reef)
Temp 76F-78F

imo

windemerejack · Mar 5, 2020

These are my params
Alk 8.0
Cal 460
mag 1360
no3 10
po4 0.027
salinity 1.026
temp 26c
Hemmdog has given a good approximation of figures but don't go chasing numbers, find what is suitable for your tank and run it at that, your corals will tell you if something is out of whack, It doesn't matter if you run say cal at higher or lower than 'the norm' if your tank is happy at that then that's what it needs to be.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 5, 2020

Wow on various numbers
Dk to 9
Mag can go to 1375
Ph range 8.1 - 8.3
Temp 78
Salinity 1.025
Calcium to 400

HOWEVER DO NOT CHASE NUMBERS TO ACHIEVE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS- Get there gradually.

ReefGirl87 · Mar 5, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
Wow on various numbers
Dk to 9
Mag can go to 1375
Ph range 8.1 - 8.3
Temp 78
Salinity 1.025
Calcium to 400

HOWEVER DO NOT CHASE NUMBERS TO ACHIEVE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS- Get there gradually.

Wow-as in a good wow? Lol

ReefGirl87 · Mar 5, 2020

windemerejack said:
These are my params
Alk 8.0
Cal 460
mag 1360
no3 10
po4 0.027
salinity 1.026
temp 26c
Hemmdog has given a good approximation of figures but don't go chasing numbers, find what is suitable for your tank and run it at that, your corals will tell you if something is out of whack, It doesn't matter if you run say cal at higher or lower than 'the norm' if your tank is happy at that then that's what it needs to be.

No corals in it yet, which is why I’d like to get them within the “happy” parameters prior to getting them in.

windemerejack · Mar 5, 2020

Every tank runs different params so there is no 'happy' params to start with so go with standard params such as
alk 8
cal 420
mag 1350
Then add your corals and take it from there, adjust as necessary.
Also bare in mind there is more than just params to think of with corals such as lighting, flow, coral positioning, type of corals you intend to keep.
A good sign that params are ok is coralline algae, if its growing then your params are pretty good.

ReefGirl87 · Mar 5, 2020

windemerejack said:
Every tank runs different params so there is no 'happy' params to start with so go with standard params such as
alk 8
cal 420
mag 1350
Then add your corals and take it from there, adjust as necessary.
Also bare in mind there is more than just params to think of with corals such as lighting, flow, coral positioning, type of corals you intend to keep.
A good sign that params are ok is coralline algae, if its growing then your params are pretty good.

Ok good to know. I do have coralline growing pretty decent.

lapin · Mar 5, 2020

ReefGirl87 said:
Ok guys- did my first OFFICIAL testing on all the levels in my reef tank. Here they are:
Alk-10.1
PH-8.2
Nitrate- 5
PO4-0
Mag-1270
Calcium-350
Temp-80
Salinity- 1.023

seems my Alk is a bit high.... please give some input on where a good target for these are and how to lower the Alk levels.
TIA

What salt mix are you using ? How old is the tank? Are you doing any water changes?

ReefGirl87 · Mar 5, 2020

lapin said:
What salt mix are you using ? How old is the tank? Are you doing any water changes?

Instant ocean (not reef crystals)
2 months old
Just did a 25 gallon water change Sunday evening.

ReefGirl87 · Mar 5, 2020

ReefGirl87 said:
Instant ocean (not reef crystals)
2 months old
Just did a 25 gallon water change Sunday evening.

I am planning on switching to reef crystals once I put corals in. Will that change anything switching salts?

lapin · Mar 5, 2020

IO mixes at a higher alk than some other salts.
If you have time :

Saltmix Parameters bring on the test results

There was an excellent thread put together quite some time ago now by Billybeau1 and hilgert. I've referred to it may times to see if someone is close to the expected values of a particular saltmix. There can of course be slight variations and if any settling has occurred in the mix before use...

www.reef2reef.com

For a new tank, your numbers are fine. Salinity is a bit low for coral but for fish its fine. Have you calibrated your refractometer?
I would avoid RC until you have a lot of corals and water changes are not keeping up with cal mag or alk.