Tips for beginners to get stable parameters

[jordimex]

Hello my tank is currently about 3 months old and currently trying to have parameters as stable as possible i created this thread for people to contribute and help us beginners into getting our tank as stable as possible
my current tank is a red sea 250
about 50 pounds of life rock
alk 8.9
cal 390
nitrates .2
phosphate .05
ammonia 0
ph 8.1

Any tips out there shooting for 9 alk and 420 cal

 

[Tahoe61]

Forgive me for using this aged phrase: Don't make the mistake of chasing the numbers on a newer tank with little utilization. Perform routine water changes and avoid introduction of excessive nutrients.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Are you dosing anything?

You mention stability. What is unstable?

 

[GoVols]

Are you dosing anything?

You mention stability. What is unstable?

Tagging

 

[jordimex]

today i tested my water and have all at 8.2 calcium still at 390.
i mean stability as in i would like to add some acropora in my tank but i have been reading that you need stable tank parameters

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You have no stability issue. You just have normal demand for calcium and alkalinity, which will increases as you add hard corals. The easiest way to maintain parameters for you right now is to select a two part scheme and add the two parts in equal doses to maintain alkalinity. [emoji3]

 

[Phillyd1990]

If you are unsure about 2 part dosing you could also look into putting kalk in your top off water.

 

[JDNels]

For my 70g stability (and quitting chasing #s) came at around 1.5 years, Tank is 2 now and after 6 months of almost neglect (new puppy) it has seen the best color and growth

 

[jordimex]

i have been dosing red sea foundation A and B calcium and alkalinity trying to dial in the dosing little by little till i can get the parameters i want

 

[Zagreus]

i have been dosing red sea foundation A and B calcium and alkalinity trying to dial in the dosing little by little till i can get the parameters i want

I have been doing the same thing basically balling method with magnesium and nopox using a doser . I dropped the red sea recomended goal of 12 alkalinity. I have been using the red sea test kits and full system with reef energy A and B and colors abcd with red sea blue bucket salt. I have been able to do great with LPS. But sps Acros have been hard. Almost all accept my green tenuis have browned out and some turned brown then pale. BROWN AND PALE IS NO BUENO NO FUN. Anyway I am now thinking about dropping my nopox carbon dosing and growing cheato. Trying trying trying. Reading posts like this and a responses and also check out mr. V's 45 thread has helped me keep the faith and try to stick it out until I find the optical mix that works. The gentleman who spoke about stopping chasing numbers said something very similar to mr. V who also has a crazy SPS tank. Good luck! Mark

 

[jordimex]

I have been doing the same thing basically balling method with magnesium and nopox using a doser . I dropped the red sea recomended goal of 12 alkalinity. I have been using the red sea test kits and full system with reef energy A and B and colors abcd with red sea blue bucket salt. I have been able to do great with LPS. But sps Acros have been hard. Almost all accept my green tenuis have browned out and some turned brown then pale. BROWN AND PALE IS NO BUENO NO FUN. Anyway I am now thinking about dropping my nopox carbon dosing and growing cheato. Trying trying trying. Reading posts like this and a responses and also check out mr. V's 45 thread has helped me keep the faith and try to stick it out until I find the optical mix that works. The gentleman who spoke about stopping chasing numbers said something very similar to mr. V who also has a crazy SPS tank. Good luck! Mark

Over here i have been having success little by little what is the thread you are talking about i cant seem to find it?

Thanks

 

[Zagreus]

Over here i have been having success little by little what is the thread you are talking about i cant seem to find it?

Thanks

Goodmorning here is the thread.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/45-gallons-acros-tank.271463/

Somewhere in the middle he talks about the turning point. where i hope I am now and what led to it.

Good news is some of my acro frags are turning the page and doing good. When i added a second Eco MP10 to my 45 and cranked up the flow while keeping my parameters stable I am getting color back and polyp extension is some i thought were goners. The hurricane power outage and separate incident of my skimmer overflowing causing an ato salinity swing did not help of course. But now things are getting back and i remain cautiously optimistic. I hope you are great!