water parameters

[cmmatxh]

hi, newbie here. i have a Waterbox cube 20 that’s been set up for a week now , in it i have a small pair of clowns and a bta.

i would like to start adding corals soon, what parameters should i be testing and what test kits are recommended? for salinity i already have a hanna checker and i just ordered an Alk and ULR phosphate hanna checkers. i also already have a nitrate kit from salifert that i used for the cycle but is there a better test bc i have a hard time matching the colors

 

[Mikedawg]

I would wait at least 30 days before buying any corals to give your tank, animals, and water parameters time to stabilize, and give yourself some experience with maintenance, etc. You'll need to be careful given small water volume.
I like the Nyos nitrate test kit which provides a "sample" approach and is much easier to read imo.
Good luck.

 

[Uncle99]

Tests

Fish
Temp 77-80
Salinity 1.025-1.026 (Refractometer) + (35ppt calibration fluid)
PH 7.8 - 8.4 (higher better for calcification, but don’t chase this)
Nitrate 2-10ppm.....Salifert
Phosphate 0.03-.1ppm......Hanna UL Phosphorus

Fish with Stoney Type
Alk 8.0-9.0dkh (keep this on spot on at all times)....Hanna
CA 420-460ppm......Salifert
MG 1260-1360ppm......Salifert

 

[cmmatxh]

Tests

Fish
Temp 77-80
Salinity 1.025-1.026 (Refractometer) + (35ppt calibration fluid)
PH 7.8 - 8.4 (higher better for calcification, but don’t chase this)
Nitrate 2-10ppm.....Salifert
Phosphate 0.03-.1ppm......Hanna UL Phosphorus

Fish with Stoney Type
Alk 8.0-9.0dkh (keep this on spot on at all times)....Hanna
CA 420-460ppm......Salifert
MG 1260-1360ppm......Salifert

right on the money, this is what i was looking for it really helped i been watching so many videos on YT but this makes it so clear. THANK YOU

 

[cmmatxh]

i just checked the phosphate with the hanna ulr and it’s reading 0.00 should i do anything to bring them up or just let it ride?

 

[Reef.]

i just checked the phosphate with the hanna ulr and it’s reading 0.00 should i do anything to bring them up or just let it ride?

Salifert nitrate is a good kit, you are either very low in nitrate so find it hard to read, or doing it wrong, nyos is good too but they are both very similar.

Your tank is very new so PO4 will not have had a chance to build up.

Carry on, just feed the tank and it’ll raise soon enough for sure, you’ll be asking how to lower it soon

 

[cmmatxh]

Salifert nitrate is a good kit, you are either very low in nitrate so find it hard to read, or doing it wrong, nyos is good too but they are both very similar.

Your tank is very new so PO4 will not have had a chance to build up.

Carry on, just feed the tank and it’ll raise soon enough for sure, you’ll be asking how to lower it soon

make sense and i feed very little just enough that they get about 3 bites each once a day and sometimes i skip a day

 

[Rmckoy]

i just checked the phosphate with the hanna ulr and it’s reading 0.00 should i do anything to bring them up or just let it ride

 

[Rmckoy]

When I was looking for a phosphate Hanna checker .
I was advised to buy the phosphorus which was supposed to be more accurate for lower levels .

 

[Reef.]

make sense and i feed very little just enough that they get about 3 bites each once a day and sometimes i skip a day

you really don’t need to feed as little as that, I would look to feed frozen food, as the food tends not to lay in the sand bed to rot unlike pellets, it’s taken down the overflow and it also has less nutrients to cause your nitrates to raise.

I would look to where your nitrates are coming from and how to remove them, it’s clearly not from over feeding. you should be able to feed the fish well and still have reasonable levels.