What are the Essential things to test your tank for

[tgmoney]

I'm brand new to salt water, My tank just cycled and is ready for fish I am very familiar with PH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates of course, and salinity, but what is the best way to maintain stability with alkalinity, magnesium and calcium, What should I dose and how often, or with a 20 gallon red sea max nano or would water changes suffice?

 

[Reaper603]

I personally keep an lps tank and I use red sea coral pro salt and I do a 10% water change per week and it normally gives my tank enough trace elements to keep everything stable. I would add the corals I would want and see how much they draw on consuming the trace elements and supplement if needed. I test the tank the day after a water change and before a water change so I can see how much the corals are consuming but just doing the water changes has been enough until I get more corals.

 

[tgmoney]

Thanks, That's good that is the exact salt I am using, Right off the bat I bought my own RO system and salt. Its going to take me a while, I figured I would go slow so that should give me the time and experience I need to see what I need to do as things change gradually. Thanks

 

[Reaper603]

Are you going to start with corals or fish first?

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

It really depends what you are trying to keep and how you are trying to keep it. My nano is a mixed reef with majority sps. So I care for my tank as an sps system and have to dose as so.

Just before lights out

 

[jeffchapok]

Over time, I've stopped testing for ammonia, nitrites and pH, as they never change.

I use the Salifert tests for calcium, magnesium, alkalinity, phosphates and nitrates. And a refractometer for salinity.

I don't perform water changes as frequently as some, because my corals seem to do better without it. I change 10% every 3-4 weeks. In the interim I dose magnesium with Kent Tech-M, maintain alk with baking soda, and dose Kent Coral-Vite for trace minerals.

I may need to start dosing some calcium too as my stony population grows. I've been noticing a calcium drop recently.

 

[tgmoney]

Are you going to start with corals or fish first?

 

[Uncle99]

Everything but corals
Temp
Salinity
Nitrate
Phosphate

Some flux is fine with fish only....

Add Stoney corals
Alk, CA, and MG

The least flux possible is best with corals.

 

[PatW]

I pretty much agree with uncle99. But your clean up crew will consume ALK and Ca. Regular water changes should keep ALK, Ca, and Mg stable. But Salifert tests are pretty good and not that expensive. Testing weekly or monthly would be a good idea until you know your system’s needs.

i keep a dominant SPS tank. I need to test ALK daily. I have to dose ALK and Ca to keep my tank stable. Calcium once or twice per week. I test Mg every now and then but not every month. Water changes keeps it pretty constant.

 

[deftonead]

SPS dominated reef

Once a week:
Alk
Ca
Po4
No3
salinity

Once a month:
Mg

 

[tgmoney]

I got 2 clown shrimp 1 torch coral and a fire shrimp All seem to be doing well in the first 3 days. I had to play with the lighting and location of the torch coral because it seemed like it was getting angry and receding but it is in full effect now. My red fire shrimp pretty much found a spot most hidden under some coral and has stayed there the whole time only coming out for a few when I feed some miso shrimp. The one thing that concerns me is i have spot algae coming in hard on the rock and some on the sand, Not liking that.