*What are your ideal reef tank parameters?

[jsker]

I know that we have been guided toward parameters, but what is working best for your current system.

Ca
Mg
Alk
No3
Po4
salinity
Temp
system type, mixed, soft coals, LPS,or SPS

Copy and past the above and fill in.

 

[Firemanreefkeeper]

Ca. 440 to 450
Mg 1440 to 1489
Alk 8.4ish
No3. 25ppm
Po4 32ppb
Salinity. 35.5
Temp. 78
75 gallon deep blue up and running for a year and a half. Mixed tank but getting sps dominated the longer I go.

I don't chase numbers per say. I have my doser set to keep them in those ranges. If they go above them it takes a while for it to happen and I simply stop dosing until the fall to my numbers then I resume dosing.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Ca-450
Mg-1450
Alk-9.5
No3 5ppm or less
Po4 .02 ppm or less
salinity 1.026
Temp 78

Sps dominant with some softies and a couple lps

 

[Bpb]

Ca: 400-500 ppm
Mg: 1200-1600 ppm
Alk: 7-9 dKH
No3: 0-20 ppm
Po4: 0-0.1 ppm
salinity: 35 ppt
Temp: 79-81 F

Sps dominant

I don’t chase absolutes. I keep my numbers in those ranges and if they’re in those ranges I don’t touch them. It’s easier and less stressful than trying to keep something nailed in at 0.01 accuracy. Only contingency is I will try to have alkalinity and nutrients track together. If one is toward the top end of it’s range I’ll try to adjust something to where everything is high or I’ll bring the errant parameter down to the others. High alk with low nutrients is dangerous business.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Ca = 420 ppm
Mg = 1300-1600 ppm
Alk = 8.5 dKH
No3 = 1-2 ppm
Po4 = 0.03-0.1 ppm
Salinity = 35 ppt (53 mS/cm conductivity)
Temp = 79

Mixed Reef

These are not targets. They are a guide. Consistency is far more important than any number. I test Alkalinity often, salinity every two weeks on the WC and the rest maybe once a month.

 

[Sallstrom]

Ca = 440 ppm
Mg = 1300-1500 ppm
Alk = 6,5-7,5 dKH
No3 = 0,5-10 ppm
Po4 = 0.01-0.08 ppm
Salinity = 35 ppt
Temp = 26-28 C

System types: Mixed reefs

The numbers depend on the aquarium. Some tanks do well with measureable PO4 at 0,01, while for other tanks that number is too close to zero. So what ever numbers I go for, looking at the corals is just as important.

 

[cracker]

Good question Jsker ! I'm not skilled enough ...Yet to know where my tanks's levels should be so I'm following. Thanks

 

[Hemmdog]

Ca 450
Mg 1380
Alk 9.4
No3 10
Po4 0.03
salinity 1.024
Temp 77

90g Mixed reef. Mainly sps and lps.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Ca 420-450
Mg 1350-1400
Alk 8-8.5 dkh
No3 <10 ppm
Po4 <.05 ppm
salinity 35 ppt
Temp 77 deg
system type mixed reef

 

[MrObscura]

Alk 8-9 (target of 8.4.)
Cal 400-500
Mag 1300-1500
No3 < 20
Po4 < 0.1
Salinity 1.025-1.026
Temp 78-80

Mixed reef w/ zoas, shrooms, Lps, and sps.

I don't chase numbers(though do try to keep Alk as stable as possible and I just ordered a Kamoer X1 with some all in reef to switch from kalk) if they're in this range I'm happy. And nutrients can go a little higher and I'm not going to freak.

 

[Lukas75]

Ca 410-440
Mg 1300-1400
Alk 7-8
NO3 <20
PO4 0.01-0.05
Salinity 1.026
Temp 75-80

Stable within those ranges.

 

[Jim Fox]

Ca 440
Mg 1500
Alk 7.5
No3 never test for it
Po4 .03 to .04
salinity 1.026
Temp 76.5 to 77.5
system type: 150g, mixed, soft coals (zoas, palys, leathers, mushrooms),LPS, and SPS

 

[Reeferdood]

Ca-450
Mg-1650 (never had an issue with higher numbers and it keeps the algae away)
Alk-9.5
No3 20 ppm
Po4 .02 ppm
salinity 1.026
Temp 78
Mixed reef.

 

[jsker]

Ca. 440 to 450
Mg 1440 to 1489
Alk 8.4ish
No3. 25ppm
Po4 32ppb
Salinity. 35.5
Temp. 78
75 gallon deep blue up and running for a year and a half. Mixed tank but getting sps dominated the longer I go.

I don't chase numbers per say. I have my doser set to keep them in those ranges. If they go above them it takes a while for it to happen and I simply stop dosing until the fall to my numbers then I resume dosing.

Ca-450
Mg-1450
Alk-9.5
No3 5ppm or less
Po4 .02 ppm or less
salinity 1.026
Temp 78

Sps dominant with some softies and a couple lps

Ca: 400-500 ppm
Mg: 1200-1600 ppm
Alk: 7-9 dKH
No3: 0-20 ppm
Po4: 0-0.1 ppm
salinity: 35 ppt
Temp: 79-81 F

Sps dominant

I don’t chase absolutes. I keep my numbers in those ranges and if they’re in those ranges I don’t touch them. It’s easier and less stressful than trying to keep something nailed in at 0.01 accuracy. Only contingency is I will try to have alkalinity and nutrients track together. If one is toward the top end of it’s range I’ll try to adjust something to where everything is high or I’ll bring the errant parameter down to the others. High alk with low nutrients is dangerous business.

Ca = 420 ppm
Mg = 1300-1600 ppm
Alk = 8.5 dKH
No3 = 1-2 ppm
Po4 = 0.03-0.1 ppm
Salinity = 35 ppt (53 mS/cm conductivity)
Temp = 79

Mixed Reef

These are not targets. They are a guide. Consistency is far more important than any number. I test Alkalinity often, salinity every two weeks on the WC and the rest maybe once a month.

Ca = 440 ppm
Mg = 1300-1500 ppm
Alk = 6,5-7,5 dKH
No3 = 0,5-10 ppm
Po4 = 0.01-0.08 ppm
Salinity = 35 ppt
Temp = 26-28 C

System types: Mixed reefs

The numbers depend on the aquarium. Some tanks do well with measureable PO4 at 0,01, while for other tanks that number is too close to zero. So what ever numbers I go for, looking at the corals is just as important.

Good question Jaker ! I'm not skilled enough ...Yet to know where my tanks's levels should be so I'm following. Thanks

Ca 450
Mg 1380
Alk 9.4
No3 10
Po4 0.03
salinity 1.024
Temp 77

90g Mixed reef. Mainly sps and lps.

Ca 420-450
Mg 1350-1400
Alk 8-8.5 dkh
No3 <10 ppm
Po4 <.05 ppm
salinity 35 ppt
Temp 77 deg
system type mixed reef

Alk 8-9 (target of 8.4.)
Cal 400-500
Mag 1300-1500
No3 < 20
Po4 < 0.1
Salinity 1.025-1.026
Temp 78-80

Mixed reef w/ zoas, shrooms, Lps, and sps.

I don't chase numbers(though do try to keep Alk as stable as possible and I just ordered a Kamoer X1 with some all in reef to switch from kalk) if they're in this range I'm happy. And nutrients can go a little higher and I'm not going to freak.

Ca 410-440
Mg 1300-1400
Alk 7-8
NO3 <20
PO4 0.01-0.05
Salinity 1.026
Temp 75-80

Stable within those ranges.

Ca 440
Mg 1500
Alk 7.5
No3 never test for it
Po4 .03 to .04
salinity 1.026
Temp 76.5 to 77.5
system type: 150g, mixed, soft coals (zoas, palys, leathers, mushrooms),LPS, and SPS

Ca-450
Mg-1650 (never had an issue with higher numbers and it keeps the algae away)
Alk-9.5
No3 20 ppm
Po4 .02 ppm
salinity 1.026
Temp 78
Mixed reef.

Thank you all !!, this is some really good information.

The trend right now is that most are running a 35 ppt or 1.025 to 1.026

 

[Hitman]

Ca 420
Alk 9.5
Mg 1400
NO3 5-10
PO4 0.02
Salinity 1.025
Temp 78.5

Mixed reef heavy on the SPS side though.

 

[jd371]

Mixed reef 85g total

Ca 420 -470
Alk 8 - 9.5
Mg 1320 -1400
No3 5 -10
Po4 < 0.05
Sg 1.025
Temp 78 -79
Ph 8.1 - 8.4

 

[jsker]

@Hitman @jd371

Thank you

 

[DarkSky]

Ca 440ppm
Mg 1350ppm
Alk 8.5-9
No3 <5ppm, >0ppm
Po4 <0.06ppm, >0ppm
salinity 1.026
Temp 77-79F
SPS dominant

 

[Acroporaaddict]

Ca 420
Mg 1280
Alk 7.0 - 7.3
No3 undetectable
Po4 <.02
salinity 1.026
Temp 79 - 80
Zeovit SPS only

 

[jsker]

@DarkSky @Acroporaaddict

Thank you