new to reefing. what levels and how often should I be checking (keeping a few small fish,cleaning crew,zoos,poylps,mushrooms and thinking of a few acans)seeing all kinds of things you guys are checking. also besides feeding fish (flake, brine shrimp) what should I be feeding my corals? I am going crazy reading all this different info.please help thanks John (P.S. it is alot easier breeding african rift cichlids thats for sure ;D)
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my head is spinning
- Thread starter bovsbaitboxes
- Start date
I do a full test about every two weeks unless I see something happening I dont like . I test my alk,salinity and ph more often . Once you get everything balanced you can test less often . Its a personal preference thing . Most important part of testing is a new quality test kit and a refractor for salinity . I also run two sets of tests at the same time to cover mistakes.
Here is a list of parameters I copied and pasted for you .
Full article is here,explains water chemestry in detail. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php
Calcium 380-450 ppm 420 ppm
Alkalinity 7-11 dKH
Salinity sg = 1.026 34-36 ppt
sg = 1.025-1.027
Temperature 76-83° F
pH 7.8-8.5 OK
8.1-8.3 is better 8.0-8.3 (can be lower or higher in lagoons)
Magnesium 1250-1350 ppm 1280 ppm
Phosphate < 0.03 ppm 0.005 ppm
Ammonia <0.1 ppm Variable (typically <0.1 ppm)
Nitrate < 0.2 ppm Variable (typically below 0.1 ppm)
Nitrite < 0.2 ppm typically Variable (typically below 0.0001 ppm)
Table 1. Parameters critical to control in reef aquaria.
Your corals will get most of what they need from a good salt mix . I also use a 2 part cal/alk suppliment . If heavily stocked with sps you may need to add this .
I also add amino and trace elements. These are probably not needed but I am trying to improve coloration and growth and trying to see if this helps .
Frequent water changes ,light feedings and stable conditions will benefit your tank the most .
Here is a list of parameters I copied and pasted for you .
Full article is here,explains water chemestry in detail. http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php
Calcium 380-450 ppm 420 ppm
Alkalinity 7-11 dKH
Salinity sg = 1.026 34-36 ppt
sg = 1.025-1.027
Temperature 76-83° F
pH 7.8-8.5 OK
8.1-8.3 is better 8.0-8.3 (can be lower or higher in lagoons)
Magnesium 1250-1350 ppm 1280 ppm
Phosphate < 0.03 ppm 0.005 ppm
Ammonia <0.1 ppm Variable (typically <0.1 ppm)
Nitrate < 0.2 ppm Variable (typically below 0.1 ppm)
Nitrite < 0.2 ppm typically Variable (typically below 0.0001 ppm)
Table 1. Parameters critical to control in reef aquaria.
Your corals will get most of what they need from a good salt mix . I also use a 2 part cal/alk suppliment . If heavily stocked with sps you may need to add this .
I also add amino and trace elements. These are probably not needed but I am trying to improve coloration and growth and trying to see if this helps .
Frequent water changes ,light feedings and stable conditions will benefit your tank the most .