Converting FOWLR to Reef

[MadScientist01]

Hello everyone, my FOWLR is a 20 gallon high, about 4 years old, looking to make the switch and start growing corals. Got my water tested today at my LFS. The owners wife did the test and gave me the results but didnt give me a whole lot of insight, she said her husband could tell me more but wasnt gonna come back for another hour or so and i didnt want to wait that long.

Looking for input on my parameters as well as what to do about some of my equipment which i will list as much details as i can below.

One of the things i think i need to change is the powerhead. Due to the tank dimensions its a tall tank and not super wide and the powerhead is pushing the sand around a fair amount.

Tank size: 20 gallon high (aqueon i think)
Filter: Marineland Penguin 300
UV Sterilizer: AA GKM3W mini green killing machine
Lights: Reefbreeder Nano LED
Heater: 100watt aquatop
Powerhead: Marineland maxi jet 400

Parameters:
pH 8.1
Alkalinity 194
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Magnesium 1081
Calcium 419
Phosphate 0.5
Salinity 1.025

I use rodi water and red sea salt for water changes. i attached a picture of the light i want to purchase.

Current livestock:
Percula clownfish
4 Nassarius Snails
1- Red leg hermit crab

 

[KrisReef]

Parameters:
pH 8.1 -OK
Alkalinity 194 very low should be around 400
Ammonia 0 ok
Nitrite 0 ok
Nitrate 0 , low needs to measurable up to 10 ppm
Magnesium 1081 low, should be around 1300+
Calcium 419 Ok
Phosphate 0.5 needs to be measurable, but is trending high.
Salinity 1.025

I'm not familiar with the light.

Edit-

Sorry, couldn't help myself

 

[cba191]

Ive heard good thing about the light. Never used it though. I have radeon and kessil.

 

[MadScientist01]

Parameters:
pH 8.1 -OK
Alkalinity 194 very low should be around 400
Ammonia 0 ok
Nitrite 0 ok
Nitrate 0 , low needs to measurable up to 10 ppm
Magnesium 1081 low, should be around 1300+
Calcium 419 Ok
Phosphate 0.5 needs to be measurable, but is trending high.
Salinity 1.025

I'm not familiar with the light.

Edit-

Sorry, couldn't help myself

Isnt 194ppm 10.8 dkh alkalinity? Which would be within range?

 

[Terry Le]

Yep your Alk is at 10.84 dkh. I would get your parameters in check slowly and test out with some easy corals

 

[KrisReef]

Isnt 194ppm 10.8 dkh alkalinity? Which would be within range?

I think you are correct. I have no idea what I was thinking about, perhaps I was thinking of Calcium? Sorry, I seem to be losing my mind?

 

[Jamie9]

Which Red Sea salt are you using? With my tank, I started with Blue Bucket, which has a base alkalinity around 8 dkh. That wasn't keeping up with the demands of my coral, so what I do now is a mix of half blue bucket and half purple bucket (coral pro) and that keeps my alk/cal/mag pretty happy (as well as a small dose of AFR but I don't think you'd need that for a little while).

 

[MadScientist01]

Which Red Sea salt are you using? With my tank, I started with Blue Bucket, which has a base alkalinity around 8 dkh. That wasn't keeping up with the demands of my coral, so what I do now is a mix of half blue bucket and half purple bucket (coral pro) and that keeps my alk/cal/mag pretty happy (as well as a small dose of AFR but I don't think you'd need that for a little while).

Ive always used this salt mix for the tank

 

[Jamie9]

Ive always used this salt mix for the tank

Yep, that will be good until you have a bit of coral going, then you might either have to start dosing, or go to their coral pro salt (or do like I do and mix that with the coral pro).