first water change

[trx32]

tanks been up sence feb 5 and i still havnt done a water change jw when i should, i check my levels every week and they are still good so when when should i do it then after i know i need to start doing it every week

 

[Chrisv.]

I’m in the camp that there is a whole lot we don’t test that either accumulates or is depleted. My levels tend to look pretty great (by my standards) but when I do a Wc my tank looks much better for the next week or two.

 

[trx32]

so when show i start my first one

 

[Spare time]

It all depends on what you are replacing. For fish only (after the tank has cycled and the first fish has gone in), nitrate and phosphate are the primary concerns. A common range would be 5-20ppm phosphate and 0.03-0.1ppm phosphate (do not use api phosphate test)

 

[trx32]

i have about coral in the tank the man one in worried about is my new york knicks just put him in there 3 days ago

 

[Spare time]

i have about coral in the tank the man one in worried about is my new york knicks just put him in there 3 days ago

You need a reliable phosphate test, an alkalinity test kit, and a calcium test kit. Magnesium can wait until the tank get a lot of coral or you are going long periods without significant water changes.


You need to have your water within these ranges

Alk: 7-13KH (preferably 8-10 as a way to have a safe range just incase you accidentally move out of it)

Calcium: 380-500ppm

Magnesium 1280-1400ppm is typical

Phosphate 0.03-0.1ppm

Nitrate 5ish-20ppm ish

Ammonia and nitrite 0ppm (this shouldn't be a concern if you already cycled the tank and have fish).

Salinity 1.024-1.027sg

Temp 78F

pH 7.8-8.3 (digital accurate tests are the best, particularly if they have an error range of +/-0.01). You typically want to be as close to 8.3 as possible.

 

[Spare time]

Do you not have that many fish?

 

[trx32]

have 5 fish tank is a 95gal