Mixed reef parameters? Whats the average?

[steallife904]

So after months of struggle keeping my corals happy or alive I have decided to just break it down and go back to the basics.... just stop worrying about this or that and make sure parameters are in check. I have been in hobby for 12 years or so and have had a thriving mixed (more on the sps side) before but with a new baby in my life and some alk over dose last year the reef is in bad shape coral wise. I typically kept my calc around 440, alk around 7.8-8dkh and mag around 1380-1400 and never had a reading for phosphate or nitrate, ph 8.1-8.6.

Bring me to now, seem to lose most frags I put in. I have the parameters at: calc has read 500, alk was 8.9, mag 1480, still no nitrate or phosphate but working on that with more food and very very small doses of neophos and neonitro. I aslo recently discovered my flame angel picking at acans and a Duncan coral I....had, so I am really wondering if he has been a big issue all along??? he is coming out in the next few days!

Anyway what do you guys typically try to keep you parameters at in your mixed reef?

My tank is 150 gal, salinity is 1.026 (refractometer), use kent marine reef salt with weekly 5% water change, Have reefbreeder photon v2 lights (max at 40% right now) as well as a 2 bulb retro T5 that runs for 2 hours mid day, have a doser but only running alk right now since calc and mag have been so high. Feed the tank Rods frozen, nps pellets and algae flakes daily.... not sure if I missed any other important info.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The alk, calcium, and magnesium parameters are all fine and there is a very wide range that is acceptable, so they are unlikely to be any significant part of your issues.

Could be a pest problem (like the fish or a coral pathogen), might be toxins in the water, poor transport, lighting, flow, starving them for N and P, etc.

I don't see anything pointing at any particular concern.

 

[steallife904]

im going to hope the past issues where the ALK overdose and current are the flame angel. I dip all the corals, scrub base or plugs with a toothbrush and usually remove from plug. Have also inspected and not found anything. Normally straight home from store and acclimate for a bit (30-1hr), always use an RODI (same one I have had for years and change filters out). I do not have a par meter so have no idea what the par level is and possibly the N and P are the issue which I am trying to correct. I have been keeping the LED power low since the issues have been going on.... should I bump up higher slowly (Reefbreeder photon v2 about 8-10in off the water)?
Guess my first test will be see what happens after I remove the flame angel

 

[jason2459]

....

Anyway what do you guys typically try to keep you parameters at in your mixed reef?

....

Suggested ranges for our reef tanks.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/o...-reef-aquarium-by-randy-holmes-farley.173563/

 

[Young@Heart]

Help Please!

I am new to Reefing. I currently have a 55 Gallon Saltwater Tank. It is about 6 Weeks old. I have some live stock, but trying to keep a light bio load. I am looking to get a 185 Gallon setup so I don't want to put a lot more money to my 55. I will most probably tear down my 55 AFTER I have the 185 Cycled and compatible livestock transferred. I am looking for a few things (mainly direction).

My questions are:

What is an ideal Salinity Range for a Mixed Reef Tank.
Ideal Light Spectrum ( I have two AI primes)
Recommended Water Test Kit. I currently have the API Saltwater Master Kit. I got referred to a Salifert "Kit" this morning.
I am currently am using a Hydrometer, but I am looking for a Good Refractometer (Can you Recommend a Good One).

 

[jason2459]

The link I posted above has some good recommendations for many parameters including Salinity. 35 or around 1.0264.

No clue about light spectrum. I go by what looks good to my eyes. .

Lots of test kits and just about all are just fine. For pH I suggest a probe of some type. Salinity I like my Veegee refractometer a lot. Milwakee makes an ok digital refractometer.

Some kits I've reviewed

Ca, Alkalinity, and Mg
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/b...os-elos-salifert-api-hanna-triton-awt.234660/

PO4
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/p...s-pro-salifert-hanna-checkers-seachem.222628/

Nitrate
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/nitrate-test-kit-shoot-out-nyos-salifert-redsea-api.221323/

 

[Young@Heart]

Thanks,

I will take a look and review. Thank You.

The link I posted above has some good recommendations for many parameters including Salinity. 35 or around 1.0264.

No clue about light spectrum. I go by what looks good to my eyes. .

Lots of test kits and just about all are just fine. For pH I suggest a probe of some type. Salinity I like my Veegee refractometer a lot. Milwakee makes an ok digital refractometer.

Some kits I've reviewed

Ca, Alkalinity, and Mg
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/b...os-elos-salifert-api-hanna-triton-awt.234660/

PO4
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/p...s-pro-salifert-hanna-checkers-seachem.222628/

Nitrate
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/nitrate-test-kit-shoot-out-nyos-salifert-redsea-api.221323/

The link I posted above has some good recommendations for many parameters including Salinity. 35 or around 1.0264.

No clue about light spectrum. I go by what looks good to my eyes. .

Lots of test kits and just about all are just fine. For pH I suggest a probe of some type. Salinity I like my Veegee refractometer a lot. Milwakee makes an ok digital refractometer.

Some kits I've reviewed

Ca, Alkalinity, and Mg
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/b...os-elos-salifert-api-hanna-triton-awt.234660/

PO4
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/p...s-pro-salifert-hanna-checkers-seachem.222628/

Nitrate
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/nitrate-test-kit-shoot-out-nyos-salifert-redsea-api.221323/

The link I posted above has some good recommendations for many parameters including Salinity. 35 or around 1.0264.

No clue about light spectrum. I go by what looks good to my eyes. .

Lots of test kits and just about all are just fine. For pH I suggest a probe of some type. Salinity I like my Veegee refractometer a lot. Milwakee makes an ok digital refractometer.

Some kits I've reviewed

Ca, Alkalinity, and Mg
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/b...os-elos-salifert-api-hanna-triton-awt.234660/

PO4
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/p...s-pro-salifert-hanna-checkers-seachem.222628/

Nitrate
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/nitrate-test-kit-shoot-out-nyos-salifert-redsea-api.221323/

 

[Rookiefish]

im going to hope the past issues where the ALK overdose and current are the flame angel. I dip all the corals, scrub base or plugs with a toothbrush and usually remove from plug. Have also inspected and not found anything. Normally straight home from store and acclimate for a bit (30-1hr), always use an RODI (same one I have had for years and change filters out). I do not have a par meter so have no idea what the par level is and possibly the N and P are the issue which I am trying to correct. I have been keeping the LED power low since the issues have been going on.... should I bump up higher slowly (Reefbreeder photon v2 about 8-10in off the water)?
Guess my first test will be see what happens after I remove the flame angel

Calcium and Alk are like opposite ends of a see-saw, dosing one and not the other tends to raise one and in turn drive the other down. Imagine magnesium as the axis point and at its ideal level it helps to maintain a favorable and stable balance between those two parameters.