New tank - need input

[sturgisjasonc]

My wife and I are about 7-8 months into the saltwater game. I love the science aspect and she loves the fish/corals. This hobby has me at the point of feeling like I have plenty to learn, I concur.

current livestock:
Coral beauty
Two clowns
Purple firefish
Blenny
Hawkfish

invertebrates:
Emerald crabs x3
2 turbosnails
3-4 blue Scarlett crabs
2-3 snails
Starfish

corals:
Duncan(looks strong)
Watermelon rosebud (got super stressed and is slowly coming back)
Bubble coral (never fully inflated)
hammerheads x 2 (look decent)
Mushroom(50:50)
3-4 zoa colonies (never look happy/don’t fully open)
Trumpet coral(looks strong)

Targeted Parameters:
Salinity 1.024
Calcium 450ppm
Magnesium 1350
Alkalinity 11.5
PH 8.3-8.5
Nitrate 1-2ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Phosphate 0.08-0.12

Actual parameters as of 1/3/2020:
Salinity 1.024
Calcium 365ppm
Magnesium 1200
Alkalinity 7.86
PH 8.3
Nitrate .05ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Phosphate purchased +/- .01 accuracy test tonight, so I haven’t checked this. I’ve been doing water tests at my LFS and have been told multiple times that I’m within the correct parameters.

 

[lapin]

nice

 

[fishguy242]

hi welcome to the reef going to love it here!!
lots of fun/info/fun/help/fun..
cal seems little low.alk target 8-9 jmo

 

[sturgisjasonc]

hi welcome to the reef going to love it here!!
lots of fun/info/fun/help/fun..
cal seems little low.alk target 8-9 jmo

Haha - I like it. Working on bumping both of those parameters up, but can’t seem to dial it in quite the way I want...yet.

 

[Pistondog]

My bubble looks like that if I turn up the flow.

 

[sturgisjasonc]

My bubble looks like that if I turn up the flow.

I’ve moved the bubble around probably 5 times and I can’t seem to get it away from the flow. I do t even have cross flow so it’s hard to believe it solely from too much flow; thought that’s consistent with the other input that I’ve received