show me your.. parameters

[tailoftwogobies]

hi y’all! so, tonight’s discussion in our house is.. where should our tank parameters be & i want to hear everyone’s opinions on this please.. what works best for you? what dosing systems do you all have or do you like using a system? how often do you test? etc.

i attached photos of our dosing ‘chart’ which is calcium and alkalinity.

we use reef pro A & B.

would enjoy hearing everyone’s ideas and opinions on what levels things should be..

currently the alkalinity in our tank is 8.9 & calcium is 440, salinity is 1.025 with zero phosphate.. we use rowa phos & it’s helped tremendously.

any opinions, advice, rants are welcome.. as always.

 

[blaxsun]

I try to keep my alkalinity between 7.5-8.5 dKH, calcium around 450ppm, magnesium around 1450ppm, ph from 8.0-8.1, phosphates <0.05ppm and nitrates under 10ppm.

 

[tailoftwogobies]

I try to keep my alkalinity between 7.5-8.5 dKH, calcium around 450ppm, magnesium around 1450ppm, ph from 8.0-8.1, phosphates <0.05ppm and nitrates under 10ppm.

so do you feel as if alkalinity over 9 would be considered high? ours is usually 9.2 but i hear 7.5-8.5 is considered best.

 

[Sharp]

I try to keep my alkalinity between 7.5-8.5 dKH, calcium around 450ppm, magnesium around 1450ppm, ph from 8.0-8.1, phosphates <0.05ppm and nitrates under 10ppm.

+1 except I havent had good growth, so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[Sharp]

so do you feel as if alkalinity over 9 would be considered high? ours is usually 9.2 but i hear 7.5-8.5 is considered best.

What I have read is that a higher alk say 9-11 is best with higher nutrients and light, and correlates with higher growth. Lower alk and nutrients correlates with better colour, 7-8 alk, and just detectable nutrients.

 

[tailoftwogobies]

What I have read is that a higher alk say 9-11 is best with higher nutrients and light, and correlates with higher growth. Lower alk and nutrients correlates with better colour, 7-8 alk, and just detectable nutrients.

the growth is insane in the tank.. color is vibrant of course with proper lighting.. there’s the occasional coral ‘war’ and then a relocate in the tank if possible, but have had good luck with growth and no losses in the last 7 months..

knock on wood.

 

[Ruben Sacramento]

The ranges I fee to be most importante are:
No3 5-15
Po4 0.05-0.15
Alk 8-9.5
PH 8.0-8.4
PAR 150-350 (bottom-top)

In these ranges you'll have growth and color from my experience, at least that's what I get compliments for on my tank.

Here's a bit of info on my parameters:

 

[homer1475]

ALK 7.0 - 7.5
CAL 420
MAG 1350
NO3 10 - 20ppm
PO4 0.1 to 0.2

Just remember, the actual number mean nothing if your within normal reef range. Picking a set of numbers and keeping them rock solid stable is what you should be trying to emulate.

 

[MaxTremors]

My most recent test results (not much change over the last several weeks, had some nutrient spikes after dosing fluconazole, but have be ironed out):

Salinity: 1.026
PH: 8.2
DKh: 8.75
Cal: 420
Mag:1320
NO3: 12.4ppm
PO4: 0.03ppm

Things have been fairly stable, PH is finally up (was down due to vinegar dosing, but since saturating it with kalk it’s not lowering PH). In a pretty good place overall.

 

[tailoftwogobies]

ALK 7.0 - 7.5
CAL 420
MAG 1350
NO3 10 - 20ppm
PO4 0.1 to 0.2

Just remember, the actual number mean nothing if your within normal reef range. Picking a set of numbers and keeping them rock solid stable is what you should be trying to emulate.

thank you!

 

[dvgyfresh]

Nitrate : 30 ppm phosphate .1 ppm ph 8.2 alk 9.6 cal 470 mg 1400
Everything is growing pretty well , I don’t have a ton of coraline because my clean up crew eats any and all algae , the softies / nems appreciate higher nitrate for me/ I never want to have Dino’s

 

[Susan Edwards]

I have a newly upgraded tank (140 to a 240) and am really working to get/keep my numbers were I want them. We are talking major dosing! First few days no livestock so was doing heavy additions! Still dosing by the fluid oz (5-10) 3 times a day. Once I know what it takes to stay where I want I'll hook up my doser

My aim

alk 8.5 8.5 this am
Ca 400 I'm at 360-380.
Mg 1350-1400 1250 this am
no3 5-10 5 this am
PO4 .2 or less. .12 this am Would like it under .1 to be balanced with no3
Ph a bit low. Not sure how to raise