Testing water

[Clemons123!]

Hello all,

I started with a 17 gallon tank and did not need much testing as it was mainly a Fowler. I now have 3 GSP and a red mushroom/ leather?

What should I be testing for with these?

As well I am starting my 210 and hoping to put corals and fish in around June/ July. In this I’m mainly looking at softies and LPS. What do you check?

Do you check it daily, weekly, monthly etc?
What do you typically dose with?

I’ve also seen a few differing preferred levels. What are the levels you like/ the range ?

 

[ReefQuestCorals]

Alkalinity: 7-11 dKH (I prefer in the 8-8.5 dKH range)
Calcium: 400-500ppm (I prefer 450-480ppm)
Magnesium: 1300-1450 (I prefer 1400-1450ppm)
Salinity: 1.024-1.026

Alkalinity and Salinity are the most important, followed by calcium and magnesium. When trying to establish how much I should be dosing I will test Alk daily or every other day, Mag and Cal usually 1 time a week. Once I established how much I should be dosing I will test 1 time a week to ensure parameters are staying stable.

Usually I will start off with only maintaining my parameters with weekly water changes, I will test my water change water and dose whatever is needed to match my tank. So if mag is low in the new water change water I will add mag until desired level. After that point you can use a quality two part or All-For-Reef to maintain proper levels daily