Beginning coral parameters

[Shilpan]

Hello guys! I just got my Red Sea pro foundation kit today (after the last faulty batch this one works), and I have a few questions.

1) I'm planning on a softie tank. My tests are Ca-410 Alk-7.6dKH Mg-1200. Are these acceptable for a softie tank?

2) These values were the day after my usual 10% biweekly water change which I've been doing for the past 4 months. If they remain this way, does that mean I don't need to dose?

3) a LFS sells bulk mag alk and calc powder for cheap. Will this be sufficient to dose if needed? Or is it better to use things like Red Sea abc+ with all the various other tace elements added in?

Thank you! (Btw phosphate 0ppm I guess GFO is still working/algae bloom, nitrates 0ppm. The algae bloom is slowing down, the cyano only has a few patches which I'm keeping on top off with water changes and siphoning so we're slowly getting there, maybe a few more months).

 

[florida joe]

Aquarium
Parameters Suggested Level:
Reef Aquarium Suggested Level:
FOWLR Aquarium Average Level:
Coral Reefs
Specific Gravity 1.023 – 1.025 1.020 – 1.025 1.025
Temperature 72 – 78°F 72 – 78°F 82°F
pH 8.1 – 8.4 8.1 – 8.4 8.0 – 8.5
Alkalinity 8 – 12 dKH 8 – 12 dKH 6 – 8 dKH
Ammonia (NH3) Undetectable Undetectable Near Zero
Nitrite (NO2) Undetectable Undetectable Near Zero
Nitrate –
Nitrogen (NO3) < 1.0 ppm < 30 ppm < 0.25 ppm
Phosphate (PO4) < 0.2 ppm < 1.0 ppm < 0.13 ppm
Calcium 350 – 450 ppm 350 – 450 ppm 380 – 420 ppm
Magnesium 1250 – 1350 ppm 1150 – 1350 ppm 1300 ppm
Iodine 0.06 – 0.10 ppm 0.04 – 0.10 ppm 0.06 ppm
Strontium 8 – 14 ppm 4 – 10 ppm 8 – 10 ppm

 

[Shilpan]

How important is it to test and dose iodine and strontium? I don't have those test kits.

 

[florida joe]

I am sure you have head of Randy Holmes-Farley he has stated that" IMO, strontium is unimportant and I wouldn't bother measuring or supplementing it."

As far as iodine the kit is expensive, we are talking about iodide supplementation. BUT Delbeek and Sprung feel that iodide is important in a reef tank BUT we have to be VERY careful in dosing. Remember iodine is toxic

 

[Shilpan]

I see, thanks Joe, since I'm a beginner I think I'll stick to the big three for now.

I'll keep my fingers crossed that between my iodine coral dip (just a bit which covers the coral) and Red Sea salt mix I have enough of the trace elements entering my tank haha

 

[florida joe]

what iodine coral dip are you using

 

[Shilpan]

Sea Chem Reef Dip

 

[florida joe]

I can’t see throwing away money. Any drug store has Povidone Iodine 10% solution for half the price. And you make your own solution mix it with water until it’s the color of weak tea. One 8fl oz. bottle will last you forever

 

[Shilpan]

! Good point!

So it's basically just iodine, and there's nothing else special in Reef Dip? Seachem is good at selling simple objects for a high price haha

What dip do you use personally?

 

[florida joe]

I use the Povidone and the old time DIY dip

I can honestly say that it works and I have never introduced some unwanted pests into my tank via coral