dutchswan
Member
The last water test I conducted reflected the following:
Temperature: 78.5 F
pH: 8.4
Phosphate: 0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5-10
Gravity: 1.022
Calcium: 420
Alk: 7
Water Changes: 15% monthly using RO water from store
Topping of Water: Tap water used to top off water (1 Gallon every two days)
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After re-reading Shimek's "Marine Invertebrates", I realize I have not been utilizing optimal perameters, and need to make a few changes. Phosphate, Ammonia, Nitrite levels should obviously stay 0, so I will only address the other ones below:
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Temperature: 83.0 F (I think I have left my tank too cool, usually ranging from 76-78 degrees depending on if my MH is on.)
pH: 8.4 (This is fine, but if I plan in advance and have enough RO water on hand for topping off my tank, I suspect pH will drop to 8.2 as it did last fall when I was more diligent).
Nitrate: </= 10 (With the goal obviously to be a 0, but I understand from my research that anything 10 or under is fine).
Gravity: 1.026 or 35ppm Salinity (I have always maintained my specific gravity at 1.0215 because it was in the acceptable range on my hydrometer. My research shows my corals would prefer higher salinity that that. I will raise the salinity slowly through using salt water for my top-offs until I reach the desired level.)
Calcium: 450 - 500ppm (When my tank was only 3 months old, I could not get my calcium over 380, even through the adding of calcium buffers which I only added for about a month. Since then, my calcium levels have naturally risen to 420. While this is not bad, it seems a few of my corals prefer 450 or more.)
Alk: ? (My alk level has always been right around 7 degrees. Alk is a perameter that I am least familar with, though I understand it is closely linked to calcium. My latest test had me at 7 Degrees Alk and 420ppm calcium. If my goal is for my calcium to be between 450 - 500ppm, what should I consider ideal Alk?)
Water changes: I need to do water changes more frequently...perhaps 10% water changes weekly or 20% bi-weekly? I have been doing these with RO water from the grocery store, but it is a little bit of a pain to haul it home. I will have to be more diligent about it.
Topping off the Tank: My evaporation rate is about 1 gallon every 2 days. As I have not stocked enough RO water at home, I have been using tap water as a matter of convenience. I will have to be more diligent about stocking enough RO water to perform water changes and top off my tank.
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I know that in order to properly address my above goals, you need to know what my reef goals are. Below is a list of what I already have, and want I see myself adding in the near future. Feel free to let me know if you see any conflicts between my animal choices as well!
Current Animals
1 Ocellaris Clown
1 Coral Beauty
1 Cardinal
Anthelia
Goniopora
Zoo Frag
Bubble-tip Anemone
Possible near future additions:
Xenia
Green Star Polyps
Mushroom Polyps (Discosoma or Ricordea Florida)
Crocea Clam (Tridacna Crocea)
I think one of my biggest questions is how do I raise my calcium levels to above 450 without the use of buffers? Will simple consistent water changes and topping off my tank with RO water solve this on its own? Thanks in advance for feedback!
Temperature: 78.5 F
pH: 8.4
Phosphate: 0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5-10
Gravity: 1.022
Calcium: 420
Alk: 7
Water Changes: 15% monthly using RO water from store
Topping of Water: Tap water used to top off water (1 Gallon every two days)
----------
After re-reading Shimek's "Marine Invertebrates", I realize I have not been utilizing optimal perameters, and need to make a few changes. Phosphate, Ammonia, Nitrite levels should obviously stay 0, so I will only address the other ones below:
----------
Temperature: 83.0 F (I think I have left my tank too cool, usually ranging from 76-78 degrees depending on if my MH is on.)
pH: 8.4 (This is fine, but if I plan in advance and have enough RO water on hand for topping off my tank, I suspect pH will drop to 8.2 as it did last fall when I was more diligent).
Nitrate: </= 10 (With the goal obviously to be a 0, but I understand from my research that anything 10 or under is fine).
Gravity: 1.026 or 35ppm Salinity (I have always maintained my specific gravity at 1.0215 because it was in the acceptable range on my hydrometer. My research shows my corals would prefer higher salinity that that. I will raise the salinity slowly through using salt water for my top-offs until I reach the desired level.)
Calcium: 450 - 500ppm (When my tank was only 3 months old, I could not get my calcium over 380, even through the adding of calcium buffers which I only added for about a month. Since then, my calcium levels have naturally risen to 420. While this is not bad, it seems a few of my corals prefer 450 or more.)
Alk: ? (My alk level has always been right around 7 degrees. Alk is a perameter that I am least familar with, though I understand it is closely linked to calcium. My latest test had me at 7 Degrees Alk and 420ppm calcium. If my goal is for my calcium to be between 450 - 500ppm, what should I consider ideal Alk?)
Water changes: I need to do water changes more frequently...perhaps 10% water changes weekly or 20% bi-weekly? I have been doing these with RO water from the grocery store, but it is a little bit of a pain to haul it home. I will have to be more diligent about it.
Topping off the Tank: My evaporation rate is about 1 gallon every 2 days. As I have not stocked enough RO water at home, I have been using tap water as a matter of convenience. I will have to be more diligent about stocking enough RO water to perform water changes and top off my tank.
----------
I know that in order to properly address my above goals, you need to know what my reef goals are. Below is a list of what I already have, and want I see myself adding in the near future. Feel free to let me know if you see any conflicts between my animal choices as well!
Current Animals
1 Ocellaris Clown
1 Coral Beauty
1 Cardinal
Anthelia
Goniopora
Zoo Frag
Bubble-tip Anemone
Possible near future additions:
Xenia
Green Star Polyps
Mushroom Polyps (Discosoma or Ricordea Florida)
Crocea Clam (Tridacna Crocea)
I think one of my biggest questions is how do I raise my calcium levels to above 450 without the use of buffers? Will simple consistent water changes and topping off my tank with RO water solve this on its own? Thanks in advance for feedback!
