What are the optimum water parameters for a Reef tank?

[nafracsana]

I have seen many different levels and I'm trying to get the right levels in my tank.
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 40-60 trying to lower with water changes
Calcium: 400
dKh: 20 or 375.9 ppm
Gravity: 1.023-1.024
Are these anywhere near where I need to have them?

 

[beckzilla]

Nitrates should get down to less than 10. If you have corals then Calcium should get closer to 450. DKH number doesnt look right as it should be between 8-10. Not sure you are testing it properly. What kind of test kit are you using?

 

[nafracsana]

I am trying to lower the nitrates, 40 is the lowest it has gotten since the start of the tank in March of 2004. Yes, I do have corals, but the Tropic Marin supplement says not to exceed 420. Sorry about the dKH, it is 20 which if multiplied by 17.9 it comes to 375.9 ppm that's what I meant. The test kit I have for the Gh and KH is from Aquarium Pharmacuticals, but I think I have the wrong test kit, it says it's for freshwater. Not sure if this is ok for salt water testing?

 

[diadema]

yeah - get a new test kit.
Personally I don't see anything wrong with running a lower than 450 calcium. anything higher than 360 and lower than 500 is fine. On the DKH - I'd stick between 7 and 12. The lower the nitrates the better - depending on what corals you have. SPS will prefer it to be VERY low - most LPS and softies aren't too bothered if it's a little higher.

 

[ophiura]

IMO, specific gravity, which is temperature dependant, should be higher. Around 1.025-1.026. As mentioned, nitrates are high. What sort of system do you have - crushed coral, sand? Filtration? Skimmer? Water source? Livestock and feeding?

 

[papaeph]

IDEAL CONDITIONS
ALK Alkalinity2.9
CA Calcium 400-450
Mag 1300
NO3 Nitrate 0
N02 Nitriets 0
PO4 Phosphates 0
Salinity 35ppt
pH 8.2 - 8.4
Temperature78-84
although i like to mimic the reef -80 try keeping this constant

 

[shawnts106]

IMO, specific gravity, which is temperature dependant, should be higher. Around 1.025-1.026
I COMPLETLY AND 100% AGREE... the exact specific gravity of the ocean in most places populated by coral reefs is 1.0255 ect... so this is IDEAL!!
I keep my Ca around 520 I get good growth too!
Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia, and Phosphate all need to be 0! this is crucial to the survival and health of all coral and fish species!
so make sure this is down.. a good product to use for the removal of amonia and Nitrate as well as clear your water is ALGONE... go to the website... www. (product name) and you kown the rest
ALk is also a biggy too as everyone has said, so I wont say anyting more!
and keep a close watch on your PH too.... this is very important! 8.3 is perfect!

 

[msd2]

lol ah yes perfection

ask 20 ppl get 20 different answers on this one, just like every owner every tank varies some and what works for you and your tank animals is whats best. But some good guidelines have been place forth. Don't forget though alk/ca levels are on a sliding scale and so take a look at that table floating around in here someplace, very useful stuff. What I mean to say is your tank will probably have a propensity towards a slightly higher or lower 'ideal' so you just need to keep the other reading in line for its reading. Like in my situation my alk levels have always come back higher than 'ideal' so i look at the table and adjust my ca level accordingly instead of trying to adjust every component of the water chemistry. Anyway works for me, might not for you

 

[promisetbg]

Back off on feeding.How much clean-up crew do you have?You need to get that trate down...do some MAJOR water changes.Are you running a skimmer?Are you using some sort of pad type filter some where?How much live rock is in your tank?