Water parameters

Spaws · 11/18/2014, 04:08 AM

Hi guys I'm trying to start getting some corals, I've only had fish but I curently have a hammer coral for almost 2yrs it's been fine but I want to make sure my water is fine to beggin adding some pricier items
Salinity=.0025
Nitrate=20-40ppm
Phosphate=1.5ppm
Kh=11 drops or 196.9?
Calcium was a bit weird I got over 650?
Ph=8.0
All tests were done w/api test kits
80g tall tank, Filters are 80lbs live rock 4" sand bed, aquatic life 36" 4 bulb t5 ho x3 blue + 1 10k bulb. Coralia 220 super skimmer, chateau & sock filtration in the sump. Current neighbors are Niger trigger, yellow tang, Midas blenny, white shoulder angel & tomatoe clown. Suggestions or trades accepted on the angel/clown

Not sure if all is covered. Just need some help thanks in advanced

alf1096 · 11/18/2014, 04:47 AM

Suggestions on what you want to add would help. Phosphate seems high if you want to add sps

pyithar · 11/18/2014, 04:58 AM

you should buy a refractometer and more reliable test kits like salifert first. you'll also need a much larger tank for your fishes if you want to keep them long term. check this website. you can see ideal water parameters there. you don't need to have exact same numbers but you can get the general idea.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/PIC/article.cfm?aid=89

downbeach · 11/18/2014, 05:08 AM

I would suggest getting a better grade of test kit, i.e. Salifert or Red Sea Pro for your NO3, Ca, Mg and Alk. I'll assume your SG is 1.025, and would suggest using a properly calibrated refractometer for this. For PO4, a Hanna checker would be best.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

gone fishin · 11/18/2014, 01:15 PM

^^^^^ +1

Spaws · 11/18/2014, 01:18 PM

Yes sorry I ate the 1 it was late & I was hungry, yes salinity is 1.0025, I am mostly going to have softies due to I think the fish are going to make nitrates high & my lighting is not the greatest but it will have to do. No specific corals I like hammers bubble corals, bubble tip that kind of stuff no anemones due to they move too much I've had them before they are nice but suck

. Thanks for your replies guys this actually helps

Spaws · 11/20/2014, 08:29 PM

today i rechecked my levels & i found
nitrate-60-70ppm
calcium 500
alkalinity 9.7
phosphate 2.49
salinity 1.025
i had them tested & lfs just for comparison to mine also this was about 3 days after my last water change, which was about 1 day before i gave out the previous levels I cant seem to lower my phosphates & what do you guys think about my alkalinity is it too high? how do you guys normally bring it down, nitrates have been around here since i've started to try to control my water levels for about 3 weeks now, i had stopped messing w/it due to only fishes lived so nitrates was not a problem but now they are really high for corals, i dont dose anything & i dont have a tds meter, im thinking about buying a cheapy one on amazon or something like that. any advise will help thanks.

rfgonzo · 11/20/2014, 09:14 PM

Your Alk is fine between 7.0 and 11.0 at 9.7 you're right in the middle which is a good place to be. You can't seem to lower your phosphates have you tried GFO in a reactor? As far as nitrates how often do you do water changes? And at what %? Do you use RO/DI or Tap? You really need to get those two parameters in check before you start adding coral. There's plenty of other reasons for the high numbers that you're getting but the GFO and RO/DI with a good skimmer is a good place to start.

Sk8r · 11/20/2014, 11:23 PM

Phosphate is way high...as in, zero is good. I do well with euphyllias and my params are in my sig line.

Dan_P · 11/21/2014, 07:43 AM

I was wondering whether your aquarium has algae or cyanobacteria growth anywhere. With those nitrate and phosphate levels in your sytem, current wisdom would have me predict you would.

Spaws · 11/21/2014, 02:01 PM

I do have algae & some cyano I recent cleaned it out I do about 20% water changes on my 80g weekly. I get algae on my sand pretty much from one day to the next bumming me out. I don't have a phosphate reactor I'm trying to remove the phosphates naturally bu I might have to bite the bullet & buy something

Sk8r · 11/21/2014, 04:15 PM

You pretty well have to bite the bullet. Phosphate will stay until you remove it.

11/18/2014, 04:08 AM	#1
Spaws Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 60	Water parameters Hi guys I'm trying to start getting some corals, I've only had fish but I curently have a hammer coral for almost 2yrs it's been fine but I want to make sure my water is fine to beggin adding some pricier items Salinity=.0025 Nitrate=20-40ppm Phosphate=1.5ppm Kh=11 drops or 196.9? Calcium was a bit weird I got over 650? Ph=8.0 All tests were done w/api test kits 80g tall tank, Filters are 80lbs live rock 4" sand bed, aquatic life 36" 4 bulb t5 ho x3 blue + 1 10k bulb. Coralia 220 super skimmer, chateau & sock filtration in the sump. Current neighbors are Niger trigger, yellow tang, Midas blenny, white shoulder angel & tomatoe clown. Suggestions or trades accepted on the angel/clown Not sure if all is covered. Just need some help thanks in advanced

11/18/2014, 04:47 AM	#2
alf1096 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 399	Suggestions on what you want to add would help. Phosphate seems high if you want to add sps __________________ 125 gal DT with 30 Sump, ReefBreeders LEDs, Mixed Reef

11/18/2014, 04:58 AM	#3
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	you should buy a refractometer and more reliable test kits like salifert first. you'll also need a much larger tank for your fishes if you want to keep them long term. check this website. you can see ideal water parameters there. you don't need to have exact same numbers but you can get the general idea. http://www.liveaquaria.com/PIC/article.cfm?aid=89 __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef

11/18/2014, 01:15 PM	#5
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	^^^^^ +1 __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

11/20/2014, 11:23 PM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Phosphate is way high...as in, zero is good. I do well with euphyllias and my params are in my sig line. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/18/2014, 05:08 AM	#4
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	I would suggest getting a better grade of test kit, i.e. Salifert or Red Sea Pro for your NO3, Ca, Mg and Alk. I'll assume your SG is 1.025, and would suggest using a properly calibrated refractometer for this. For PO4, a Hanna checker would be best. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

11/18/2014, 01:18 PM	#6
Spaws Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 60	Yes sorry I ate the 1 it was late & I was hungry, yes salinity is 1.0025, I am mostly going to have softies due to I think the fish are going to make nitrates high & my lighting is not the greatest but it will have to do. No specific corals I like hammers bubble corals, bubble tip that kind of stuff no anemones due to they move too much I've had them before they are nice but suck . Thanks for your replies guys this actually helps

11/20/2014, 08:29 PM	#7
Spaws Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 60	today i rechecked my levels & i found nitrate-60-70ppm calcium 500 alkalinity 9.7 phosphate 2.49 salinity 1.025 i had them tested & lfs just for comparison to mine also this was about 3 days after my last water change, which was about 1 day before i gave out the previous levels I cant seem to lower my phosphates & what do you guys think about my alkalinity is it too high? how do you guys normally bring it down, nitrates have been around here since i've started to try to control my water levels for about 3 weeks now, i had stopped messing w/it due to only fishes lived so nitrates was not a problem but now they are really high for corals, i dont dose anything & i dont have a tds meter, im thinking about buying a cheapy one on amazon or something like that. any advise will help thanks.

11/20/2014, 09:14 PM	#8
rfgonzo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,280	Your Alk is fine between 7.0 and 11.0 at 9.7 you're right in the middle which is a good place to be. You can't seem to lower your phosphates have you tried GFO in a reactor? As far as nitrates how often do you do water changes? And at what %? Do you use RO/DI or Tap? You really need to get those two parameters in check before you start adding coral. There's plenty of other reasons for the high numbers that you're getting but the GFO and RO/DI with a good skimmer is a good place to start.

11/21/2014, 07:43 AM	#10
Dan_P Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 1,432	I was wondering whether your aquarium has algae or cyanobacteria growth anywhere. With those nitrate and phosphate levels in your sytem, current wisdom would have me predict you would.

11/21/2014, 02:01 PM	#11
Spaws Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 60	I do have algae & some cyano I recent cleaned it out I do about 20% water changes on my 80g weekly. I get algae on my sand pretty much from one day to the next bumming me out. I don't have a phosphate reactor I'm trying to remove the phosphates naturally bu I might have to bite the bullet & buy something

11/21/2014, 04:15 PM	#12
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	You pretty well have to bite the bullet. Phosphate will stay until you remove it. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.