Need lots of help

[Walla2GSP]

Get in the habit of testing nitrates, phosphates, alk, ca, mg on a regular basis and chart it. PH has an ideal range around 8.2 , but most corals can survive a slow change in pH and a steady pH is more important than an ideal pH within reason. Know your water source, most people have to use RO or distilled water because their tap water isn't safe. My tap water here has no chemicals, low TDS, and slightly hard meaning I can use tapwater and not dosing Mg or Ca as often. Study up on controlling nitrates and phosphates and how much to feed your fish. Fish can survive high nitrates and phosphates but corals can't. Corals on the other hand can take some ammonia exposure, but fish can't. The indicator I would look for as a beginner is how fast can you grow coralline algae? Coralline algae like parameters pretty close to same as most corals, so if you can grow coralline you can start looking for simple corals.

[Flex06]

Originally Posted by Cancun

Hi! There are no dumb questions! Dosing would depend on what kind of salt your lfs is using in the water they sell...how often you do water changes...and what kind of coral....LPS...SPS..etc. I do a 10% water change a week...I and my tank prefers that over one 40% once a month. I don't keep SPS....but I have many LPS....hammers....frog spawn....etc...which are thriving....I use red sea reef salt.....and never have to dose....but if I had clams etc...then I probably would.

hey there OK I STOPED USING THE FRIDGE WATER TO FILL UP THE TANK FROM EVAPORATED WATER AND BEEN USING RO WATTER FROM LOCAL PET STORE. IS MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN MY TANK AND IM NOT GETTING NO BROWN ALGEA. I REALLY DOUN KNOW WHAT MY CORALS ARE CONSIDERED LPS OR SP. AL I KNOW IS THE SELLER SAID SOFT CORAL R GOOD FOR BEGINNERS SO THATS WHAT HE GAVE ME . MY MUSHROOM AND ZOAS ARE LOOKING FINE BUT NOT EXPANDING OR DO THEY EXPAND ? MY JASMIN CORAL R ALL GONE BUT I NOTICED A ROOT GROWING TO ANOTHER ROCK CLOSE TO IT WITH BABY JASMIN POLIPS DOES THIS MEAN IS STILL ALIVE ? SO AS FAR AS WATER CHANGE I USUALLY DO 50% water change a month .SOME GUY I MEET RECOMMENDED ME TO ON USING RED SEA SALT WATER HE SAID IS ONE OF THE BEST IS THIS RIGHT? THERES A SHOP CLOSE BY WHO SELLS ME 5GALLONS OF WATER FOR 6 DOLLARS . SO IF I USE RED SEA I WOULD NOT HAVE TO DOSE ?

[Flex06]

Originally Posted by walla2gsp

get in the habit of testing nitrates, phosphates, alk, ca, mg on a regular basis and chart it. Ph has an ideal range around 8.2 , but most corals can survive a slow change in ph and a steady ph is more important than an ideal ph within reason. Know your water source, most people have to use ro or distilled water because their tap water isn't safe. My tap water here has no chemicals, low tds, and slightly hard meaning i can use tapwater and not dosing mg or ca as often. Study up on controlling nitrates and phosphates and how much to feed your fish. Fish can survive high nitrates and phosphates but corals can't. Corals on the other hand can take some ammonia exposure, but fish can't. The indicator i would look for as a beginner is how fast can you grow coralline algae? Coralline algae like parameters pretty close to same as most corals, so if you can grow coralline you can start looking for simple corals.

ok yea for the past month i have been learning how to test the water ph, amonia ,nitrite, and nitrates. Later on i would like to install a ro/di system istead of going to go buy all the time is a hasle.

[Flex06]

What type of test kit do u guys recommend ? One that has ph,nitrite amonia nitrates etc .

[RogueGrown]

Yes the PH ammonia and nitrate tests yu want but you will also want ones for your calcium magnesium phosphate and ALK. Also If you dont already have one, get a refractometer to test salinity when youre mixing water. They are way more nice to have over the float tests.

[JoeBatt]

Once again Flex06, have a watch of the videos I sent the link for ..... it covers all of this and more. Its easy viewing and covers pretty much everything a beginner to intermediate/advanced aquarist needs to know.