Jump to content
Premium Aquatics Aquarium Supplies

What are ideal water parameters?


Marine1

Recommended Posts

I was wondering if someone can give me a list or a good source that gives ideal reef aquariums H2O perams; such as calcum, kH, pH, etc. Thanks in advance.

Link to comment

Ok lets see if I can answer this one for ya.

 

PH 8.0-8.4

Nitrates 0

Nitrites 0

Ammonia 0

Phosphates 0

Calcium 400-450

Alk 2.5-3.5 meq/l or DKH 7-10

 

I pulled some of these levels from a book I have called The Marine Reef aquarium Handbook written by Dr. Robert J Goldstein. I hope this helps

 

Also try using the search function here, on Google and other sites you never know what you will find.

 

Casey

Link to comment

Table 1. Parameters critical to control in reef aquaria.

Parameter: Reef Aquaria Recommendation:

Calcium 380-450 ppm

Alkalinity 2.5-4 meq/L

7-11 dKH

125-200 ppm CaCO3 equivalents

Salinity 35 ppt

sg = 1.026

Temperature 76-83° F

pH 7.8-8.5 OK

8.1-8.3 is better

Magnesium 1250-1350 ppm

Phosphate < 0.03 ppm

Ammonia <0.1 ppm

 

Table 2. Other parameters in reef aquaria.

Parameter: Reef Aquaria Recommendation:

Silica < 2 ppm, much lower if diatoms are a problem

Iodine Control not recommended

Nitrate < 0.2 ppm

Nitrite < 0.2 ppm typically

Strontium 5-15 ppm

ORP Control not recommended

Boron < 10 ppm

Iron Below Kit Detection Limits (additions OK)

 

-RH-F

Link to comment

Table 1. Parameters critical to control in reef aquaria.

Parameter: Reef Aquaria Recommendation:

Calcium 380-450 ppm

Alkalinity 2.5-4 meq/L

7-11 dKH

125-200 ppm CaCO3 equivalents

Salinity 35 ppt

sg = 1.026

Temperature 76-83° F

pH 7.8-8.5 OK

8.1-8.3 is better

Magnesium 1250-1350 ppm

Phosphate < 0.03 ppm

Ammonia <0.1 ppm

 

Table 2. Other parameters in reef aquaria.

Parameter: Reef Aquaria Recommendation:

Silica < 2 ppm, much lower if diatoms are a problem

Iodine Control not recommended

Nitrate < 0.2 ppm

Nitrite < 0.2 ppm typically

Strontium 5-15 ppm

ORP Control not recommended

Boron < 10 ppm

Iron Below Kit Detection Limits (additions OK)

 

-RH-F

 

Thanks for the detailed response. What should carbonate be. I have a reading of 143.2 is that good/bad?

Link to comment

Those are definitely the tolerances, but as for IDEAL, I think that is subjective...using the above guidelines, I shoot for and maintain these:

 

Calcium 450

Alkalinity 10 dKh

SG 1.025

Temperature 77° F

PH 8.3

Magnesium 1300

Phosphate 0

Ammonia 0

Nitrate 0

Nitrite 0

Strontium 10

 

I test weekly and use water changes and dosing to maintain these values...

Link to comment

I try to maintain the following levels.

 

Calcium 440

Alkalinity 11 dKh

SG 1.026

Temperature 80° F

PH 8.2

Magnesium 1350

Phosphate 0

Ammonia 0

Nitrate 0

Nitrite 0

Link to comment
Hi guys,

 

Isn't alkalinity 10/11 a bit high? I thought it was better to keep it in the 8/9 zone... :huh:

 

 

it depends on what you're keeping, personal preference, and Alk/Ca balance.

Link to comment
Hi guys,

 

Isn't alkalinity 10/11 a bit high? I thought it was better to keep it in the 8/9 zone... :huh:

 

higher alk = faster growth and it helps to keep my ph higher.

Link to comment

Interesting that no one mentioned Iodine - which is important for coloring of corals and necessary for molting of some CUC. The proper level of I2 is 0.06 ppm

Link to comment
Interesting that no one mentioned Iodine - which is important for coloring of corals and necessary for molting of some CUC. The proper level of I2 is 0.06 ppm

 

Too easy to nuke your tank with iodine. x50 in a nano. Take into account that test kits don't cover the three different forms of iodine in reef tanks...

 

see where I'm going here?

Link to comment

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recommended Discussions

×
×
  • Create New...