FWIW, I wouldn't be trusting a Hagen test kit for the most important parameter in your tank (alkalinity). Hanna and Salifert both make more reliable kits. I use Salifert for calcium, Salifert and Hanna for alk, Salifert and Red Sea Pro for Mg and NO3, Hanna for PO4, Hanna handheld digital meter for pH. Temp I use a NIST certified thermometer (about $50 on Amazon) which I use to calibrate cheap thermometers that stay in the tank.
IME, for best SPS growth, you're best off running higher than natural parameters:
Ca: 440 ppm ish
Alk 8-9 dKH
Mg 1300-1400 ppm ish
NO3 2-10 ppm
PO4 0.08-0.1 ppm ish
pH 8.4-8.5
Temp: 81-82F
For best color, closer to natural seawater parameters seem to be better.
Ca 400-410 ppm
Alk 6.8-7.2 dKH
Mg 1200-1300 pm
NO3 0.5-2 ppm
PO4 0.001-0.05 ppm
pH 8.1-8.3
Temp 78-79F
__________________
~ Mindy
SPS fanatic.
Last edited by Myka; 12-26-2016 at 03:42 PM.
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