Adding Corals

[MMAX]

It's more like every week, not every few days and usually right after I add water. I didn't even know I was supposed to be testing for phosphates and magnesium and stuff like that.

[Pan]

Originally Posted by MMAX

It's more like every week, not every few days and usually right after I add water. I didn't even know I was supposed to be testing for phosphates and magnesium and stuff like that.

Never put anything in you can't/don't test for

[Myka]

Originally Posted by MMAX

It's more like every week, not every few days and usually right after I add water. I didn't even know I was supposed to be testing for phosphates and magnesium and stuff like that.

If you want to keep corals you need (should) to. Calcium, Alkalinity, and Magnesium should be tested on a weekly basis and dosed to keep optimum levels. Pick up some good quality test kits like Salifert or Elos so you know you're getting accurate readings.

For Calcium I like to use Kent Liquid Calcium or Turbo Calcium. For Alkalinity I like to use SeaChem Reef Buffer if low pH is an issue (like my tank), or SeaChem Reef Builder if pH isn't an issue. For Magnesium I like to use SeaChem Reef Advantage Magnesium. To suck up phosphates I run a PhosBan Reactor with RowaPhos media in it.

Don't add any more calcium until you get a test kit. It doesn't sound like there is anything in your tank that is using up the calcium to any significant amount, so you're likely quite high on the calcium.

It also depends what kind of salt you're using as some are high in elements, and some are low. What brand of salt do you use?

So basically, your answer for if your tank is ready for corals right now...no, it's not. You need to get some more test kits first, and get your levels all sorted out. Once you've done that, then it sounds like you're ready.

[MMAX]

I use Instant Ocean salt

[Myka]

Instant Ocean is low in Calcium, low in Magnesium, and kinda of high in Alkalinity. So you're going to be low in Magnesium as well, and it's possible that the low Calcium in IO has countered the amount of Calcium you've been adding.

Let us know when you get some new test kits, and what your new parameters are.

[MMAX]

I picked up a Nutrafin Master Test Kit last night. Here's my parameters...Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 15 mg/L, Phosphate 0.5 mg/L, Calcium 340 mg/L (it says optimum range is 400-450), pH 8.3, and Alkalinity (KH) 130 mg/L (it says 105-125 is ideal). Temp is 27 celcius and SG is 1.0245. There were no tests for magnesium in the kit I bought.

[Cyclo]

Heres a little article to help know what to shoot for.

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

[Myka]

Originally Posted by MMAX

I picked up a Nutrafin Master Test Kit last night. Here's my parameters...Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 15 mg/L, Phosphate 0.5 mg/L, Calcium 340 mg/L (it says optimum range is 400-450), pH 8.3, and Alkalinity (KH) 130 mg/L (it says 105-125 is ideal). Temp is 27 celcius and SG is 1.0245. There were no tests for magnesium in the kit I bought.

Your nitrates and phosphates are definately on the high side for a reef tank. Are you having any algae issues? It really would help if you posted a pic of your tank. Is that possible?

And it looks like you weren't adding as much Calcium as it sounded like you were! Time to boost up the Calcium! I keep my Calcium around 410-425 ppm, and it works well. It would be a good idea to up your salinity just a bit too to 1.025-1.026 as corals prefer a higher salinity.

[MMAX]

I tried taking some pictures of my tank but they don't seem to turn out too good. I definately don't have an algae problem.