Adding Corals

[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.

[Myka]

I'm surprised that you don't have any algae issues since your phosphates and nitrates are at considerable levels. I would consider running some phosphate media (like PhosBan or RowaPhos). There are a lot of contributing factors to nitrate (and phosphate), and it's too late for me to write a book about it...