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My parameters Are these ok?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by jstngates, Feb 24, 2013.

  1. jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

    Toledo Iowa
    Ratings:
    +40 / 1 / -0

    Nitrates 5


    Phosphates 20


    Calcium 380


    Alk 380


    Mag 1280





    Are these ok? If not what do I do?
     
  2. Fultsreef

    Fultsreef Inactive User

    151
    Ratings:
    +1 / 0 / -0
    What are your goals with your tank...FOWLR or reef tank goals?
     
  3. saltclg

    saltclg Inactive User

    255
    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    When I was battling to get my phosphates down, I bought a phosban reactor from BRS. I've never regreted it to this day. And also, what is the ammonia level and ph?
     
  4. xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

    La Porte City, IA
    Ratings:
    +1,014 / 6 / -0
    Nitrates & phosphates are too high if you are going to have any SPS.

    There is no such thing as a 380 alk

    Calcium is low for SPS
     
  5. jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

    Toledo Iowa
    Ratings:
    +40 / 1 / -0
    Sorry X alk is almost 8. I put calcium number twice.
     
  6. mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    8 all is low
     
  7. erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

    981
    Coralville, IA
    Ratings:
    +35 / 0 / -0
    I think 8 or 9 for ALK is ideal. Try to maintain it right there.
     
  8. mpivit Well-Known ReefKeeper

    494
    Dubuque
    Ratings:
    +28 / 1 / -0
    Everything is low, but appears relatively balanced, a water change may be the best solution to raise to normal levels, then use kalk water or 2 part to maintain calc and alk. (That is what I do, and seems to work well)

    You should probably look at additional / improved filtration, or lower feeding to bring nitrate and phosphate down. Do you have any type of algae problem?
     
  9. Andy The Reef Guy

    Andy The Reef Guy Inactive User

    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0



    Agreed. Natural seawater has dkh of 8. If your using a carbon dosing system, biopellets, zeovit or some other ULNS (ultra low nutrient system) you should never have alk above 9 or risk "alk burn." In conventional systems that rely on water changes, refugiums, and GFO primarily then you can keep alk 10-11 for added buffering capacity. Some people even say higher alk makes corals grow faster, and I think it does, but they are more brittle because they're actually forming calcite rather than carbonate. But that's another can of worms.



     
  10. Andy The Reef Guy

    Andy The Reef Guy Inactive User

    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Also, before you go bombing with tons of GFO, use a very small amt to start with and take a month or more to bring your phosphates back down to 0.05ppm. Otherwise you will stress out and probably kill any SPS (if there are any).
     
  11. jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

    Toledo Iowa
    Ratings:
    +40 / 1 / -0
    I have 2 tablespoons of gfo with my carbon right now.
     
  12. Andy The Reef Guy

    Andy The Reef Guy Inactive User

    Ratings:
    +0 / 0 / -0
    Excellent, could probably go ahead and boost that up. If it's been in there for more than 2 weeks you should change it. Throw 3 tblspn in and change it weekly I'd say, and then see where you're at in two weeks.
     
  13. jstngates Experienced Reefkeeper

    Toledo Iowa
    Ratings:
    +40 / 1 / -0
    Been in there about a week now. Should I separate the carbon and gfo?
     

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