Acceptable Water Parameters

Chitown1 · 10-22-2007, 06:25 PM

I thought it might help to have this posted to be used as a reference.

For a FOWLER or Fish only set up:

Salinity -- 1.023-1.025
Temp -- 72 - 78 Degrees
PH -- 8.1-8.4
Alkalinity-- 8-12 dKH
Ammonia-- Undecectable
Nitrite -- Undectectable
Nitrate -- Less than 30
Phosphate-- Less than .2 PPM
Calcium -- 350-450 PPM
Magnesium-- 1250-1350 PPM
Iodine -- 8-14 PPM
Strontium -- 8-14 PPM

For a Reef set up

Salinity -- 1.024-1.026
Temp -- 72-78 Degrees
pH -- 8.1-8.4
Alkalinity-- 8-12 dKH
Ammonia-- Undetectable
Nitrite -- Undetectable
Nitrate -- Less the 5
Nitrogen-- less than 1 PPM
Phosphate-- Less then 1 PPM
Calcium -- 350-450 PPM
Magnesium-- 1150-1350 PPM
Iodine -- .04-.10 PPM
Strontium -- 4-10 PPM

Nereaga · 10-22-2007, 06:35 PM

Very good idea Chitown! Nice work....

Sniperelite8243 · 10-22-2007, 06:36 PM

i think thats a good idea but you should post about how much light is needed, personoly im not sure because i never had experiwence with salt. if they need powerheads, if so the strenght.

but that should be very helpfull for people that have salt water tanks.

Chitown1 · 10-22-2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sniperelite8243

i think thats a good idea but you should post about how much light is needed, personoly im not sure because i never had experiwence with salt. if they need powerheads, if so the strenght.

but that should be very helpfull for people that have salt water tanks.

There are many types of corals that can be used to create a reef and types of fish and inverts in any type of set up, all of which will play a factor in the lighting and flow requirements. Parameters are much more of a standard regardless of coral, fish and invert types.

Seahorses for example need to be kept in low flow tanks, some corals like Zoa's require less light than Monti's and so on.

rocky · 11-11-2007, 09:35 PM

In Chitown's Acceptable Water Parameters post he said that the Alkalinity is 8-12 dkh, but in Ahill3780's 25 Steps post he said it should be 2.9 - 4.0. Could someone please clear this up for me..Thanks

chadf · 11-11-2007, 09:39 PM

There are I believe 3 different ways to measure it, dkh, ppm, and whatever is being used by ahill.

Chitown1 · 11-12-2007, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chadf

There are I believe 3 different ways to measure it, dkh, ppm, and whatever is being used by ahill.

Correct, Ahill is using Meq/L and I used Dkh, but the amount is the same range.

Dr.Fragenstein · 08-19-2008, 01:35 PM

I don't mean to come off in a bad way but in a reef tank actually levels of .015 PO4 can cause serious algal issues as well as NO3 levels over .15, but there really isn't any hobbyist level kits that go that low, I think Salifert does, Merck does but that is lab grade and hard to get. Also, 72 degrees is VERY low in a reef, that is more temperate or sub tropical than anything. The proven "best coral growth" temp is actually 81. Reefs around the world sit at about 80-83 with some locales warmer or slightly cooler.