Need advise, What do you think.... Water Chemistry

I just added some new coral to the tank and checked all my numbers...
What should i be doing to reduce these numbers to optimal condition.
Thanks for all the feedback

Wheres what they read.
Phosphate .25
Nitrate 5.0
Nitrite 0
PH 8.2
Ammonia .50
Alk "normal 1.7-2.8" Thats the range it gave me
Calcium 360mg/l
salinity 1.021
Temp 78F

I need to update my signature.....
I have a new skimmer working Reef Oct 160
20L sump/fuge

 

What type of coral did you get and what corals do you plan on keeping.

You need to get your ammonia to 0 and phosphates to .05.

What test kits are you using? Alk should not drop below 2.5 meq/l. Ca should be around 420, Mg around 1280, salinity should be 1.035, SG 1.025

 

what test kits are you using Jon Peak

ammonia showing as present in a mature set up , makes me wonder about the validity of the test result ( has something recently died?)
may be created from die off from any life forms present on the new coral/ rock / plug
I would get that test double checked if possible

Phosphate is a bit high and combined with light and the presence of algae or algae spores , may result in a problem
a reactor with GFO or GFO run in a cannister filter will reduce that number for you (dont add to much if you have never used it before)

calcium is a bit low at 360 - 380 is the base line , but IMO , you would be better off targeting 400 - 450 (somewhere between those is a good place to start)
your SG at 1.021 is also a bit low IMO - aim slowly for 1.025 - 1.026 ,doing that should also increase your calcium level for you
make this change gradually - mix a batch of saltwater at 1.026 and use that to top off evaporated water , until the tank measures 1.025 and then go back to using RODI for top off

if the above action in itself does not give you a new calcium level of 400 - 450 (somewhere between those values) then you may have to consider
A - changing your salt mix to one that has a higher starting value
B - dosing supplement to help maintain the calcium level

what corals are you keeping at present, as often it is type and quantity of corals combined with frequency and percentage of water changes that is the deciding factor in the need to dose or not.

 

API test kits.
I have pretty much everything in my tank tons of LPS... lots of softies, and a few SPS.

I just added a Scolymia an Acan, birdsnest, and chalice

Acans dont seem to like my tank that much.

Everything else thrives. My montis are doing great, duncans, torch, hammerhead, frogspawn, tones of mushrooms, huge devils hand, 5 lobos

The only things not doing so great are the acans and ricordias

 

I was away for 5 days and didnt dose any calcium ill shoot for a higher number.
Ill have to retest my ammonia right now because i havent had anything die in months.... well besides a random crab or snail possibly

Ill start topping off with higher SG for a while till i get the number right.

As for the Phosphate you think i need a reactor

 

I think your kits are old. However I would do some water changes and get your salinity a bit higher. It will increase the good numbers and decrease the bad. Also a refugium with macros will decrease your N and P

 

GFO works more efficiently when lightly tumbled Jon, so a reactor is the most effective method
but some brands work reasonably well in a cannister filter also - Rowaphos does not seem to brick up and go solid when used in this manner and I have read that the BRS product is also OK used like this

Steve

 

Ummm everything steve said!

 

Steve- Can you think of any reason why my acans or ricordias dont do well in my established aquarium yet all my other coral (still dont know about Scolymia
or chalice) do great... I have everything from Dendros, Lobos, leather, torch, hammerhead, duncans, candycane, frogspawn maze brain.... yet Ricordias and acans seem to be stressed

 

Flow, lighting and position in the tank all have a say in how happy a coral will be. Acans like low light and medium flow and ricordeas are about the same. Ricordeas should be mount vertically also.