what are proper levels for Ca, Mg, PO3 etc.?

I am just starting to test my water now for Ca, Mg PO3 and nitrate. What should the proper levels of these elements be? And if mine are lower or what is the best way to raise the levels, dosing with and additive?

 

Assuming for a reef tank, Alk ~12dkH , Ca 500-540 ppm, Mag ~1400 ppm. Phosphate should be zero, and nitrate should be < 10. My nitrates are typically zero. Some corals do better with low (10-15) nitrates in the tank, while other corals need pristine water with no nitrates to survive.

 

yea, sorry, should have said it was for a reef tank. Thanks for the info

 

Raise Mag with epsom salt (magnesuim sulfide).
Raise Alk with mixture (4 parts arm & hammer baking soda, 1 part borax 20 mule team laundry booster).
Raise Ca with - buy some Ca from Tangster - very good quality and you're not overspending for the fancy label.

Remove phosphates with phosban or phosguard.
Keep from over feeding and use a good skimmer to reduce nitrates.

 

Table 1. Parameters critical to control in reef aquaria

Parameter: Reef Aquaria Recommendation: Typical Surface Ocean Value:1

Calcium 380-450 ppm 420 ppm

Alkalinity 2.5-4 meq/L 2.5 meq/L
7-11 dKH 7 dKH
125-200 ppm CaCO3 equivalents 125 ppm CaCO3 equivalents

Salinity 35 ppt 34-36 ppt
sg = 1.026 sg = 1.025-1.027

Temperature 76-83° F Variable2

pH 7.8-8.5 OK 8.0-8.3
8.1-8.3 is better (can be lower or higher in lagoons)

Magnesium 1250-1350 ppm 1280 ppm

Phosphate < 0.03 ppm 0.005 ppm

Ammonia <0.1 ppm Variable (typically <0.1 ppm)

 

I do:
Calcium 450
Mg 1500
Alk 11.3 (can vary a couple points)
Ph 8.3
Sg 1.024
And bogie hit the nail on the head, I use everything he listed for dosing. The calcium rocks, Epsom Salt is around 3 bucks for a 3 lb. bag around here (will last a year or more!) and the Alkalinity buffer is cheap also!

 

Is dkh and kh the same thing? I just bought a kh test kit and was just woundering?

 

A Ca level of 350-450 is acceptable. Anything larger than that, the corals can't use and does nothing but calcify your pumps and cause issues. Alk I like too keep at 10-12. this optimizes the corals ability to utilize the calcium. Mag should be keept around 13-1400. Phosphate levels need to remain at zero but the "hobby" test kits on the market are extremely innaccurate so I would say keep an eye on the algae. If you start getting algae growth (other than coraline) you are having a phosphate rise.

 

Reef Aquarium Water Parameters by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

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Yes indeed