what do i monitor in my tank

Discussion in 'Coral Health' started by Atmos, Apr 17, 2009.

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  1. Atmos

    Atmos Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2009
    Messages:
    66
    Location:
    South Edmonton Alberta Canada
    90 gal salt 7 anemones 3 corals 2 damsals 2 skimmers running

    temp 82F
    salinity 36
    ph 8.3

    what else do i monitor?
     
    Atmos, Apr 17, 2009
    Atmos, Apr 17, 2009
    #1

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  2. sostoudt

    sostoudt Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2008
    Messages:
    5,958
    Location:
    Chesterfield, VA
    Temperature:
    PH:
    Ammonia:
    Nitrite:
    Nitrate:
    Salinity:
    dKH/KH/Alkalinity:
    Magnesium:
    Calcium:
    Phosphate:
     
    sostoudt, Apr 17, 2009
    sostoudt, Apr 17, 2009
    #2
    1 person likes this.
  3. PackLeader

    PackLeader Giant Squid

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    Aug 17, 2008
    Messages:
    5,716
    Location:
    Reno, NV
    ammonia nitrates nitrites calcium magnesium phosphates dKH
     
    PackLeader, Apr 17, 2009
    PackLeader, Apr 17, 2009
    #3
    1 person likes this.
  4. Atmos

    Atmos Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2009
    Messages:
    66
    Location:
    South Edmonton Alberta Canada
    i have a API master test kit but theres no instructions with it just 2 cards :| nitrate and phosphate

    Temperature:83
    PH:
    Ammonia:
    Nitrite:
    Nitrate:10
    Salinity:36
    dKH/KH/Alkalinity:
    Magnesium:
    Calcium:
    Phosphate:8.3

    ideally what should they be at?
     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2009
    Atmos, Apr 17, 2009
    Atmos, Apr 17, 2009
    #4
  5. sostoudt

    sostoudt Giant Squid

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    Jul 9, 2008
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    Location:
    Chesterfield, VA
    do the card have instructions(little pictures) on the the back
     
    sostoudt, Apr 17, 2009
    sostoudt, Apr 17, 2009
    #5
  6. scenario1313

    scenario1313 Tassled File Fish

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2008
    Messages:
    1,985
    Location:
    Athens, GA
    Maybe I will get scolded for this question but you have seven anemones and corals and you are asking what levels to monitor. How old is your tank?
     
    scenario1313, Apr 17, 2009
    scenario1313, Apr 17, 2009
    #6
    3 people like this.

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  7. Dr.Fragenstein

    Dr.Fragenstein Panda Puffer

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2008
    Messages:
    2,108
    Location:
    SE Wisconsin
    I would say if the tank is up and established and you don't TOTALLY neglect W/Cs and don't let dead rotting fish in the tank, you can skip NH3 and NO2... These are to be tested DEFINATELY during an initial tank cycling though.

    I would say NO3, PO4-if keeping coral, alk, Ca and Mg, mostly important for inverts, SG, temp and pH.

    Many FO people will test NO3, SG, temp, pH and thats about it....

    You'll get into a groove that works for you.

    Why do you have 2 skimmers running?

    Happy reefing
     
    Dr.Fragenstein, Apr 17, 2009
    Dr.Fragenstein, Apr 17, 2009
    #7
  8. sostoudt

    sostoudt Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2008
    Messages:
    5,958
    Location:
    Chesterfield, VA
    Temperature:83
    PH:around 8.2
    Ammonia:0
    Nitrite:0
    Nitrate:less then 20
    Salinity:36
    dKH/KH/Alkalinity:approximately 2.5 meq/L and carbonate hardness measures at 6 - 7 dKH
    Magnesium:1200-1300
    Calcium:400-500(400 is seawater)
    Phosphate:8.3

    ideally what should they be at?
     
    sostoudt, Apr 17, 2009
    sostoudt, Apr 17, 2009
    #8
  9. Atmos

    Atmos Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2009
    Messages:
    66
    Location:
    South Edmonton Alberta Canada
    alright then. my tank is 8 months old but i got it one month ago and i only checked ph and salinity until now. i have some corals coming in so i want to make sure everythings good . i have two skimmers because i think 2 is better than 1 and i just happened to have 2 so im using them...yes the cards have instructions on them thanks now i just need to find another 2 cards for the alkalinity and calcium :( maybe google will have them.
     
    Atmos, Apr 17, 2009
    Atmos, Apr 17, 2009
    #9
  10. markgm87

    markgm87 Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2009
    Messages:
    83
    Location:
    Statesville NC
    Alk is add 1 drop at a time until it turns yellow and that is the alk in dkh. And calcium is 10 drops of bottle 1 then shake and add 1 drop at a time shaking in between drops until it turns purple.then take total drops of bottle 2 and multiple by 20 and that is calcium mg/l
     
    markgm87, Apr 18, 2009
    markgm87, Apr 18, 2009
    #10