Reef setup - What should I test for?

[coffeeisforclosers]

Hi Guys,

I know... rookie question. I am setting up my first reef tank (I have had numerous successful fish only tanks over the years and am giving a reef tank a shot).

I already test for Nitrite, Nitrate, pH, Alkalinty, Amonia, Specific Gravity, and Temp. All of my tests look good, the tank is fully cycled, and all creatures have been doing well for some time. (I currently have two ocellaris clowns, 3 hermit crabs, 4 snails, live rock, and live sand in the tank.)

I am looking to add first anemone/corals soon. What additional elements should I monitor and what should the readings be to have good conditions to add an anemone and/or corals?

Thx,
Dennis

 

[WRASSER]

first please tell us what lights you have?

 

[coffeeisforclosers]

I have a 12g nanocube dx with two 24watt CFs with 50/50 bulbs. The tank is not too deep (14.8") and it appears to be alot of light for the tank. See http://www.jbjnanocube.com/index.html for more. Do you think this is adequate light for corals/anemone? The LFS has my exact tank running with a healthy BTA for over a year.

cheers,
dennis

 

[WRASSER]

I dont kow 12 gal. seems a little small for what you want to do. LFS have more resorces than you do, so becareful of what you do.
Remember corals sting one another so you probably wont get much in there with an anemone walking around. DO some reasher and try to come up with a plan that will satify you and the tank :wink:

 

[coffeeisforclosers]

Thanks Wrasser.

I am looking to put a small BTA in the tank - nothing more. Just the two ocellaris clowns and a small bta. What test should I perform on top of Nitrite, Nitrate, Amonia, pH, alkalinity, Temp, Spec Gravity? What readings should I strive for?

Regards,
Dennis

 

[WRASSER]

Remeber they will out grow that tank.
nitrite-0
nitrate-0
amonia-0
ph 8.0-8.3
temp-around 78
SG- 1.025 + or -
anything else i am not sure of

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

If you're planning to keep corals, then you'll want to test for calcium, alkalinity and magnesium.

Ca - 400 - 450 ppm
Alk - 7 - 11 dkH
Mag - 1250 - 1350 ppm

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.htm

 

[Sub-Mariner]

Magnesium...I haven't heard about testing for that on a regular basis.....I usually test for phosphate also. Calcium and DKH is a must though...I've noticed once you add coral the calcium levels will drop a bit without supplements. Usually once you start dosing some sort of calcium you'll start to see a boom of coralline algae growing which is a good thing.

 

[coffeeisforclosers]

Thanks Guys. Does monitoring the levels for Alk, Calcium, Phosphate, and Magnesium apply for anemones too? Particularly a BTA? Are there other trace elements I want to monitor for a healthy environment for anemones?

Cheers,
Dennis

 

[Anonymous]

what you want to test for is your 4 basics...Nitrates,nitrites, ammonia and pH..and also Calcium and Alk...You really shouldnt need to test for anything else like iodine, magnesium, strontium, iodide..The last four I mentioned will be replaced with a regular water change...Also before i forget, Phosphates isnt a bad thing to test for either..PO4 (phosphates) will mainly be a concern if you use tap water for water changes and top off...and to answer the last question, yes they apply to anemones, corals inverts and in some cases fish..for the fish your 4 basics will apply..

 

[ChrisRD]

My $0.02 FWIW...

IMO it's a good idea to keep track of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate initially. Once a well run tank is established I never get readings for these compounds again, so I generally stop testing for them at that point. I'll check nitrates once in a great while after that, but that's about all.

Temp, pH, SG, Ca and Alk are things that I monitor regularly in a reef. I check Mg less periodically as IME it doesn't fluctuate nearly as much as Ca/Alk.

As for testing phosphates - I don't really bother anymore. If you have detectable levels of phosphates on a hobby kit, you've got problems IMO. I prefer to just assess phosphate levels visually (ie. observe algae growth) as that will tell you long before the kit if you're starting to have a a problem IME.

JMO & HTH